I agree. IT's totally OK to teach yourself....It's just VERY expensive

And time consuming, and potentially unsafe, etc.

Every time one of these threads comes up, we go through the same discussion. Most, including me, will say it is very difficult and encourage the person to join a club, or at least find an instructor. A few will say they tried it on their own, crashed a few planes and then saw the light and sought help. A few more will say they did it on their own, after tearing up a variable amount of gear. And sometimes there's someone who asserts that they magically flew on their own with no significant damage to the plane, themself, others, or property.

My take is it's faster, cheaper, and safer to learn from someone who already knows how to fly and is competent enough to help others.

I can see what you's are all saying about an Intructor and all that learning stuff. But in summary...YES it is very POSSIBLE to teach yourself how to fly planes. Considering the majority of RC pilots in the old days taught them selves, ofcourse its going to involve a lot of sweat, blood and tears to become a natural at flying like most people...but take ya time and you will get there. Intructors are good for complete or total noobs at planes and also semi-noobs but also known the basics. But if you wanna be an idiot like me and go for it and dont mind spending 100 bux on a new kit, then go ahead. Im just glad my first solo is over and done with, now Im flying every weekend! and loving it!

Good luck mate!!

Yes, it's possible, but VERY DIFFICULT! Most who try, fail and are never heard from again.
This argument comes up often. The early R/C experiences were with designs adapted from free flight. Their planes were slower and even more stable than today's trainers.
It's been shown time and again that even people who are VERY well versed in all aspects of flying still have trouble learning to fly an R/C plane.
As has been mentioned already, there's more at risk than $100. Since this is the beginners forum, it's best to advocate the path that's been shown over and over to be most likely to succeed rather than encouraging someone to follow a path that's been proven to result in failure for many.
Good to hear, it's lots of fun!

It's really a shame. Many responsible people come here and make sensible recommendations that he find an instructor for a number of well thought out and explained reasons and then one (must remember not to flame/degrade) errr "person" comes in and throws it all right out the window with cavalier what-the-hel* attitude. [:'(]

This being a forum for beginners, that statement really, really needs some discussion.

If the only thing required for success at flying RC models was an understanding of the basics of flight, it would make it a lot easier for anyone to successfully solo by themselves. It isn't. It isn't even close. It's not even in the same universe.

If you are a beginner who is thinking it's possible to learn RC flying by yourself, and have read this far, a couple of things really need to be restated.

The airplane can have a bunch of things wrong with it that can make it very hard to fly for even an experienced flyer. And an experienced flyer can look the airplane over and fix them before the airplane's first flight. Can you? And those problems with the airplane happen all the time. Almost every new airplane has something that needs straightening before it's first flight, or that shows up on it's first flight. And don't think you can dodge those bullets by buying a used model. Models sold as "it flies great" often haven't ever flown at all. If you've never flown before, your airplane needs to be checked over by an experienced flyer. You aren't going to have a chance to learn to fly with an airplane that doesn't fly worth spit. When you crash it, you won't even know that it was the airplanes fault.

And the engine can have a bunch wrong with it....... re-read the paragraph above and think "engine".

Do we sound harsh?? Some do. They like modeling and are passionate about it. And it's a lousy idea that's got huge odds against it, that you're going to succeed by yourself. It can actually be honestly called "stupid". It most certainly is "ignorant", but learning erases ignorance. And it's worth sounding harsh about this idea.

I've read the above comments regarding Qwerty11's question about whether an instructor was absolutely necessary and I am amused at some of the answers. There is NO doubt that enlisting the help of an instructor is the BEST and MOST SUCCESSFUL way to go. But it is not the ONLY way to go, as seems to be the automatic response.

Back in the 1960s, when many of us started to learn, we had to teach ourselves because there wasn't an experienced R/C modeler behind every tree. We learned by spending hours taxiing our planes in the old high school asphalt parking lot on Saturday mornings. When we got good at that, we transitioned to high speed straight line runs but chopped the throttle before actually taking off. After that, we would practice taking off for only a few feet of altitude and then landing straight ahead. And finally, after "mastering" these very basic takeoff procedures, we took off and, with our hearts in our throats, did our first circuit and landing. Eventually, we got the hang of flying but usually at the expense of 735,876,412,571,624,875 Top Flite wooden props. Was this the right way to learn? Back then, yes but, admittedly, there are definitely better ways to learn these days and enlisting the aid of an instructor heads the top of the list.

However, it is STILL possible and legal for someone to teach themselves to fly and when a newcomer asks innocently whether an instructor is mandatory, we shouldn't all start telling him how utterly stupid it would be to not get an instructor. Many newcomers are not convenient to a big city with a plethora of active R/C clubs and instructors. In fact, there are thousands of little country towns that are several hours from the nearest R/C club.

And lets talk about jerks and cliques. We are kidding ourselves if we think that EVERY R/C club welcomes newbies with open arms. I can speak with experience when I say that some clubs don't want to share their runway or frequencies with a kid and his slow trainer. And when they do, it might be at sundown when the more experienced pilots (the clique) have put away their quarter scale buzz bombs and are sitting around drinking beer and making snotty comments about the kid's less-than-perfect Monokote job.

Now that I've riled up everybody's feathers, let me point out that I'm a firm believer that enlisting the aid of an instructor is better, safer and cheaper in the long run (especially if you add up all of those Top Flite props!) And I'll be the first to admit that most clubs are full of great folks who DO welcome beginners. Nonetheless, we have to get out of this mindset that learning without an instructor is akin to criminal behavior. After all, there's always that chance that Qwerty11's closest R/C club is across two alligator infested rivers and over a mountain range. And once he gets there, he finds that the club has posted snipers on the roof to keep beginners out. Okay, admittedly it's a stretch but I think it's safe to say that not all of us are fortunate enough to live within a mile of three R/C clubs. Sometimes, teaching yourself isn't stupid when it's the only option.

Okay, I'm bracing myself for the inevitible rebuttles. I can take it. :-)

Pavlov's dog... can't help it.

Get a rope...[:@]

I see this every time this subject comes up.
Yes some people do learn on their own but those that succeed are followed by many others who fail and give up on this hobby out of disgust.
The odds of success without at least some help is very low so in my opinion someone coming on and saying I did it myself so no reason you can't is completely irresponsible.
Just because you did it doesn't increase the odds for the original poster.
In the beginning there was no instruction is false, RC flight evolved slowley starting with free flight models and there was always someone there to show the newbie how it is done.

I am on of the few percentage that did it. I posted the same thread and had the same responses. Now looking back at it if you have a club then their is no reason to not have an instructer. I didnt so I wasnt going to go on a days trip spending money on gas that could go into a new plane if I crashed. Anyways after probably hundreds of hours on the simulator I went out and did it fine. The take off wasnt pretty but got it in the air. Flying the actuall plane is easy. Once it has its airspeed you are not flying the plane you are redirecting it. When the time came to land I was shocked at how long they could glide. So after a few aproaches I got the hang of it and did a fine landing for my first time. Once you have the first flight down you know what to expect and it gets easier and easier. But one thing is for sertain there are naturals. I have put some of my freinds on the sim and they cant keep the plane in the air for 5 seconds. I suggest if you cannot solo your 20 flight on a sim then you should get an instructer. I was lucky that I had raced cars and had know problom with perspective. Just my opinion.

I totally agree with My Extra 260,

I was in he's same situation with my first solo and its true, one you have done it once - you can do it much easier the second time because you know what to exspect. Thats not to say that you are becoming a natural after the first flight and wont be crashing for the rest of your RC life. And I will agree, some people here make out that if you dont have an Intructor you will end up failing and blah blah blah. Look the more you learn yourself the better you will be with how everything operates. Some people (just like back in school) get taught something and it goes in one ear and out the other. I also agree that flying is easy, once its up there...its easy to fly, its just take offs and landings that are the hassle. The majority of Intructors get the plane up in the air for you and then hand the controls which is fact they should give them more time on take offs and landings. Ofcourse not on the first flight but atleast give the begginers some feel for the landings and takeoffs.

I would advise any begginer to do ATLEAST some research on RC planes before venturing out and paying hundreds of dollars on a new trainer and exspecting it to fly straight away. Theres MANY factors that come into play with this to just "will it fly good". With any RC and no matter how much money it cost, safety ALWAYS comes first. And to tell ya the truth RC planes and Helis are very dangerous if not handled the appropriate way. You could risk hurting yourself and others if you dont know what you are doing. Study before you attempt anything like this and you should atleast be fine with the basics.

Intructors are up to you. Another good thing is invest in a RC Simulator, just like the majority of all of us. Spend some hours (proabbly a week will do) and you should be fine.

Good Luck!

Actually, the responses aren't automatic and they aren't all saying it's the only way to go.

Most of them list the multitude of reasons that it's simply an ignorant way to go. And try to "teach" away that ignorance. Frankly, the subject comes up so often, that there really ought to be a sticky that sums up the reasons for it, and the people who suggest it's possible (they really don't have reasons for it because there really aren't any, just testimony that it has been done).

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I say good on ya' Dave. Its good to hear you are committed the way you are about RC's. And I respect that and what others have to say. Im not saying there is a right or wrong answer, all im saying is...yes its possible to teach your self. I can understand people like you are gonna be frustrated to hear people say what a waste of time Intructors are..etc etc, because of all the hard work you have put into this hobby.

I can just see this discussion going on and on, someone said they should made a Sticky, maybe so...That way everyone can get an idea.
Look my 2 cents is that you can learn several ways. Either:

Yourself
Simulators
Intructors
Friends

Just to name a few...

It's not an "automatic" response, it's an informed response. I am myself self-taught and would not wish that upon another if it can be avoided. It took me 4 planes to get reasonably comfortable. If a student can get solo'd in one lesson that's great, but he may also need months. During those months he may save much money and injury (to himself and others) by having an instructor.

There are 2 clubs about 25 miles from you it would appear
http://www.modelaircraft.org/ClubZip...?z=74501+&d=50
While not REAL close, still better than you indicated. Check them out. Have you checked with your LHS to see if there are any others?

.

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MY FIRST TRIP TO THE FIELD. I WAS WAITING FOR MY INSTRUCTOR SO I WAS RUNNING MY PLANE UP AND DOWN THE RUNWAY TO GET THE FEEL OF IT ON THE GROUND. WELL IT DECIDED IT WANTED TO FLY. I GUESS I WAS GOING TO FAST. I SPENT THE REST OF THE DAY TRACKING DOWN A HOBBIE SHOP THAT WAS OPEN ON SUNDAY. AS I WAS IN THE PROCESS IF FIXING IT. I FOUND A FREE SIMULATOR ON THE INTERNET CALLED FMS. IT IS GREAT. TRY GETTING THAT DOWNLOAD. IT REALY IS A GOOD TRAINER. MY NEXT TRIP TO THE FIELD (AFTER ABOUT 40 HOURS ON FMS) I HAD AN INSTRUCTOR TAKE OFF AND LAND MY PLANE FOR ME ON A BUDDY BOX OF COURSE. I GOT A TOTAL OF MABEY TEN MINUTES STICK TIME. MY NEXT TRIP OUT I TOOKOFF AND LANDED 4 SOLOS BY MY SELF. I DID HAVE AN INSTRUCTOR EXPLAINING HOW TO GET INTO THE FINAL APPROACH ATTATUDE AND IT CAME IN FOR A SMOOTH LANDING EVERYTIME.

I DID A TON OF RESEARCH AND SPENT AT LEAST 40 HOURS ON FMS SIMULATOR BE FOR TAKING MY PLANE UP. FOR THE FIRST TIME IT REALY HELPS ALSO TRY READING THIS. WWW.palosrc.com/instructors/teachrc.htm#V THIS WAS VERY HELPFULL.
FINAL WORDS OF ADVISE. I ALSO AM NEW AT THIS THE INCIDENTS I SPOKE OF IN THIS HAPPENED LAST WEEK. YOU CAN DO THIS, YOU WILL CRASH IF YOU TRY TO TAKE OFF WITHOUT AN INSTRUCTOR ON A BUDDY BOX, PROBBILY NOT ON TAKE OFF BECAUSE YOU SOUND LIKE YOU HAVE A GOOD KNOWLEDGE OF HOW PLANES FLY BUT, YOU WILL TRYING TO GET IT BACK DOWN.(HOPEFULLY NOT TOO BAD THOUGH.) WHEN ITS COMMING AT YOU JUST MOVE THE STICK TOWARDS THE SIDE OF THE WING YOU WANT TO COME UP TO LEVEL OFF. GOOD LUCK
MATT

Okay, now that we have answered qwerty 1st question, let's do the other two . Typically 1 inch of grass or lower. You need plane w/ engine, 4 ch radio(IMO) fuel, glow ignitor, extra props(2 ea.) glow plugs(2ea),chicken stick, or electric starter, 12 volt batt for starter,genaral tools, ie. screwdriver ,etc.,fuel pump or squeeze bulb,good hat( it's for the other pilots so you don't blind them if you have a bald spot like me ) good pair of sunglasses( hat and shades can be used to hide your tears when you R.I.P. your fav. plane) AMA card, Club Card, genaral box or bag to keep all your stuff in one spot, Windex, clean-up rags or towels,ev'ry thang you can borrow from other peeps. Rob



P.S. where are you qwerty, hope we haven't scared you away............

Look online , or ask at your local hobby shop and dont be affraid to ask for help. you will be glad you did later. A lot of people that go it alone usually quit the hobby

Dave, I'm really sorry that the word "ignorant" got to you. But it doesn't mean "stupid" and "stupid" wasn't used. When someone doesn't know something, it's no insult to say that they are ignorant because it is the word that means no insult.

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Dave I just solo'd last week with a instructor it took 3 Saturdays to do it but what I think helped the most was using the G3 simulator to get familiar with the way the controls affect the plane. We are about the same age and in about the same situation as far as distance to field ex. I got a lot of great info from my instructor and he taught me a lot about the way to stay safe (thinks can happen quickly) that can cause injury . Please let us know how you progress and have fun.