Well the first thing I remember is making myself go to a club and just talk to someone. I had already set myself to the fact I was finally going to do this. I have always wanted to fly R/C but never had the chance to just settle down and do it.

I stopped inthe field on a Thrusday night, which is the clubs training night. There were planes in the air and I watched for awhile when i finally got the nerve to ask for the guy in charge of training. They pointed me to him and he noticed and came right over and started talking to me. He gave me the details of what to expect. He asked me if I had a plane yet, did I join AMA, do I have any prior experience. I still have not received my AMA card yet, or my plane for that matter. So he told me to come back next week and they would do a plane and radio check for me. I watched for about another hour, talking to various people and left with a bunch of information in newsletters, about the club. more things to expect.

The following week I take my plane in. I tell them I need my plane inspected. In about 1 minute, three guys were looking it over. Three problems, they fixed two but the other required some epoxy repair. After that they talked to me about radio safety, flight line safety, radio checks and some various club policies.

The following week my plane is inspected again and given the OK nod. Then my plane got an engine check. They had to adjust the throttle linkage. During that time that showed the various points of starting an engine and the safety concerns. I got my radio and put it into the inpound. Where all radios without a frequency pin must stay while you are at the field.

The engine guys looked at me and said, "OK lets get her up!"

What? Wait, wait, Im not mentally ready to do this! What should I do now? Run? Make up some excuse, due to the fact I am scared. Was I scared? You darn right I was!! Instead, I stupidly stood ther and said, OK.

I got my radio and traded my AMA card for frequency pin #36. Attached the pin onto my antenna. OK, we have to do a range check. Trnasmitter on first, then receiver. Transmitter, on first, off last!! Keep your antenna in and go about 50 feet away. Move your sticks and ensure they move the controls the right way.
Ensure no reversed servos. Everything looks good!

It a weird feeling knowing your plane is gong up for the first time. Man, you are going to be on the flight line. Will your plane fly? Will it crash? Will it be so hard to fly due to building mistakes that no instructor wants to touch it. Will the radio die? Did I charge the batteries enough?

I had to sign in with the flight boss. He is resbonsible for trainer sign in on the flight line. He will ask you your name, phone number and frequency channel. He informed me I was up next in station 2. He informed me to get my plane started. I helped start it. Which was nerve racking in it's own. I carried my plane out to the line and set it on the ground with that engine at idle. The main instructor took my plane up for it's virgin flight.

The instrucor called "TAXI" and gunned the engine and the plane made it way onto the field. The instructor was talking the entire time in a calm tone, but I'll be damned if I can remember what he said. Always taxi in a "block" or "box" pattern. Never taxi straight out to the take off point or never taxi straight in to the stations from a landing point. He turned it into the wind and called "Taking Off" and away it went. It happend so fast my plane was in the air, and the instructor was trimming it out. We did not use a buddy box. I have yet to see one used at the field I fly at.

He got my plane to "3-mistakes high" where I could fly around. At first he kept his fingers on the sticks and let me get used to the motion. I flew around in figure 8s and he wanted me not only to get the feel of the airplane but also the feel of the field. Basically keeping my bearings straight. Where's the field, Where's the pits, where's the road. This is more difficult than it sounds. Orientation while flyings is something to get use to.

After the flight boss called "10 minutes" ( it seemed like 4 or 5) The instructor took over total controls and landed this plane so smooth it was sickening. Perfect landing!

The instructor looked at me and said "Fuel her up!" I went over and was all thumbs. Take the fuel line off the carb, no, no, wait off the filter. Which way does the fuel flow? Pop off the fuel line going to the muffler. Insert the fuel supply line in the tank line. Which one is that? OK move your pump handle. After 4 turns, whooops! Wrong way! Go the other way.

The second flight was the same as the first, except the instructor just handed me the transmitter, "Here ya go!"

WHAT? "Are you kidding??" Talk about all thumbs! I finally got my bearing right and actually flew the plane. The Real Flight G2 really did pay off!

That was basically my first week of flying a R/C plane. Mentally brutal!!

I go every week. I get there early. I am hooked. I learn something new every day. I get my plane ready and start it without a second thought. I still take extra care when that prop is spinning. But I am more sure of myself now. I feel good about beign on the flight line. It is a privliage to be there. and I hope I never give the others a reason not to trust me.

I know this was long, but these are the thoughts going through teh head of a new R/C pilot. For those of you who do not feel alittle panic or fear everytime that engine starts then you are braver than I. And more calm.

This past Thursday I did an almost perfect take-off and climb out and I was just tickled. It, so far, was my finest hour!

Clear skies!!