I'm getting very interested in RC planes, just found this great site, and have been finding all kinds of helpful info.

Now, I've grown up with flying real planes(Dad retired from 35 yrs as a comm. pilot, brother is flight instructor).
I have over 60 hours of flying time. Would this be benneficial in learning to fly an RC plane?

Its not the same. When the plane is coming at you, things are backwards. It is not that hard. Anyone can do it. It is a blast. Get a good instructor, build a good plane and enjoy it.

Yea it will help you a little because you already know basic flight characteristics, the same applies to models, when you bank into a turn you apply elevator and so on. But your not in the model when your flying so thats a lot harder.

I echo the others. I've got my ticket, but flying RC is not the same as full scale. The experience helps you understand what is going on but not the flying skill. Piloting a plane you are apart from is different from one you're sitting in. Get yourself a good instructor, build a plane then enjoy.

I do both also, but R/C is much harder. To get started, a simulator is worth its weight in gold

Lots of pilots think its simple untill they try,...only takes about 3 seconds for them to realize theres no comparison to a real plane.

Get a simulator. It's the best $250 I ever spent.

I have worked with several full-scale pilots learning to fly R/C. They tend to learn much quicker than true novices, but most have trouble flying toward themselves, and ALL want to be turned loose too soon! (with in most cases, sad results!) ALL students need to complete some sort of R/C flying classes with a competent instructor.

My friend is a full-scale pilot, I used G2 more than he did (prior to starting training).

I soloed in half the number of flights as he.

Anyway, my point is that I think sim time is probably a better prep that full-scale experience.

Other than that I have only two things to say to you:

Instructor
Buddy-box

Happy flying.

GB

It sure as heck will help you ENJOY the hobby-knowledge is power....but it may be of little help moving the sticks at first. If it makes you cock sure....its a detriment. Fly a sim for helpful sticktime.
PS. my father in law is a combat vet and comm pilot ret. and he won't get near my flight sim-he can stare down death but is afraid of ???failure? Don't put pride first.

I agree with everything that has been said so far. I just want to emphasize that you should start with a trainer. I've known a handful of full-scale pilots who mistakenly thought they could start with a "hot" model which they promptly splattered all over the runway.

Trainer model and an instructor is what you need. Buddy boxes are great and I recommend them. But if your radio isn't buddy box compatible, don't despair. Many of us learned how to fly with our FIRST trainer by throwing the radio at the instructor when we got into trouble. Of course, the instructor didn't appreciate having to make diving catches and then recover the model, but that's what good instructors do.

2ND that. Dont be in a hurry, start with a forgiving plane, if you dont, the sooner youll crash