Hobbies And Interests
Practice at Home
Practice on an RC flight simulator before ever touching a real model. These can be purchased off the shelf at most hobby shops and offer a very realistic flying experience. These simulators use an RC transmitter and enable novice pilots to familiarize themselves with all the various flight controls without the inherent dangers of flying. You will be more confident and prepared to fly at your local field once you have mastered one of these models at home.
Join an RC Flying Club
Joining an RC Flying Club is perhaps the most crucial step in learning how to fly. You can visit your local hobby shop to find out where the nearest flying field is located. The advice and experience offered by club members is invaluable. Many RC modellers with club affiliation have been involved in the hobby for several years and are proficient fliers with a variety of models. Tips on everything from which model to buy, tuning, modifying and flying will be a huge asset to any new pilot.
The Setup
The model you wish to train on will need to be setup to provide gentle and management flight characteristics desirable for first time fliers. Programming in dual-rates -- most RC radios now include this feature -- will allow you to quickly switch between beginner mode and a sports setting designed for seasoned pilots that want to extract more performance from the model.
Flight Instruction
Many clubs have student nights where flight instructors help newcomers understand the basics of flight in a controlled environment. Instructors not only teach flying skills, but also flight safety and ground handling. All of these skills must be mastered before students can receive their wings and become recognized pilots with solo flying privileges.