1. Day 1: Get started with a simulator.
2. Day 2: Find a location.
3. Day 3: Check out the forums.
4. Day 4: Become consistent with the simulator.
5. Day 5: Buy your airplane.
6. Day 6: More simulator practice.
7. Day 7: Assemble your plane.
8. Day 8: Fly your remote control plane.
9. Day 9: Repair your plane.
10. Day 10: Fly your plane (and land it this time!).

Sure, that seems like a lot of work just to have fun–but it’s worth it.

Buy a gamepad with two analog controls (it should look like those XBox or PlayStation controllers). I use the Logitech Cordless Rumblepad. Configure FMS to use it: put the throttle on the left stick (vertical), the rudder on the left stick (horizontal), the elevator on the right stick (vertical) and the aelerons on the right stick (horizontal). Spend 30 minutes practicing today, and every day for the next two weeks. Start with the “SlowFly” model shown below.

• WattFlyer. My favorite forum. There are lots of forums at this site for different types of flying and skill levels. For now, just stick with the beginner forum.
• RCGroups.com. Another good beginner forum.
• RCUniverse.com. Yet another forum, if you just can’t get enough of this.

You won’t understand most of what people are saying at first. In a couple of weeks, though, most of it will make sense.

• GWS Slow Stick (also known as the “SS”). This is by far the most popular RC aircraft. It’s super cheap, very easy to fly, easy to put together, easy to fix, slow enough to fly in small spaces, and it can grow with you as your skills improve. You’ll need the main kit, an Electronic Speed Control (ESC), a battery, a charger, and a transmitter (which will include a receiver and the two servos you need). You’ll learn what each of these components dos in a few times. For now, just buy the accessories listed at the bottom of the Tower Hobbies page, which should add up to about $190. While you’re at it, buy five extra propellers (you’ll need them).

• EasyStar. This plane is a little faster than the slow stick, so it requires a little bigger flying space. Buy this if you have at least a 600×600 space (think four football or soccer fields). While the speed is a disadvantage over the GWS Slow Stick, but it’s a Ready To Fly (RTF) model, which means it’s already built. The Slow Stick is a Almost-ready To Fly (ARF) model, which means you have to buy the different components and build it yourself. Also, the EasyStar has the prop above and behind it, so you won’t break it when you fly into something or land nose-first.

If you’re at work at can’t use FMS, go back to the forums and search for your model name. You’ll see the problems that people have had and the different types of modifications people have made.

Today is also a good day to start learning about wind.

Once you arrive, look at the treetops. If they’re moving from the wind, put your plane back and go home. Sure, you can fly today, but the wind is going to control your plane, not you. Better to go home disappointed then to leave your plane 50 feet up in a tree.

If the wind is calm, plan a flight path. Stand in one corner of the field, facing the wind. You’re going to fly straight forward, keeping the plane in front of you at all times. Gradually gain altitude until you are about 2-3 times higher than the nearest tree or building. Usually, you want to be about 100-150 feet up (about 10-15 stories). That’ll seem RIDICULOUSLY high, but altitude is actually your friend. These beginner planes won’t fall any faster from 100 feet than they will from 20 feet, and if you have some altitude, you can make a mistake and still recover from it. After you reach altitude, plan to make a left turn, fly a ways, and then make another left turn so the plane is facing you. Then, you’ll land.

Now, you’re finally ready to fly. Connect the battery to the plane. Face into the wind. Hold the plane in your right hand, and the transmitter in your left hand. Using your left thumb, move the throttle (the left stick) all the way up so that the prop is spinning fast. Now, with your right hand, throw the plane forward gently and level.

Quickly move your right hand back to the right stick so that you can control your plane. Pull the stick gently; you shouldn’t move it all the way in any direction. If the plane didn’t take off straight, press and release the right stick to straighten the plane. Pull back GENTLY on the right stick so that the plane gains altitude. Take a breath; you’ve made your first takeoff.

Continue to gain altitude until you’re well above the trees. Follow your flight path, and take a gentle turn to the left (BUT DON’T HOLD THE STICK–just pulse it). The plane will probably straighten itself out, thanks to the dihedral in the wing–a slight V-shape. If it doesn’t, pulse the stick to the right to straighten it out.

Repeat your previous left turn so that the plane is facing you. Now, your left and right controls will be reversed. Your time with the simulator should make this second nature. If the plane is turning, straighten the plane out by pushing the controller in the direction of the lower wing.

Decrease the throttle to 50%, and push the nose down gently. The plane shouldn’t lose too much speed, since it’s dropping now. When the plane is about 10 feet above the ground, shut the throttle off completely, and let the plane continue to glide. When you’re one foot off the ground, pull back on the stick so that the nose points towards the air, and let the plane land.

You probably didn’t get to the gentle landing I described–in fact, you probably crashed the plane like I did. If (well, when) something goes wrong, don’t panic–just try to gently correct the flight path. If you can’t correct it, turn the throttle off to minimize the damage during the crash. Pick up your plane, disconnect the battery, and assess the damage. If you can fix it with tape, do that. If not, you can fix it at home.

If you have the slow stick, you can repair any damage to the wings using packing tape. In fact, many people put packing tape over the edges of the wing just to add strength.

If you broke a part that you can’t repair, you can get a replacement part from wherever you bought the plane. Fortunately, individual parts are very cheap. I hope you like repairing the plane, because it’s part of the hobby. Most people spend far more time building and repairing the planes than actually flying them.

Now that you’ve learned to fly, you can try more advanced maneuvers, like loops. Many people do aerial photography by putting a light-weight video or still camera on their plane. And, of course, there are hundreds of other planes to choose from capable of flying much faster and doing much more advanced maneuvers.