How to Get Started With Radio-Controlled Model Gliders

Find plenty of space in either a garage or spare room. Ask your husband, wife or housemate first.

Locate a local hobby store or online hobby store.

Start with a very simple design that has a flat-bottom wing design. The Goldberg Gentle Lady is a common introductory glider plane.

Be prepared to spend between $200 and $300 for the plane, radio and equipment. This includes a hot-iron heat gun, covering, cutting instruments, T-pins and some extra balsa for rebuilding.

Buy a four-channel radio instead of a two-channel one. You will want the four-channel soon enough.

Reserve about 10 hours for building your first plane. Learning to fly takes much longer - several months.

Build your plane slowly. The slower you build your plane, the sooner it be finished.

Trim (make minor adjustments) the plane on a large grassy field before flight.

Learn what air thermals are. Flying a glider is all about reading the air. Go into a thermal and not away from one to increase altitude.

Land carefully. Sudden movements on the controls will cause the plane to hop and then flip upside down on the landing.