I can relate to what SuperCub has gone through. While I'm sure all of the responders meant well, it must be remembered that not all clubs, or instructors, are created equal. In other words, there are many that are good (beginner-friendly) but there are also some that are clique-ish, don't welcome outsiders with open arms, and in some cases are a group of snobs whose only desire for new members is to have someone to mow the field for them. If you are fortunate to be part of a good club, that's great, but please don't assume that all clubs are good. Being in the military, I tend to move around a bit and I've experienced both kinds of clubs. Believe me, there are some really snobbish ones out there! Unfortunately, many localities have only one R/C club so simply going to another one isn't always feasible.

On the other hand, I've personally witnessed lousy beginners too. I've seen guys show up at a flying field who expect everyone to drop what they're doing and cater to them. And like some of the instructors who've posted above, I've seen students who were less than committed to learning to fly. (R/C was just a passing fad for them.) And I'm not just talking about "kids"; I've seen adults and seniors act this way too.

So, some of the blame can be shared by both the new-comers and the experienced. In an ideal world, the obvious solution would be for beginners to exhibit a little more patience and realize that the club is not there just to serve them, and the experienced flyers need to remember that the club isn't theirs alone either.

Harvey