title_body: Learning to fly: One crash at a time
upvoted_answer: The big problem with learning to fly is that some of characteristics you need for a good trainer are the opposite of other requirements.
  
  Large models are less affected by wind, because their flying speed is proportionally higher relative to the wind speed. However small models are a lot more robust in a crash. and cheaper, so less discouraging when you crash.
  
  Highly stable models return the model to straight and level flight but neutrally stable models (like a flying wing) are less affected by gusts.
  
  
  Traditionally this leave you with the option of a small, stable model and waiting patiently for calm weather, or a faster, less stable model and an instructor (or lots of crashes and repairs!)
  These days it's possible to use electronic stabilisation to tame a neutrally stable aircraft, and to reduce the effect of gusts on a small model (although it won't stop it disappearing down wind!)
  IME it takes an hour or two (on a simulator, or accumulated flight time) before a beginner can keep a model under control and steer the right way when it's flying towards them. Most people can only concentrate for 5-10 minutes at a time, so that's 10-20 flights (on a reasonably stable trainer, suitable weather and an instructor avoiding crashes). It then takes few months to a year before progressing on to an aileron model that isn't stable in roll - maybe 10 hours of flight time, say 100 flights of 5-10 minutes each.
  Obviously if you don't have an instructor and are just doing short glides, those first couple of hours will translate to a lot of flights. If you're starting with an aileron plane (like a flying wing) you'll need to reach that 10 hour mark before you're really flying.
  Older people take longer to learn, and missing a few weeks due to bad weather or other commitments puts them back a few steps. It's common for people to struggle through weeks of poor conditions then suddenly 'get it' when we have a nice calm day because they're not fighting the gusts.
  I've taught a couple of people who practiced extensively on a simulator and flew a trainer competently on their first flight and an aerobatic model 5 minutes later.