ORIGINAL: denwag
Thirty years ago after splashing my third plane (Two Goldberg 63's followed by a Super Kaos 60) and spending countless hundreds of hours of building I gave up and sold all of my stuff. Why because my stupid instructer told me to set my throws at basically snap rates. He set it up for how he wanted it to fly and not how I needed it to fly.
But now Im getting back into it. Why? Two things ARF's and Simulators. Now for just a few more dollars I can have my plane completed without spending time I do not have and I do not need to travel back and forth from a field for two years waiting for an instructor to show up or (not show up) to progress to the level that I have achieved in two months on a Simulator. For those of you that say simulators are overrated and do not replace the real thing Im here to tell you the only thing that they do not simulate correctly is the butterflys in your stomach. I put my 39'' P-51 foamy up in the air in my field behind my house and after 20 or so fights I can tell you without a doubt that simulators are the way to go. I joined AMA this year not for instruction or making friends at the field but so I could fly with a few close friends and put my Giant Big Stick up in the air that I am getting readly right now. The only reason I need AMA is to fly at a field 45 miles away.
Do I sound bitter? Well yes I quit RC 30 years ago never intending to return to a hobby filled with snobs and arrogant Old timers. Well times have changed. Now the 16 year old brings his 120'' Edge to the field and proceeds to give the old timers a lesson in hovering two inches off the ground all because of two things ARF's and Simulators
I do not know anything about AMA but I do know that 2010 is a much different landscape that 1980.
Thats my perspective
regards
sbdwag
I think you experienced something with instructors that shouldn't be the case but sometimes it happens anyway. I pulled this post of yours to shed light on the bigger story and under the circumstances, I can see why you feel strongly about simulators. Still, setting up your gas engine came from this forum (also found those posts too) and unless you're flying all alone, think how much time you saved relying on the experience of others.
I agree, clubs aren't always the best social clubs you can join. I certainly don't have AMA or club membership now or ever, but I still fly with 20-30 regulars at a free field that's been in place for 15 years in my town. I learned from them how to land, before sims were as advanced as they are today. Setting up my plane properly couldn't be done from reading online nearly as easily as someone showing me first hand. If I didn't have that, I'd have crash a lot of planes.
Simulators will save you a lot of time in coming up to speed with flying. I've said that many times over the years. But it never replaces a good instructor filling in the other important gaps not as easily found on your keyboard. Youtube has a lot of video though just in case you have bitter experiences too.
Who helped you set up your radio for that plane?