kennel im glad that u r showing these ppl that this can be done by yourself. now it prolly is good to have an instructor if you have time and $$$ to get into a club. i also tought myself.and have not had to spend more than 10 dollars on repairs (all props cause i hit the ground and a golf cart once all on take off) i have a VERY rough runway so i got bigger tires and im constantly fighting the front wheel from the wire bending. (crapy enginiering by the makers part). my runway is a front yard in the country that is about 50 yards long and 20 yards wide. to land i come from the north and have to go under the powerlines around a pole that is right in the middle of approach and set it down where there is grass and not clumps of weeds which is about 5 yards wide the whole length. last night i finely over shot had to go around and the cross wind pushed me too far east and i nudged a tree but i was going so slow that it did not hurt the approach and it landed in the tall bluestem.