Remote-control model airplane piloting is a relatively inexpensive sport to get into. Model kits can be purchased online or in hobby stores and range in price from $25 to more than $3,000.

Some hobbyists build their planes from scratch, but most purchase what are called ARF kits (Almost Ready to Fly) in which the planes come covered and decorated. All that is left to do is join the wings, attach the tail and put in the equipment and motor. The whole process takes two to four days as opposed to scratch-built models, which can take up to six months to build. Another benefit of ARFs is the availability of replacement parts.

While obtaining model aircraft is simple, piloting them is not.

"We'll get hot-shot pilots out who have been flying F-18s and we'll give them a plane and tell them what to do. Invariably, they'll just give it right back to us because there is no feel in the controls. You have to develop that over a very long period of time," said Ed Andrews. "You really have to learn with an instructor."

Andrews and SPARKS president Paul Stieg of Bethel Park are instructors and offer free lessons to anyone interested in learning to pilot model airplanes.

"If anyone comes up here, we'll teach them at no cost. We're glad to teach them," said Stieg.

They use a "buddy box system," which consists of two transmitters with a cord between them. Students fly a plane until they lose control, at which point Andrews or Stieg flip a switch and take over.

In addition to one-on-one instruction, Andrews and Stieg strongly encourage anyone looking to enter the sport to purchase a computer flight simulator program.

"If you spend a couple of months using the simulator and come out here, we basically just have to teach you how to land and we can do that in four or five lessons," said Stieg. "Before the simulators, you would spend all year learning,"

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