Flight issue/clipping

Ollie is now 18 months.
When we got Ollie has was stepping up, happy to sit on hands, heads, shoulders but like other IRNs didn't enjoy petting.
He was also clipped by the previous breeder
He went through his first molt and found his flight.
He's happy to be out the cage but rather than step up he'll just fly away or back to his cage.
We've gone through the summer months being cautious of windows/doors because if the risk if escape.
I'd now like to concentrate on retraining Ollie to step up but feel that clipping would be needed.
Is this wise on a flighty bird or just easier for training purposes?

I really don't think clipping is the way. Concentrate on motivation instead, make being with you better than being by his cage, lots of treats and rewards, target training, etc.
If he doesn't want to be with you/step up now, he certainly wouldn't macigally want to if you clipped him - he'd just HAVE to because he couldn't get away, and I really don't think that's the way at all. You want him to want to be with you, you don't want him to feel like you're making him do something he doesn't feel like doing. That's not going to make him trust or like you.

Besides, Ringnecks usually REALLY enjoy flying and at least I love watching them fly

My Alexandrines are fully flighted and, at nearly 12months of age, are coming ahead in fits and starts. Our latest concentrated work has been on coming to me when called and I feel we're having a rather - ehm - chequered success rate at that. Mostly because, as you say, it's easy enough for them to fly away. I have found they will prostrate themselves for a sunflower seed, so that's what I use to train them. I keep a small supply in my pocket and reward for arrival on my hand when I call their names. It's working, but slowly.

Having brains the size of a bird, they do lose focus after fifteen or twenty minutes (and, seriously, that's more than enough training for a young bird). I try to vary the sessions too. This morning, we did no training, the Beaks just accompanied me around the house as I did housework and chatted loudly to them (I do wonder what the neighbour-lady thinks of me). Considering I only got cr@pped on once, I thought it a great success! What was really funny at the end of the morning, though, was after I'd cleaned the cage and replaced the perches, they were so curious to check out the new furniture, they went back in the cage without a murmur. Yay me!

Then, in the afternoon, they were back to their tiresome selves, screaming all over the place and dropping foul bombs on my children (snicker!). I was lucky again, though, and got them back in the cage with their arvo meal served in large paper cups (edible crockery). We'll see what the morrow brings...

Don't fret too much if you don't get instant and complete obedience. Just end your training session with something positive (even if it's just a successful return to cage), reward for that and try again tomorrow. Oh, and keep us informed of your progress!

You don't need to clip, just use target/clicker training with treats.

When Mango learned to fly he went through a really independent stage, it was like he suddenly realized he could do whatever he wants. I swear if he had a middle finger he would have been brandishing it at me on a regular basis from all the places I couldnt reach him. He destroyed everything, and even tried to pick fights with other birds. I really struggled with the decision to clip him, but I didnt do it, and Im really glad I stuck it out. Mango's favorite thing in the world is pistachio nuts in the shell. I have a very distinct cloth bag that he can easily recognize, and I call him while shaking it. If he comes right away he gets a pistachio. This has worked so well that all I have to do is pick up the bag and no matter where he is he will fly right to me. I know its hard, but if you are patient you can do it without clipping. Mango is a different bird, happy, confident and gentle. I attribute all of this to being flighted..

Betrisher great idea with the paper cup to feed wet stuff! Its a bowl, its a shreddable and its another bowl I don't have to wash!

If you do decide to clip, he will resent you less if you take him somewhere and have it done, at least it won't be done by your hand. Personally I don't clip I prefer them flighted....it's more work, lots of training, but it's so worth it. But ultimately, it's a personal decision, do what works best for you.

Thanks for the replies.
The main issue with treat training is he just doesn't have a favourite treat.

That's because you must be feeding the goodies regularly. Try not giving him any sunflowers and using them only as training treats.