In July 1969, I soloed my first R/C model, a three channel trainer. In 1972 I Took my first flying lesson in a Cessna 150 and did very well - the instructor at first though I was a ringer sent in. Soloed in 6.4 hours; not because I was some kind of child prodigy but because model airplanes gave me an insight how full-size airplanes worked. 50 years later I retired from American as an Airbus 321 Captain. with 26,000 hours. And I still enjoy R/C planes! Flying models give you an insight you can never duplicate with a computer.