Teaching Myself to Fly

[rifleman_btx]

All I will ask is don't give up on the hobby if the plane you of your choice out of stubbornness is totally destroyed. Soldier up get a good beginner plane and Charlie Mike. We here will show the path to success, it's you who must decide to take it. With that I'll say good luck, may the lift be with you! :)

[Grossman56]

Hello everyone,

I've been following the discussions on this tread for some time and now feel confident enough to add my 2 cents worth. I'm basically a self taught beginner pilot. When I decided to indulge into this hobby, I went in, eyes wide opened. My first two planes was the Dynam Corsair and FMS P-51B. After two years to date, neither has had it's maiden yet, for I too, am a slow cautious flyer. I purchased the FMS Easy Trainer, to begin my actual flying experience once I tore myself away from the sim. My major transition was being able to distinguish distance and depth, landing follows close behind, as making mistakes on the sim was much more forgiving. I ALMOST hate that I'm babying my Corsair and P-51B and treating the Easy Trainer, as a bald-headed step child. She has been up numerous times and came down hard numerous times. She's been under repair so many times, I'm thinking of nicknaming her:
Evel Knievel:Dizzy:(for those of you who knows).

For now, she'll take all the bumps and bruises, until the time's right. Even though, I do consider myself a self learner, that's not entirely true. I have a great many instructors helping me here on this forum as well as those we may encounter at the field. With that being said, thanks to everyone who spend the time to educate those of us, who benefits from your experience and helpfulness.
As long as you keep giving, I'll keep coming back for more ... :Cool:

Hey guys, especially the new fellows, welcome!!
Sounds like me in the beginning!!
Right of the gate, bought an FMS P-51D and a Dx6. Then thought the better of it and bought a HH Super Cub S trainer.
And the P-51 graced my basement....
Finally go the Cub in the air, no one told me about prop torque, especially not the Sim!
And the P-51 graced my basement.
Got the feel of the Cub finally and decided I needed a 'real' airplane, one that had ailerons!! So I bought a Pandora.
And the P-51 graced my basement.
Pandora One crashed several times, caught on fire, I learned to be a repair mechanic long before I learned how to fly.
And the P-51 graced my basement.
After the fire, I got a second Pandora, but figured out how to repair the first one, so had two to fly, wow, multiple planes that I can actually get in the air most of the time. Spent the second season getting them down to where they were simple to fly.
And the P-51 graced my basement, along with the a sister, a P-51B.
Third season, got right into it with the Pandoras and went to US R/C Flight School in Shawano, Wi. Took the P-51B and flew a WARBIRD for the first time, buddy boxed with Dave.
And the good ol' P-51D, well, you know by now......
Got home and finally got up enough nerve to fly a Mustang by myself, a challenge, but not a huge challenge because I took the time to learn to crawl then walk then run.

And the P-51D's, the P-51B, The P-40, the F8F, the F7F, the Spitfires, the Pitts, the Avanti (have I left anyone out??) They all grace the skies now!

The first and the last, so far....Ol' Weedwacker and the Avanti:



The Pandoras, still in great flying condition:



And the Mustangs, Big Beautiful Doll graced the basement for the better part of two years:



And Shangrila, the first 'Stang in the air, after landing from another successful flight:



It can be done! Patience and learn to crawl before you walk, learn to walk before you try to run!!

Grossman56

[mcriley2]

Finally, good to know, I'm not alone in wiping off dust before considering flight ...

[mcriley2]

Having signed up to Hobby Squawk three years ago but only posted twice, I'd say "Welcome to Hobby Squawk" but you've been a family member for a while now!

You're flying a capable trainer from FMS, keep at it and don't lose hope. You'll do just fine, I'm sure! I recommend making a flight plan and sticking to it, flying the same routine over and over again. Consistency is key. Gradually add new maneuvers as you master familiar ones.

I'm the guy who literally points at the sky before I take off and talks to myself, narrating everything I'm going to do once I take off all the way to landing. "Power up here, rudder right here, manage the tail, tail up here, release rudder here, beware pitch over here, throttle gradual not sudden, liftoff here, shallow climb, gear up here, 80% power by here, turn here, wings level here..." I talk myself through that process for maidening prototypes here at the factory, which is important since they're most often the only one in the world at that time and a crash would be costly in time and money. The same principle applies for teaching yourself how to fly and working up the ladder. Preparation and Consistency.

Thanks Alpha, your words have given me another boost of confidence.

[thebbqguy]

Grossman56, It sounds like I need to leave the UMX in the box and on the self for awhile.

I read a little about the Hawk Sky and watched some videos. It might be a nice compromise. I'll be happy when the weather turns and I can get off the discussion board and take some action to finally get in the air. To paraphrase the Rolling Stones, " We don't always get what we want, we get what we need."

[TiredIronGRB]

Grossman56, It sounds like I need to leave the UMX in the box and on the self for awhile.

I read a little about the Hawk Sky and watched some videos. It might be a nice compromise. I'll be happy when the weather turns and I can get off the discussion board and take some action to finally get in the air. To paraphrase the Rolling Stones, " We don't always get what we want, we get what we need."

The Hawk Sky is a good plane, I have several that I use to FPV with and they are also a good first plane. They are also easy to fix ;)

[Grossman56]

Grossman56, It sounds like I need to leave the UMX in the box and on the self for awhile.

I read a little about the Hawk Sky and watched some videos. It might be a nice compromise. I'll be happy when the weather turns and I can get off the discussion board and take some action to finally get in the air. To paraphrase the Rolling Stones, " We don't always get what we want, we get what we need."

Yep, the results speak for themselves, for me and several others on the forum. When I started on the forum back in June of 2014, I was exactly where you are right now. I started a thread called,"All Us Newbies, Let's share" and let it go a while back as it was pointed out that I was no longer a Newbie.Once I started moderating and rewriting manuals as well as living a regular life and above all, flying my planes, I tend to be more of an adviser rather than an instigator of threads, still, I, like a lot of people here, am drawn to to new guy in the hobby. There were a couple of guys at Nefi last year that were just starting out and had Apprentices. I had a great time giving them some advice and when it worked for them, they were thrilled. Kind of my forte.
Not that 'm anywhere near the advanced level, I'd say somewhere in the middle of the intermediate group. That's why Nefi and the club at home are so valuable. Get in with a bunch of guys who share the same passion and you'll pick up things a whole lot faster.
Another big tip, never hesitate to ask a question, there are no dumb questions, heck, we all probably asked them ourselves. And watch Pilot Ryan's videos. You can pick up a lot of info from him, especially the t/o's and landings. Look at the angle of the fuse and just how much throttle control makes a difference. When you see him and Mike and Warbird and Steve flying in real time at Nefi, its even better!!
Gonna miss being there this year, but by god, next year............

Grossman56

[OV10]

Gonna miss being there this year, but by god, next year............
Grossman56

Still waiting to hear what the alternative excitement is gonna be to fill the NEFI void. :Smug:
Don't tell me that Diane has you digging her a posie bed. LOL

[BluesDragon]

Yeah, I'm one of those noob's myself. Been RC'ing for a long time... at ground level. Although I have always had a fascination with flight. So I bought a drone a while back that helped build my confidence in the air. Not to mention I've been a gamer for life. So I've always had one type of stick controller in my hands at one time or another. Was even big into the MS Flight Sim years ago... as well as the WWII Flight Sim. Loved flying those P-51s! Only difference being these Sims where flown with a joy stick. So anyhow, since joining the local fly club for a safe place to fly my drone, I started getting that itch for the fix wings again. My love for the Warbirds sent me right to the Dynam F4U Corsair (1270mm). Just finished the build a couple days ago. She is just too sexy! Just been running 'er up and down the road in front of my house getting a feel for the controls and the power. Even with what confidence I have in my 50(+) years of playing I feel I can take to the air, but getting back down and keeping 'er sexy... yeah, not so confident. So today I purchased the Mini Apprentice S (with SAFE tech). Until I'm feeling confident getting her down safely, well, as Grossman56 so eloquently put it.. the F4U Corsair will grace my shop.. with her sexiness. ;)

[Grossman56]

Good choice Blues Dragon! The biggest thing we all had in the beginning was an addiction to warbirds and wanting to hop right into one would be akin to getting your private pilots license and hopping right into a P-51. We instinctively know that would be foolish, right?
Just think of this as going to the local airport to begin flight training, which in fact, is exactly what you're doing. To quote my buddy Dave Scott,"Learn to crawl first, then learn to walk before you learn to run"
An interesting point also, when I started flying Ol' Weedwacker, she seemed fast. Then when I switched to the Pandoras, they seemed fast. After flying the crap out of both of them, the transition to the P-51s wasn't as big a deal as I thought it would be. Its a matter of developing the program in your brain that allows you to keep several steps ahead of the airplane. The Pandoras seem so slow now, they can't get away with anything!!
Going up to jets is the same thing. Now, when I flew the Avanti for the first time, it was like flying an old friend because she's not much faster, if at all, than my Bearcat (I have a 650kv in the Bearcat, she hauls!). My only problem was getting the dang thing back on the ground. A trip to Nefi and hanging out with Charlie, Mike, Steve and Ryan solved that to a big extent.
To sum it up in a word
Patience!
You'll get there!!:Cool:

Grossman56

[thebbqguy]

I received my March edition of Model Aviation yesterday. There was an article on Free Flight contests. That led me to a club in my home town I didn't know existed. That contact led me to J&H Aerospace online. The catapult gliders like the Aleda might be right for me. It looks like you can progress from 8 in to a 19 in pod launched RC glider. This might be the path for me.

Meanwhile the UMX Radian and Dx 6 arrived yesterday. They are in the closet for now.

The club here doesn't seem to be an RC club but I am hoping to make a contact there who can help me.

[mcriley2]

Having signed up to Hobby Squawk three years ago but only posted twice, I'd say "Welcome to Hobby Squawk" but you've been a family member for a while now!

Thanks Alpha'
Basically a beginner for about two years now, learning from others experience's. Since joining squawk, most of my time is going from different forums to catch up and update to present posts and trying to cram as much information in my head as possible without much of it oozing out my ears(that's about two years of catching up). Very happy to be able to be privilege to so much good advise.

[mcriley2]

I received my March edition of Model Aviation yesterday. There was an article on Free Flight contests. That led me to a club in my home town I didn't know existed. That contact led me to J&H Aerospace online. The catapult gliders like the Aleda might be right for me. It looks like you can progress from 8 in to a 19 in pod launched RC glider. This might be the path for me.
.

At first I thought you were kidding about catapult gliders. First I heard of them ...

[mcriley2]

Grossman56

Nice looking Pandoras, like the paint job ...

[thebbqguy]

Catapult gliders are real. They have some pretty serious competitions for them actually.

[crankestein]

I received my March edition of Model Aviation yesterday. There was an article on Free Flight contests. That led me to a club in my home town I didn't know existed. That contact led me to J&H Aerospace online. The catapult gliders like the Aleda might be right for me. It looks like you can progress from 8 in to a 19 in pod launched RC glider. This might be the path for me.

Meanwhile the UMX Radian and Dx 6 arrived yesterday. They are in the closet for now.

The club here doesn't seem to be an RC club but I am hoping to make a contact there who can help me.

25 February 2018....

I started flying last year around June, w a beatup Superstar w a limpy .40 FP, hooked to a buddy box. Bought a flight simulator from Ebay, the one w all the bundle sims and a controller, 16-1 for $30 or so. Practiced almost every day.
*one important thing, adjust the flying charasteristics on the sim to match real life, not the same, but close enough. I listened to all the recommendations and applied when needed.

The first airplanes were balsa and glow. Bought a few trainer planes from CL and in between a bundle of larger scale and a warplane. In about four months I was flying a 1/5th Cessna w a 1.20cc ASP four stroke, the warplane P51 took about a month more. In between the Cessna and the P51 I had a Sonic hand me down from a friend which helped on the transition to low wing, very linear, smooth tracking plane. The Phoenix line has very nice airplanes at a reasonable price for GP/EP. Some may need minor modifications to make them endure grassy rough fields.

Motivation and to have the will count, but one must learn to be humble and be on noob status mode for a good while. There is definitely seniority in the field. Learn to take turns for a station, many times give it away/offer it to someone who just arrived and is eager to do a maiden and there are none open. Dont mean azs kizin, but to show respect and somehow pay it back. They did the same for me giving away from their free time to patiently teach me fly. To "once again" go over the basic things, here is another one, becausr to be honest they have done this many times and just a handful stay at the club.

Made a lot of friends along the way, bought them coffee, donuts, show up w a foam cooler w sodas, water, clean the surrounding areas and a few times brought the weed eater to help cut the grass. I have earned their trust, they can chat and not stare at the plane everytime am on the sticks.

*This one I have not flown it yet, purchased as a combo with the P51 and the Cessna. Completely hand made, I think the coating is called dope, he did a very good job.
My kids dont want me to crash it, seeing the reputation Gee Bees have, I still dont have the green light to take this one for its all time maiden flight.



I had to start somewhere, this dihedral wing w ailerons, not bad for a beginner. The aileron servo got stuck going left and into the ground it went.

[Grossman56]

Grossman56

Nice looking Pandoras, like the paint job ...

Thanks!
Pandoras just scream for paint. A flight trainer and a paint trainer!

Grossman56

[thebbqguy]

I've got a line on a used LT 40 and someone to teach me to fly it.

[thebbqguy]

I thought I would come back and update this discussion with the most recent developments.

I found a new club that's a good fit.

Working with a gentleman in the club I've decided to go to the Toledo swap meet and show next month with the goal of buying a glow powered trainer for around $100.

If that doesn't pan out, I will buy the FMS Super EZ and we will be off and running

I'll start training in April with the club.

[fhhuber]

Personally, I advise against glow.

I flew glow models from appx 1969 to 2007.Modern brushless electric is just so much cleaner to operate and have far fewer problems.

Then there's that expensive glow fuel to buy. You might be able to get 1 battery for the electric plan which will give 3+ YEARS of service for maybe 3 cents worth of electricity to recharge per flight vs 1 gallon of glow fuel giving appx 12 flights.

Modern small gasoline engines would be better than glow fuel because they are now very reliable and the fuel is much cheaper. than glow. The gasoline engines are much cleaner to operate too.
That kind of pushes you to 10 cc ( .61 ci ) or larger now (smallest reliable gasoline engine I know of, but I haven;t been watching too closely). Appx 2 to 3 times the flying per gallon of fuel and less than $4 a gallon for gasoline + oil vs appx $20 to $30 a gallon for glow fuel. (prices from where I live in Texas)