WE WILL TRY TO BASE THESE QUESTIONS ON THE ONES WE RECEIVE EVERY SPRING AT OUR FLYING FIELD.
Q- I think I would like to try this hobby, but isn't it terribly expensive?
A- Not really when you compare it with other hobbies such as skiing, amateur radio, bowling, or even golf.
Q- What would I need and how much would it cost for me to get started?
A- First off, you do not have to start out with everything you will ever need. You should be able to purchase the basics, such as a primary trainer kit(Aerostar.40 is an excellent aileron trainer), a .40 size engine ( Enya, O. S., Super Tiger) are all good 40's, manual glo fuel pump, a gallon of 10% nitro glo fuel, glo plug starter and lastly a good 4 channel radio with a buddy cord jack on it for training purposes. You have to make sure that it has the jack because some of the manufacturers are cutting costs by not putting it on their lower priced models. These items are the bare necessities that you can get by on to start, they will cost you right around $300 to $400. Even better yet, you can sometimes find someone who is getting out of the hobby or just selling some of their equipment, this way you could get started for a lot less. As a matter of fact, you may find someone in a club that has moved up to faster and more complicated planes and they may sell you their primary trainer at a good price. Keeping watch of the newspaper ads also is a good way to find R/C equipment at bargain prices.
Q- If I do get all these things together and build the model, can't I just find a big field and try flying it myself?
A- No, that is not the way to start out learning to fly. There have been a lot of people who tried that method and totaled their plane on the first flight. This is a very discouraging and expensive way to learn to fly. Your best bet is to join a club before you even begin to build your model. Don't forget you will have lots of questions about the construction of your plane. Being a club member, you will be able to get advice and assistance from experienced fliers when you need it. I'm sure that after building a kit you will not want to take a chance on trying to teach yourself to fly. You will find that most clubs have instructors who will be glad to help you check out your plane and get you in the air on a buddy cord, which is the only smart and safe way to learn. Most clubs have a flight school scheduled in the spring for new pilots.
Q- How long will it take before I can solo?
A- That is a hard if not impossible question to answer. Everyone has a different learning curve and there is no set rule on how many flights it will require for you to be able to solo. Kids that have played a lot of video games usually pick it up quicker than the average person. If my memory serves me correctly, I believe the fastest person to solo that I've taught, needed only about 25 training flights on the buddy cord. It would be nice if everyone could pick it up that quick but there is just too much to learn for very many people to do that well.
Q- Do I have to join anything else besides the club in order to start learning to fly?
A- Yes you will need insurance which can be obtained from United Modelers of America (U. M. A.) at $35.00 to $40.00 a year for an adult, (Senior Citizen $25.00 to $30.00) or A. M. A. for $48.00 per year. Both give half price rates to juniors. It is best to find out which company the club is chartered with and then go with that one, as you can't belong to an A. M. A. club if you have U. M. A. insurance. Some U. M. A. clubs allow you to be a member of either company, but others require you (by local club rules) to have U. M. A. insurance.
Q- What is the average local club dues?
A- Adult membership usually runs between $60 to $100 per year, juniors about half price.
Q- If I decide to learn to fly R/C which engine and equipment should I buy?
A- Your best bet would be to ask someone in the club you are joining. They will probably be willing to go to the hobby shop with you and help you pick it out. Sometimes you need advice other than from the sales person who (in some cases are not R/C fliers) and are willing to sell you most anything.
Q- How can I find out if I would really like to fly R/C.
A- No problem, most clubs have people at their fields who will gladly let you take a trial flight. You would be on a buddy cord of course, so the pilot flying with you could take over if you got in trouble. (And you will, but not to worry, your instructor won't let you crash his plane!)
Q- Are you sure that I can't wreck your plane if I take a test flight?
A- Don't worry we even give little kids test flights and they love it! You might like it so much, that you will have to head down to "GJ's Hobby Shop" the very next day!