So this is going to be a story post I guess. The other day I had to get my inspection done and the dealer is right near my local field. I haven't finished my plane yet, the radio is supposed to be here tomorrow then I just need field stuff and memberships to finish it out. Well, I figure its Tuesday and trainer day so I'll go by and say 'hi,' get some face time in, talk to the guys. It's a super friendly club. Another guy shows up that I've never met and aparently he was the only one to bring a buddy box. Now, I go to the field to watch, I know all you guys and guys at the field always say don't come without a plane, yadda yadda. But I seriously go to hang out, get a feel for the people, who's a conversationalist and what-not.

Anyway, this guy takes out his equipment and I'm all talkin to him about painting my house (interior, he's a painter and drives his truck to the field). So, he's just met me and goes, 'so lets see what you can do!' I was all excitedd, he knew I didn't bring a plane and all, but these guys just don't care! They just want to get people in the air and have fun, unlike some stories I've heard about those clicky clubs and such (sorry to you guys, you're missin' out).

Anyway, 10 minute flight, did circles and such, he was happy with my flying so he had me do a few loops and rolls. He brought the plane back and bit later he wanted me on the box again! So I did the same circles following pattern and such, it was great. Never expected my thumbs to be so shakey. So he starts tellin me, next time I should bring my plane and I explain the details of parts I'm missing and what-not. He says, 'while you're on the cord you can't land, you bring yours and you'll land.' But not 2 minutes later he's got me doing slow, low passes. Third one I'm comin real close to the deck and he says, 'cut the throttle back.' I'm all, 'Cut it?! Am I landing this?' He flatly replied, 'Yup!' So, down on the grass she went, nice and smooth and on my second flight. Couldn't contain myself :-D Called my brother, sister, father, wife, etc. It was just too exciting. And now I'm here telling everyone about it in great detail. Anyway, that's my first and second flight story. Tons of fun, I just can't wait to get my own plane up there again and again.

-Dave

Isn`t it an absolutely terrific feeling? Looks like we have another one hooked!

See the guy 'cheated' you into landing the plane, so you did not have the opportunity to get nervous at all! Hahaha ...

That's great Dave. Most clubs I've been to act that way towards new guys.

We try to get people up that are interested, plane or not. (Cuz once they've been up, their hooked. [>:] )
Dennis-

Same experiences I had with the local club here in Lakeside (San Diego) - great folks who really care about new pilots "first impression" - I still re-live my first flight, takeoff and landing - am I am still pins&needles after over a month of solo flying. But I still love it!

Oh, I was hooked long ago, bout 10 years. But I've just got back into it. 10 years ago I had a plane and all the parts and such, just a teenager. My father and I didn't know about clubs, instructors and what-not, so that plane was short lived :-( So now I've given myself a chance to get back in again with a little more money to throw at it and I'm def. hooked perm. this time. ;-)

Good for you Dave. Fun isnt' it? Just like one of the other posts said, you didn't have the time to think about getting nervous.

hehe....better open your piggy bank!!!! One plane leads to another and another and another....Currently, I have 20 models flying on electric power and 3 flying glow. Its a real sickness according to the house Kommadant....

Dave...

that is a beautiful story! i also often go to the field just to look. when i moved back to taiwan i really wanted to see if i'd continue to hobby here so i went out to chat up some of the people that were at the flying sight. they were about as rude as they could be. they responded curtly often with one word responses. even the lhs owners seemed fed up with me even before i finished my first question! despite that, i ended up back in the addiction er... i meant hobby. They are far more cordial to me now since i have some very nice planes flying. but i can't get over the fact that they were so rude in the beginning. i know that if people ask about the hobby, i would be more than happy to give them all the information they need to get started. i ALWAYS bring a buddy box for my easystar so that anyone with remote interest can fly. two weekends ago i had a friend plow it into some trees. its fixed and looking for a new victim! i wish those people would've been half as nice as the ones at your field.

I think you'll find most clubs out there are as NewbieT has explained his is, the others are far and few between. We have a very similar club as described everyone eager to help out oneanother. I find myself stopping by while I am at work instead of lunch I swing by and chit chat with the guys that are there. Its amazing the things you can pick up by listening to some of the other guys experiences. My Brother and I are fixed wing pilots going on 10 years now and theres a heli guy at our field who even though he doesnt fly planes has helped us out tremendously on our YS engine issues because thats all he runs in his helis and we have just gotten our first 2. Now it seems more and more we like the helis everytime he shows up with his we get all excited like 2 kids on christmas. He actually inspired us to look into them enough where we bought 2 micro ones and fly em in our living room. I have a new passon now its called heli's. I think my wife is going to divorce me....................oh well just dont take my planes away form me, everything else is negotiable. HAHA. Actually I have a very supportive wife I am lucky I guess.

That's one thing I'm lucky about, a supportive wife. She's always supportive of the hobbies I do. I also own a 90g planted aquarium ;-) That's quite a hobby, but the pace is a bit slow for me. It's shining in our kitchen as we speak, but there were ups and downs, especially now that it's a center piece since we've moved I have to keep it up well...

Anyway, there was one other field by where I used to live (moved just a month ago) and those guys weren't as nice, not nearly. They'll let you sit and watch, but talking is off limits, that's for club members ;-) There was one sole guy that I managed to strike up a conversation with (but then he wouldn't stop talking ;-)

Anyway, I can't imagine that there are too many other clubs out there that don't have nice members. I don't know, but since I started building my plane, it's turned into a group thing. It would be too boring going down to the field and flying alone ALL the time, right? Anyway, I can't wait to get into it full swing.