Hello All-

First I would like to say thanks to everyone that has taken the time to reply to the posts in this section. You have made my entry into the hobby much more informed, and THAT will make a great hobby even better!

I just ordered my first plane. A Hanger 9 Alpha 60 trainer. Although there have been tons of different recommendations listed here, I decided to flip a coin, ok best two out of three, and the Hanger 9 came out on top.

I have also (same day I ordered my Alpha) called up a somewhat local club, and have got setup on a mentoring program with a instructor. Now I can be learning from him while waiting for my Alpha, and continue the process once it's ready to fly!

I'm considering starting a !QUOT!Virtual!QUOT! club. I'm a computer engineer by force (Have to pay for the toys somehow), and would like to investigate setting up a !QUOT!community!QUOT! sim program/club for people all over the globe to gather at and participate in showing their flying skills to eachother. Does anyone know if this is already being done? I don't want to hone in on someone else's territory.

Also, I have about 45 acres of land that is being put to no good use at all. Just open space, away from highways and power lines, does a club have to be sanctioned? All advice here would be great.

Thanks again.

Jac-Nsty.

No, a club does not have to be sanctioned. If you have AMA and permission to fly there, and you are flying safely following AMA rules, they will cover you. However your club won't be a club in the eyes of the AMA, so you arn't going to get flying site assistance funding and whatever else they have.
The sim idea sounds like a good idea too!

Sean

Have you been to the local club's field yet? Is what you have better than what they're currently using? Do they own or lease thier field? If they lease, and you have something better, they might be willing to move.
I went to the January meeting of my local club and, beleive it or not, one of the topics was "The lease check has been cashed, so I guess we have the field for the year". I think my club would love an opportunity like the one you could offer yours

AMA does NOT sanction clubs, they sanction events. You may be referring to clubs being "Chartered" by the AMA. I'll say one thing about chartered clubs; having a club chartered provides the landowner (you in this case) with liability insurance should someone get hurt while on your land.

The fact that you're considering opening an RC field on your property is a wonderful thing, and something I wish I had the land to do, but don't risk losing that land by being under-insured. [:@] By chartering your new club, and requiring AMA membership to fly on your property, you'll be better off in that respect.

I too like the web club idea. Not sure how you'll enable "flying" on such a site, but the idea is intriguing. Great Planes Real Flight G2 and the newer G3 allow RC flyers to fly together on-line. But of course, everyone needs the software.

Welcome to RCU and to RC flight!
Dennis-