RC Novice

    The first bit of information about getting into a rc hobby is what you are getting yourself into.

    If you are like me and you father brought you into it you already know what is in store for you. You already know that your rc airplane or rc helicopter WILL crash. Maybe I need to say that again to be sure you got the message. Your rc airplane or rc helicopter WILL crash. In some cases you will loose your airframe or need to spend a bunch of $$$ on replacement parts for your rc helicopter. If your still reading this GOOD, I didn't scare you away I will get into the details later of what to expect. Did I mention your plane will crash? Some of the older members of my club have told me that every rc airplane or rc helicopter has an expiration date printed somehwere. The problem is nobody knows to read this date. I was brought up hearing stories from mom telling me how my Dad worked all winter on a plane only to have it crash on the first day out. :-) Dad would tell me stories about the days before glow plugs and how he would spend the entire day just trying to get the thing started. :-( Very disappointing but a necessary evil back in those times. I call them the black & White days. :-) It doesn't always happen that way but it can and you need to know this going in.

    The next thing your going to need to do is join the AMA. There are many benefits to joining the AMA and in fact most clubs require this in order to recieve the Liability Coverage for the Operation of rc airplanes and or rc helicopters. This will provide the necessary insurance in this sue happy world we currently live in. They also send out a monthly news letter in the form of a magazine called Model Aviation, this keeps you current with the goings on with the AMA.

    Membership will set you back about $58.00 a year or if your not sure about joining you can get by with a 3 month  $19.95 "Introductory Membership". I will include this in the initial startup cost section later.