RC Plane turning into a pain

[Alamo]

Hello guys, my name is Alfredo, I am new at the hobby and new at this forum. I am stuck and would like to know what your thoughts and advice for a guy are that is on the verge of leaving the hobby, before I even started yet, and for the most stupid reason. I am a newcomer to the RC hobby, and frankly, the experience has been incredibly discouraging—not because of the cost of the planes or the crashes or the time spent in reconstructions, but because of the broken training process. Relying on club volunteers is frustrating; you are stuck on their schedule, and often, their help is biased or full of ego.
In my short time, I have already experienced:
1.- An instructor who couldn't set up a "buddy box," so he made me fly my plane the old way in 15mph wind conditions, short story the guy was to slow to yank the control off my hands. I crashed it less than two minutes into its maiden flight. And all he said was "Sorry we should not have flown that plane in this weather"
2.- A club president who told me I wasn't going to find a buddy box train with "That ****ty transmitter" (Spektrum DXs radio that came with the RTF plane), his words!
3.- An instructor who saw my little Aeroscout refused to teach me because he "hates foamies" and basically told me to come back when I have a "Real plane"
4.- Then I found this consistent and willing instructor, but he spent hours incorrectly "fixing" my gear, creating technical problems that didn't exist before, while limiting my actual flight time to just 3 minutes per session, 3 sessions per day twice a week (nothing much for a hobby that requires consistent results every time). Besides, the guy has messed with my two planes and my NX8+ radio. Kind of a Munchausen syndrome for rc planes; always forcing me to make physical changes on my plane and radios.
This volunteer model does not work for me, and do not get me wrong all of those guys are doing this out of the goodness of their heart, and nobody can complain but????
I would like to have a professional solution. I am looking for a private instructor (if it exist) whom I can pay for their time—someone who will provide consistent, high-intensity training without the gear snobbery or the time-wasting. I am ready to learn and willing to pay for a dedicated teacher to help me solo at a reasonable pace. There is this guy with a wonderful Training School in Wisconsin. I cannot believe that in Florida, where the weather is incredible all year long, there is not one, go figure! I am so committed to learning correctly that I am willing to go to any place in Florida to accomplish these objectives. I am semi-retired so I can even stay at any place for days if needed. Some guidance please. Thank you and please be gentle this is my first time in this forum (and English is not my first language), LOL. Love the forum, the time I have spent reading and searching, has been rich in valuable info.
Thank you

[Evan D]

As a long time RC enthusiast, club officer and club instructor the only thing I have to say is find someone else to teach you. Please remember that almost all do this for free and voluntarily.

#1-3 are inexcusable and you should have asserted yourself but I know that is hard to do when trying to learn and hoping the "instructor" is knowledgeable.
#4 is better but not much

While you may find a professional solution I don't think they are any better than the volunteer. Find a better volunteer that you can relate with better. As an AMA member maybe look to see what other clubs are in your area.

Good luck in finding a great instructor.

[Elbee]

Alamo,

Welcome to Hobby Squawk, glad to have you onboard, Sir.

What Evan D wrote is gospel.

I have instructed those new to RC building and flying.

I was taught by a club instructor and broke/rebuilt my trainer 3 times before I soloed, see pic.

My point: we all started with help, even those club guys who seem a bit sanctimonious IMHO.

You'll get there, but you need to find a different club setting for now.

Patience in all things, but never give up, this is a gratifying lifetime hobby.

Best, LB

[Hugh Wiedman]

Hello guys, my name is Alfredo, I am new at the hobby and new at this forum. I am stuck and would like to know what your thoughts and advice for a guy are that is on the verge of leaving the hobby, before I even started yet, and for the most stupid reason. I am a newcomer to the RC hobby, and frankly, the experience has been incredibly discouraging—not because of the cost of the planes or the crashes or the time spent in reconstructions, but because of the broken training process. Relying on club volunteers is frustrating; you are stuck on their schedule, and often, their help is biased or full of ego.
In my short time, I have already experienced:
1.- An instructor who couldn't set up a "buddy box," so he made me fly my plane the old way in 15mph wind conditions, short story the guy was to slow to yank the control off my hands. I crashed it less than two minutes into its maiden flight. And all he said was "Sorry we should not have flown that plane in this weather"
2.- A club president who told me I wasn't going to find a buddy box train with "That ****ty transmitter" (Spektrum DXs radio that came with the RTF plane), his words!
3.- An instructor who saw my little Aeroscout refused to teach me because he "hates foamies" and basically told me to come back when I have a "Real plane"
4.- Then I found this consistent and willing instructor, but he spent hours incorrectly "fixing" my gear, creating technical problems that didn't exist before, while limiting my actual flight time to just 3 minutes per session, 3 sessions per day twice a week (nothing much for a hobby that requires consistent results every time). Besides, the guy has messed with my two planes and my NX8+ radio. Kind of a Munchausen syndrome for rc planes; always forcing me to make physical changes on my plane and radios.
This volunteer model does not work for me, and do not get me wrong all of those guys are doing this out of the goodness of their heart, and nobody can complain but????
I would like to have a professional solution. I am looking for a private instructor (if it exist) whom I can pay for their time—someone who will provide consistent, high-intensity training without the gear snobbery or the time-wasting. I am ready to learn and willing to pay for a dedicated teacher to help me solo at a reasonable pace. There is this guy with a wonderful Training School in Wisconsin. I cannot believe that in Florida, where the weather is incredible all year long, there is not one, go figure! I am so committed to learning correctly that I am willing to go to any place in Florida to accomplish these objectives. I am semi-retired so I can even stay at any place for days if needed. Some guidance please. Thank you and please be gentle this is my first time in this forum (and English is not my first language), LOL. Love the forum, the time I have spent reading and searching, has been rich in valuable info.
Thank you

Where in Florida are you. I'm in the Miami area and we have several clubs that may be able to help you. I belong to AMPS in the west Miami area and would be happy to give you a hand (and teach you to crash like a pro 🤪) Additionally The MPPA club (at Markham Park, Weston Florida) also could help and they have an instructor who is very good and very helpful. He trained me and my wife several years ago, but don't let my lack of flying skills tarnish his reputation.

[Alamo]

Where in Florida are you. I'm in the Miami area and we have several clubs that may be able to help you. I belong to AMPS in the west Miami area and would be happy to give you a hand (and teach you to crash like a pro 🤪) Additionally The MPPA club (at Markham Park, Weston Florida) also could help and they have an instructor who is very good and very helpful. He trained me and my wife several years ago, but don't let my lack of flying skills tarnish his reputation.

Who is that guy in Weston I will contact him.

[Alamo]

As a long time RC enthusiast, club officer and club instructor the only thing I have to say is find someone else to teach you. Please remember that almost all do this for free and voluntarily.

#1-3 are inexcusable and you should have asserted yourself but I know that is hard to do when trying to learn and hoping the "instructor" is knowledgeable.
#4 is better but not much

While you may find a professional solution I don't think they are any better than the volunteer. Find a better volunteer that you can relate with better. As an AMA member maybe look to see what other clubs are in your area.

Good luck in finding a great instructor

Thank you D. But that is the issue that it is done free and voluntarily and believe me you have no idea how much I appreciate that, but it is a very relaxed commitment and also because of that nobody has the right or the courage to say anything. If the guy wastes too much time and messes up badly with your equipment, what is one going to say that I don't like that. the guy would say well I do not teach any more. Again it does not matter where I live. If you know the club and the person that can help me with that I am willing to pay full annual registration at the club even if I am only using it for a short period of time.

[Evan D]

The club I belong to has trainers with radios and student radios. They have a half dozen instructors of various degrees of both flying ability and the ability to teach. Honestly teaching is the more important skill and not many have it.

I have my own Apprentice with instructor and student radios that I use. I use it often and I don’t charge. But I’m not near you and hope you find a good instructor as I said before.

[Hugh Wiedman]

Who is that guy in Weston I will contact him.

His name is David Storer, phone # 1-954-816-4410. He's with the Markham Park Pilots Association (MPPA) and they fly at Markham Park in Weston (West Broward County). The field is outstanding, with an asphalt runway, electric hook-ups, in door bathrooms and a nice canopy covering and the majority of members fly electric. You can also send an email to the club at mppapilots@gmail.com and ask them any questions. They are currently working on upgrading their website, so you can't get much info there, but you can see an aerial of the field at mppapilots.com. Just tell Dave you got my number from me, Hugh Wiedman, and I believe he will help you out, he's a really good guy. I think his wife is the treasurer of the club and his son flies there also. Haven't spoken to him in a couple of years, but I'm sure he's still the MPPA's instructor. Good luck, and don't let your first few contacts get you down, they sounded like some real jack asses. The overwhelming majority of people in this sport, IMO, are great people that will help anyone out. Just look at the great people in this forum that take time to help anyone out from anywhere in the world.