FlyingMonkey's Top 10 Tips for New Pilots.

I get asked for advice from beginners quite often.  Sometimes because of my participation in the Flite Test community.  Other times by people who have watched a youtube video of mine.  And on occasion by people who see me when I'm out flying in public.

Most recenly was during a customer support conversation.

Do I have advice?  I always have advice.  You might not want it, it might not be right, but if there's one thing I have plenty of, it's advice...

There's a few questions that I get on a regular basis.

So, I found myself giving the same adcive over and over.  Tonight I decided to write them down in a list.  Here it is.

1. You're going to crash, a lot, don't let it get to you.  Everyone stinks at this at first.
   
   

   

   
    
2. Buy a good transmitter, that doesn't have to mean an expensive one.  Get one you can learn with, and find out what you will want in your next transmitter.  This is important, because it's the one thing you'll use every time you fly.
   
   

   

   (Image borrowed from HobbyKing website.)
    
3. When you go to pick your first plane, remember, it's your first plane, the first.  You'll have more, you want a "beater" because... well see tip #1
   
   

   

   
    
4. Use the forums.  Get advice.  You don't know anything about the hobby, and that's to be expected.  There's lots to learn, and plenty of helpful people who will be happy to help you learn it.
   
   

   

   
    
5. Don't feel the need to explain or justify your lack of experience to anyone. If there's someone that looks down on you for being a beginner, they're not anyone you need to impress.
   
   

   

   
    
6. Find somewhere big to fly.  Bigger than you think you'll need, because you'll need it.
   
   

   

   
    
7. Reach out to other RC pilots.  Join a club, look for people near you on the forums, or Facebook, or however you can find them.  Flying can be much more rewarding, when done with other people who share the enthusiasm that you do for the hobby.  Also, on the days you get to the field, and it's too windy, or raining, having someone to "hangar fly" with is better than sitting there talking to yourself.
   
   

   

   
    
8. If someone offers to help you learn, take the help.  You're not imposing, they offered.  Chances are they remember how hard/expensive/frustrating to learn without help.  They want to keep you from going through the same thing.
   
   

   

   
    
9. This hobby can be expensive, and addictive.  Pace yourself.  Don't try to buy one of everything, right away.  Try new things, learn what you like, but don't rush it.
   
   

   

   (Photo stolen from the googleweb.  I think I searched "too many rc planes" or some such.  Credit for this amazing collection goes to Robert Griffin.  According to his Facebook profile, he is up to 120 aircraft, 105 of which are airplanes, and 15 of them are helicopters.  Thanks Robert for the use of this image!)
   
   
    
10. Have fun.  This is a hobby, you do it to be happy.  If you find yourself getting frustrated, stop.  Find out what's not fun, and don't do that.  

That's it.  Just a few tips I found I give repeatedly to new pilots.  Some of them I really wish I was told when I was starting out.  I remember many days of frustration at crashed planes, when all of the guys online seemed to fly so easily.  I felt like an idiot.  I also spent way too much money on the hobby trying to buy cheap, or used items.  If I had just bought a decent radio, or a good beginner's airframe I would have saved myself a lot of heartache.  

Bonus advice....

• If you're a full scale pilot, no, that is not going to help you, chances are it's going to make learning harder.
• If you're just starting out getting into FPV... don't try to buy the stuff that will make you able to go high and far away.  It just makes you sound silly, and when you lose your plane, the search area gets MUCH bigger.
• You're going to need some building/storage space.  Don't buy more (amount, or size) than you can fit in the space that your significant other/parrent will tolerate. 
• Podcasts.  There's several, and they're fun and educational.  Listen to them.
• If there's an RC flying event near enough that you can go, go.  Don't bother bringing anything to fly your first time.  Meet people, look at their gear, ask them what they like about it.  If there's vendors there, take the opportunity to touch, feel, try out any gear/equipment that they'll let you.  
• Be safe.  Theres lots of eyes on all of us now.  How you fly could effect the rest of us.