I just thought I'd share a few words of advice from my experiences over the last six months for those just starting out. Will anyone heed my advice? Hard to say.

A brief bit of background. I flew off and on for a few summers while in high school 17 years ago. I learned using the "pass the transmitter" method with my brother's .60 size aerobatic bipe. Although the bipe was actually a pretty stable flier, I never really learned to land, and always had my instructor land.

A year and a half ago, I decided to get back into the hobby. Ignoring conventional wisdom, I decided to build a .60 size Cub, with the idea that it was at least a better trainer than the old Aeromaster. I knew I would have someone else give me instruction on the Cub. I also poured a ton of money into a computer radio and a 4 stroke engine. Long story longer, I moved very slowly in the building process and a year later had close to $1000 bucks in an unfinished plane I was scared to death to fly. Had I just bought a trainer I would have been flying all last summer.

Then I heard about SPADs. I thought "I'll build one of these and get in the air while I finish the Cub." So I built a Debonair. I was not yet an AMA member and wasn't immediately inclined to shell out the $150 to join AMA and a local club, so I decided to "reteach" myself to fly. Stupid move. I took the SPAD to Illinois where my brother has some open land. I was so darn impatient that I decided to take it up for its maiden voyage by myself when there was about a 25 knot wind. The flight actually lasted about 45 seconds, until I got disoriented, the plane was coming right at me and I panicked and drove it into the ground.

So I rebuilt and made skiis for the SPAD. Still no instructor. My next flight was on a frozen lake. Plenty of room. Less wind this time. This flight actually lasted about two minutes. I had just decided to go downwind and turn back to make a landing approach when I again got disoriented and panicked. Death spiral and total loss. What was really scary was when I retrieved the wreckage I found that I was about ten feet from from the shore and about 30 feet from someone's house. I had no idea I was that close to hitting something or someone. All this experience taught me was how to rebuild SPADs.

In the spring I decided to get it right. I joined AMA. Someone from RCU volunteered to help me get the rebuilt SPAD up again. I also joined a local club and got some quality instruction on a buddy box from a few people there. I also bought a used Kadet, which flies a little better than the SPAD. During the first few flights, I again became disoriented. This time, I had someone to help me recover. After 4 informal training sessions I soloed. Last weekend I got 5 solo flights in with someone standing alongside (no buddy box). I now feel a lot more confident. Last night I went out and got 4 more flights in without anyone standing next to me. What a great feeling!

There are a few points to this ramble:
1) Take first things first. Buy or build a trainer and get yourself in the air.
2) You don't need to spend your money on the most expensive kits, ARFs, engines and radios right away. You'l have plenty of opportunity to do so later on. Did you get into the hobby to fly or to buy toys?
3) Get an instructor! Maybe all your Realflight and your natural ability will allow you to do it on your own. Why risk it? It's a little hassle to line up an instructor, but you can learn to fly in a few months. By going up yourself and crashing you waste your money, you can endanger yourself and others and you can shatter your confidence.

Sorry to be so long. I just wanted to add a bit of a story to the advice that gets repeated so often by wiser minds than me in this forum.

-Scott

Good advise indeed.

Scott,
Thanks for sharing your experiences. All us "Old Farts" try to suggest the best way to approach learning, but people today are so impatient and so sure of themselves, that a lot just don't want to hear it.
Dennis-

Don't feel bad about writing a long post. It's always good for rookies to hear good advise from one of their own. Thanks Jag

Think of how things my have turned out if you hadn't decided to try your luck on the SPAD before the CUB!

I'm sure that's crossed your mind.



Wings

Mike-

I'm a lawyer, so you should be suspicious of any apologies from me for writing too much or talking too much.

Wings-

True. I wouldn't have tried to fly the Cub on my own, though. I unfortunately wasn't too concerned about destroying 10 bucks worth of plastic. I also managed to do a fair amount of damage to a couple of engines and servos.

The good news is, the Cub is just about ready to fly.

-Scott

A LAWYER!!??

And I was just starting to take a liking to you.

Watch it! I saw something on a Willmar website suggesting that you're a part time ACTOR! Which is worse, a lawyer or an actor? Sometimes it's pretty much one in the same.

-Scott

Anyone seen the book, "Lawyers and other reptiles" ??/

That reminds me of a joke, "what do you call 200 lawyers at the bottom of the sea?"









(a good start.)
Dennis-

Damn,

Thats harsh

I rarely get on stage anymore. Most of my theater time now is spent directing.

And just for the record... Lawyers are worse

Couldn't have said it any better myself...

Jim

hey we better watch him. who are you going to bill for your time in posting this? RCU or everyone that reads it? his posts will get longer and longer just so he makes more money by the hour plus there is his secretaries fees for typing the post only kidding i have to say it was good advice as i made the same mistake when i first started and bought a plane i could not fly

Now now .... guys .... play nice !!

Dennis and others-

Har, har. Having extensively researched this subject (non-billable), I can tell you there are really only 3 lawyer jokes and all others are variations of the same 3 jokes:

1) Dennis' 200 dead lawyers joke. Also works with "in a hole" instead of the ocean. Variation: How do you tell the difference between a dead lawyer and a dead possum in the road? Skid marks leading up to the possum.

2) The "Why won't sharks attack lawyers? Professional courtesy." joke. Also works with snakes, vultures, etc.

3) The billable hours joke. "Lawyer dies at age 35 and meets St. Peter at the pearly gates. He asks Peter why he was taken so young. Peter says 'there must be a mistake. It says here you're 86.' Lawyer says, 'Oh that must be billable hours.'" Pauluk2w's joke obviously falls in this category.

Think about the lawyer jokes you know and tell me if its not true.

Actually there is one other that is one my absolute favorites that defies categorization. You've probably heard it: On his deathbed a wealthy man summons his doctor, his accountant and his lawyer. He says "I know you can't take it with you, but I want to try. I'm giving each of you $10,000 and I want you to put it in my coffin after my funeral but before I'm buried." The three solemnly promise to do so. After the funeral the three gather at the coffin to fullfill their vow. The doctor and the accountant each place their cash in the coffin. The lawyer, trying to simplify things, takes the money and leaves a check for $30,000 in the coffin.

-Scott

And I only know two actor jokes... One I can't tell here, but the other is:

We were doing the play "The Diary of Anne Frank". The actress that was playing Anne was so bad that when the Nazi's came to the door, the audience shouted:

"THEY'RE IN THE ATTIC!!!"

I find myself doing the same thing during the film version of "The Sound of Music," (one of my least favorite musicals) when the Nazis are searching the priory for the Von Trapps. Anything to avoid listening to any more of those sickening songs.

-Scott

[Nothing in the above comment should be taken to mean that I in any way endorse Adolph Hitler, his ideas or the National Socialist party. I merely hate sappy musicals.]

Note: I in no way endorse, advocate, or condone violence against any innocent person. I copied this from a different website.


Rules for hunting lawyers

Nebraska Attorney Hunting season and bag limits
1300.01 GENERAL

1. Any person with a valid Nebraska hunting license may harvest attorneys.

2. Taking of attorneys with traps or deadfalls is permitted. The use of currency as bait is prohibited.

3. Killing of attorneys with a vehicle is prohibited. If accidentally struck, remove dead attorney to roadside and proceed to nearest car wash.

4. It is unlawful to chase, herd, or harvest attorneys from a snow machine, helicopter, or aircraft.

5. It shall be unlawful to shout "whiplash", "ambulance", or "free Perrier" for the purpose of trapping attorneys.

6. It shall be unlawful to hunt attorneys within 100 yards of BMW dealerships.

7. It shall be unlawful to use cocaine, young boys, $100 bills, prostitutes, or vehicle accidents to attract attorneys.

8. It shall be unlawful to hunt attorneys within 200 yards of courtrooms, law libraries, health spas, gay bars, ambulances, or hospitals.

9. If an attorney is elected to government office, it shall be a felony to hunt, trap, or possess it.

10. Stuffed or mounted attorneys must have a state health department inspection for AIDS, rabies, and vermin.

11. It shall be illegal for a hunter to disguise himself as a reporter, drug dealer, pimp, female legal clerk, sheep, accident victim, bookie, or tax accountant for the purpose of hunting attorneys.

BAG LIMITS

1. Yellow Bellied Sidewinder 2
2. Two-faced Tort Feasor 3
3. Back-stabbing Divorce Litigator 5
4. Big-mouthed Pub Gut 2
5. Honest Attorney EXTINCT
6. Cut-throat 2
7. Back-stabbing Whiner 2
8. Brown-nosed Judge Kisser 2
9. Silver-tongued Drug Defender $100 bounty