RE: when to stop trying
 

Luker - congratulations! I'll bet you can't wait to get back to the field and take her up for another 5 or 6 flights! (I hope you've got free time - this stuff is addicting!)

RE: when to stop trying
 

That is so wonderful to hear. I remember teaching last year and the plan was for me to take it up and take it down and my student could have the time in between. Well I told him to at least do some taxi tests as we were alone at the field. On the 3rd taxi down the runway I told him to just slowly keep feeding in power. He did and the plane very gently rose off the runway. He was so excited, after some circuits I told him to practice some approaches. I told him to not even worry about landing, just line up the plane to the runway and practice slowly cutting power. He got closer and closer with each pass and finally I didn't tell him to go around but instead cut power and before he knew it the plane gently landed on the runway. Sometimes all that time you have to think about all that can go wrong gets in your way of just having fun. Glad to hear your having fun. I have really learned to enjoy those warm summer Saturdays at the field flying and watching others fly and the friendships that go along with it. Never to late to start is a great motto. :D

RE: when to stop trying
 

Lukar, Since I was a small boy and bought my first RC Mag, I knew I wanted to fly! Tried to when I was small but my dad ended up in the hospital for years and had to help with the bills, Got older and then married and my wife bought me a PT-40 kit and I built it, She hated that plane and always threaten to break it, Then when my youngest daughter was about 5 weeks old she left me and my four daughters. Between being a full time dad and working full time there was no time to follow the RC dream so I sold the plane and did not start again till years later, Then one of my daughters got sick and had to sell the RC stuff again! Now forward years later, I now am an RC pilot and love everything about it, all the great freinds I have made and fly every chance I get, And am now teaching my grandkids! 53 airplanes now, Was it worth the wait? you bet!

RE: when to stop trying
 

Way to go. We old dogs can learn new tricks.

It took me a long time to get where I think I am actually an RC pilot, keep em in the air.

Gary

RE: when to stop trying
 

A Telemaster or Sig Kadet are great trainer aircraft. Anything big is better believe it or not. Use fiberglass props instead of wood for now. They are harder to break. Get a new instructor. Remember that the elevator controls the speed of the airplane and the throttle controls altitude. You have been flying long enough to visualize what the airplane 'should' do with radio control inputs. Practice virtually. Have a flight plan when you got to the field. Fly patterned approaches. Seems regimented but it works. Also, once you are finished training you can modify your trainer with floats or, maybe, a camera for different fun! Good luck, ARUP

RE: when to stop trying
 

CONGRATULATIONS on having a good day!

If you start breaking props again AND you are using APCs you could try Graupner grey props they are more forgiving.

RE: when to stop trying
 

I didn't have time to read 4 pages, so I'll just answer it with what comes to mind. You're going to do a lot better if you fly something slow. Not all trainers are equal.
The right plane for you is out there. Like you said, you love to fly. Imagine what it feels like to pick the right plane and have many successful days, especially when it's slow and forgiving?
Suggestions

Bigger is better, so Kadet Senior. Telemaster Senior. Butterfly with a .25 LA on it. http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXYXJ4&P=7

I trained a cannabis burnout once, that was about as toasted as a waffle.
He was the slowest learner I ever met in my life and for obvious reasons.
He was crashing Tower trainers faster than his disability checks could cover.
So I found a Butterfly and threw a .25 LA on it, and he flew that 3 channel wonder at a top speed of 25 mph beautifully for several months until one day it blew out of the back of his pick up truck on his way to the field and he couldn't find it.

I moved him up to a Telemaster Senior, and he had a blast.
That is my best advice. These planes are very slow to respond, lift off the ground at 5 mph, land at walking speeds,
and are a pleasure to fly, for both straight and burnt out hobbyists alike. :D:D:D No offense to anyone, it's just a true story.
Don't put a .15 LA on a Butterfly as Tower suggests, you're in Texas, windy there, yes? The .25 helps you bring that flying glider back to the runway a lot easier and it's a kit, so building it may introduce some extra weight, a .25 can handle with ease.

RE: when to stop trying
 

Don't ever stop trying. I'm 71 and hope to fly from my grave. I've loved flying since I was 13. Hang in there. :)