So how do people usually go about finding a person to show them the ropes and a place to fly? Just visit the hobby shop? I'm from Farmington Minnesota and I've flown my electric plane but I'm a little nervous to try out my gas planes without somebody who knows what they are doing. Ideas? People from the Minneapolis area read this? Thanks.

Minnesota R/C Directory

http://www.net-express.com/mnrc/home.html

I don't see a Power flying site close to you however there is a soaring one, they might be able to guide you there. Minnesota Radio Control Soaring Society

There website also is: http://www.mrcss.org/

You can go here...

http://modelaircraft.org/templates/a...4DA1C891346FB1

That's the AMA site local club lookup. Once you find the contact persons phone number/email you can contact them or they may have a website posted to check out.

First of all, go to the AMA's website and do a search for a club in that area or ask at the hobby shop about a local flying field. When you get to the field it helps to flash a couple of twenties($$) around and let people know that you're interested in flying. They'll take it from there.

Dave,
If you're going to post comments like this, you should stick a smiley face at the end so folks know you're kidding. (You WERE kidding, right??!)
Dennis-

A buddy of mine told me one of the local clubs was charging him $20.00 an hour for flight training. I'm currently teaching him for nothing but a hand shake. The first time I met him was the day of my first free lesson.

I wanted to go to the club on Saturday to fly my avistar, so i need to pay $20 for one hour flight? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I would pay a monthly membership for $20 but not for hour of flight

Dennis,

- - I certainly hope so too!

hocpoc - don't consider using an instructor who charges as much as $20. They obviously aren't in the hobby for the right reasons.

Quite right Nik!

-DC

Flight instruction is free if your a member at my field.

Perhaps the club is charging $20 AN HOUR for on demand one-on-one training, equipment supplied, but also, just like all the "good" clubs which offers very limited training, once or twice a week, where the student isn't allowed to make any demands on anyone, plus must supply his own equipment.

In other words, the student and instructors has the OPTION to make an appointment to take/give a solid hour of instruction any day of the week, OR wait for the one or two days setup aside for training and hope that there are enough instructors around or there isn't a long line of beginners waiting for their turn or it doesn't rain on the only day(s) free instruction is offered.

nascarjoe

HocPoc & Nik,
I don't know of a single RC club that charges for flight instruction. I know that there are a few out there, but they're rare.

So if your club wants to charge you to learn, I'd find another club.

nascarjoe,
Our club use to have a "trainer night", where two or three instructors would provide help to whoever showed up. We stopped that in favor of the student and instructors arranging days & times that are convenient for both. (We still don't charge and never would.)
Dennis-

Although the "free" instruction concept is a noble gesture, when I was desperately trying to get help in the several different clubs I had belonged to, I definitely would have appreciated having the OPTION of paying the club for a GUARANTEED HOUR of instruction rather than waiting for help that more times than not never came.
Of course this is coming from a beginner's perspective and not that of someone who already knows how to fly.

When someone says that they "would never charge" I would venture to say that declaration may not be appreciated by all, particularly your club's beginners. Who knows? Maybe most, if not all beginners would share the "no charge" philosophy, but unfortunately, they will never be given that choice. I'm sure most beginners like the idea of the limited for-favor better than the on-demand aspects of paying to learn ASAP.

nascarjoe

The $20 an hour my friend was quoted was solely for accompanied stick time. He would have to supply his own plane, fuel, flight gear, etc.

Also as a beginner I wouldn't mind the "option" of paying a flat fee per hour for someone guaranteed to be there with 100% attention during that time.

I would not mind paying $20 for a lesson either. I have to work mon-fri and can only fly in the evenings or weekends. Most instructors at my club only fly in the morning. They are there on weekends, but here in NJ we haven't had a rain free weekend since March.

Read my post again.
This is the reason we started having students and instructors set up their own times. We STILL don't charge.

Gawd, I never thought I'd have to argue against beginners for their free instruction.

Guess I'll have to rethink my position. I could use the extra $80 to $100 per week for new planes.

Keep a couple things in mind guys;
1) If I'm charging by the hour, it's the length of time I'm at the field for you. If it takes you 20 minutes to get your plane together, and 15 to re-fuel and restart between flights, you're paying for that time too.
2) From my experience it takes an average of 20+ flights to solo. (Some don't solo after 40. ) With set-up, re-fueling, etc., the average "flight" takes at least 1/2 hour. So you should probably expect to pay a minimum of $200 to $300 to solo.

(Geez, if I train six or eight guys per summer, plus one or two each spring and fall.... )
Dennis-

I know/understand what your saying. But even when you set up your on times the instructor doesn't always show, you don't always get 100% of the attention while your there for numerous reasons.

I'm not saying make all instruction pay per session. Just have the option for those that want the service.

Instruction at may club is free. We have both a "beginners night" (Tuesday night), a beginners morning (Sunday morning), and guys who arrange to get together at all sorts of times to do training. It seems to work farily well.

My club does not have a "club trainer", but some of us have trainers that get used once in a while for such things.

I totally understand how a student might want to pay $20 or so to have an instructors total attention. We try to do a "team approach" to things at our club. Last Tuesday, I was flying, while a couple of other guys from the club were doing pre-flight, groundschool, repairs and adjustments. This keeps the instructor pilots flying with students while other guys can work out engine problems or whatever else might take away stick time.

Kirk

Well, apparently you don't.
I have no idea who your instructor(s) is. But at our club, if I arrange a day/time to meet you, I will be there. (The other instructors are the same way.)

At times, I may have someone coming after you and I have put in flights, or maybe we'll fly while you're refueling, but very few newbies want to put in more than two flights in a row anyway. They usually want a 20 minute break to calm the shaking knees. (Do you want to pay me for that rest period too?)

I don't see your argument, guess I'm just thick. :stupid:

I wouldn't mind paying for down time etc.. Just like instructions in anything else.

You take guitar lessons you don't just pay for the actual time you sit there and play guitar. You pay for the instructors time to be there and instruct you.

Keep the free trainer day/afternoon or whatever your club has. But don't look down on people who want a guaranteed 1 on 1 100% total attention full blown professional instructor job and are willing to pay for it.

shrug

Borzak,

I think you hit upon the word that explains this whole discussion. The word is "professional". Most of us, whether we are beginner or expert, are still amateurs. We do this because we "love" to fly. It is a sport among gentlemen. No doubt you have noticed this by the willingness of others to help. If you have come across a group of fliers who do not demonstrate this type of camaraderie, then I suggest you look elsewhere.

There is nothing better than seeing a new pilot solo.

I've been flying since Feb. and I regularly fly with 4 different instructors. It works out well for all involved time wise. I always ask who's available on such and such day and time and I fly with who ever is available. The instructors time is valuable to them so I try very hard not to waste it. I would love to fly back to back to back burning gallons of fuel, but then that's not fair to the instructors. I always be sure not to be pushy or insistent and allow them to fly whatever they bring for themselves. I do expect the time spent during a lesson to be focused on my training. I think it's all about balance and patience. To many club instructors seem to get burned out and simply refuse to teach so they can fly as they wish and I don't blame them! As a newbie remember it's their time too. This hobby is meant to be fun and when the funs gone who's going to show up!! Thank's to Mano, Steve, Larry and John for teaching me to fly!!