Here's my two cents worth. If you are absolutely intent on flying alone (maybe you live in the boonies with no R/C fields within 100 miles or other VERY extenuating circumstances), try a lightweight electric plane like a GWS Tiger Moth, which is made out of styrofoam. Keep in mind, it's still a bad idea, and you WILL still crash the thing, and it will be an expensive lesson, but they are easier to fix, they fly slower, and you will do a lot less property damage if you hit something (or heaven forbid someone).

I'm not in any way, shape or form disagreeing with the advice FHHuber gave, as he is absolutely correct! But, there are always those who have to try it for themselves before they believe. If you are one of those crazy people who doesn't listen to good advice, it would be safer for the rest of us if you learned with a styrofoam model instead of a 6 pound, out of control "missle" that can easily go 70+ MPH (even the top-wing "slow" trainers). (did I mention the "saw blade" on the front?) Also, the gas powered balsa planes don't crash politely. They shatter into a pile of toothpicks that can sometimes be virtually impossible to fix, even if you can find all of the pieces.

I'm teaching my son to fly with a Tiger Moth styrofoam electric. It's been plowed into the ground at least 10 times, and the wings have more epoxy than styrofoam now, but I can fix anything on it in 15 minutes and he is learning the controls and the whole left-right reversed thing when the plane is coming toward you. Better yet, when he's more confident, for $50 I'll go by another slow-flyer and transfer the radio equipment over.

Even better, a lighweight slow flyer WITH and instructor!

Good luck.

Mayday