> What would you guys recommend as a good beginner model plane? (engine, no
 > electric) -X
 > 
 
This leaves a lot of open possibilities.  Do you want to build it from a kit
or do you want to learn on an ARF (Almost Ready to Fly)? What size engine or
in other words, how fat is your budget?  There are any number of good 
trainers out there that fit into many styles of construction and budget.  
Here are my suggestions in what I feel to be order of importance.
1.  Find your instructor first and talk to him.  See what he is 
"Comfortable" with when it comes to training.  And not just which plane but 
radio and engine too.
2.  Decide the type you want to learn on.  It should be a high wing with 
tricycle gear but, do you want a RTF (ready to fly), an ARF, a basic build 
it yourself kit, or do you want to start with a set of plans and go from 
there?
3.  Next select the physically biggest model you can afford and transport.  
Why you ask?  The bigger the plane the higher you can keep it and still see 
it well enough to control it.  Keeping it high lets you make more mistakes 
before your instructor has to take over and save it.  This gives you better 
and faster training than anything else.  Nothing worse than a little 
airplane the instructor has to constantly save because the student has no 
time to react to his mistakes.  Also big plane tend to be more stable and 
forgiving than the little ones.  Rule of thumb is to fly three mistakes 
high.
4.  Have fun!!
That should get you started.  I can't emphasise the importance of getting 
with an instructor first.  All of us have our favorites for teaching.  We 
know the quirks and little peculiarities of the design and how to make the 
most of them.  It's not fair asking someone to teach you to fly on a design 
they have never had any experience with.  They first have to learn the 
design before they can then teach you and they will always be subject to any
design flaw they don't know about.  Just like real planes, you don't buy a 
P-51 Maustang then go to the local Cessna dealer and ask them to teach you 
to fly the Mustang!  You go and let them guide you through the learning 
process in their aircraft that they know and are familiar with.  Hope this 
helps and if you have any more questions feel free to ask.
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 * QReader 1.10 * UNREGISTERED EVALUATION VERSION
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