| Clubs provide instructors at no charge, however, they USUALLY require | joining the club AND the AMA. Learning with an instructor is the best | way to go.
By `usually' he means `almost always'. Some may let you fly once or twice using the instructor's plane, but they won't train you all the way through being able to fly yourself.
| You can teach yourself to fly. Many people have done it. What you need | to be aware of is: Teaching yourself to fly has a steep learning curve. | It is normally very frustrating (not to mention expensive) and the | first flight of someone teaching them self to fly is USUALLY less than | 30 seconds and frequently results in damage to the plane and/or | equipment on the plane.
Trying this with the 0.40 sized built up balsa wood plane is almost a guarantee of a plane-destorying crash within one minute.
| IMHO, learning with an instructor is the best way to go. The instructor | will make sure your plane is OK to fly (balance is correct, servos | working, etc). The instructor will also "trim" the plane out in the air | so it flies properly. The instructor will then make sure you do not | learn any bad/unsafe habits, and finally, the instructor can frequently | keep you from damaging your plane while you are learning.
If you do go the `electric in the park' route, an instructor is still useful. Even if he's just a guy who knows how to fly R/C but has never really taught anybody, and with no buddy box, his input will still be extremely useful.
| I learned on a glo plane. They are 4 channel planes and do fly faster | than electric trainers. They also require a larger area to fly in.
They're also noiser and much more dangerous. Do not try to learn to fly one on your own without an instructor.
| The MAJORITY of electric trainers are 3 channel. The MAJORITY of | electric trainers are frequently "park flyer" size (wingspan under 30"),
Actually, even the park fliers have bigger wingspans than that. Pico Stick = 38". Pico Moth = 31.5". Slow Stick = 46". Firebird Commander = 40". Only a few have wingspans smaller than 30", and they're usually the really low-end toys.
| fly substantially slower than glo planes and are extremely light. Due | to their light weight, MOST of them have difficulty with wind 5 mph and | higher. The more advanced electric planes are 4 channel, while the more | advanced glo planes often are using 5, 6, or more channels.
Once you get above a certain level, you can get pretty much anything in glow or electric -- it's just a matter of how much you're willing to pay.
| If you are going to stay with electric planes a 4 or 5 channel radio | will do you for quite a few years. If you are going to fly glo planes, | I suggest a 6 channel (or more) radio so you do not "out grow it" in a | season or two. In either case, I strongly suggest a COMPUTER radio.
There is no fundamental difference here between electric and glow. You can get 2 channel glow planes, and 10 channel electrics. It depends on what you want, and what you've got to spend.
| IF there are no clubs in your area AND/OR you decide to teach | yourself to fly, a Slow Stick is a pretty good trainer. They are | slow, reasonably stable and normally easy to repair when you crash | (not if, WHEN).
Agreed. Another option, if you have any good slope flying slopes nearby and the wind is usually good, would be a zagi-like flying wing glider. Cheap and indestructible. And fun!
If you do decide to teach yourself, make sure you don't fly within 3 miles of an established club without working out some sort of frequency sharing. They can't prevent you from flying closer (though they might think they can) but do be aware that if two people are using the same frequency and are close, a crash or two is likely to happen. Also, if you're flying near somebody else, always make sure you two aren't on the same frequency before turning your transmitter on.