Teaching Myself to Fly

[BluesDragon]

I didn't think to get the 'cheezy grin' mug shot! You can believe it was there for hours after though. :)

[Grossman56]

Way to go BD!!
I did the same when I first flew my P-51B, which was the first Warbird ever (BBD was next after I got Home from Dave Scott's classes)
2015 was a very good year!

Here she is passing over us





Dave and I walking her in


Dan with a cheezy grin after his first warbird flight!

So, you see, we've all been there!!

Congrats once more!

Grossman56

[F22trainer]

Oh yeah!
Now you’re flying Warbirds officially.

[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. ;)

Almost a whole year to date later, I maidened Whistler's Brother today!! Thank you to all that got me on the right track from the beginning. After some time on the trainer I jumped over to the P-17 as my go to flyer. Been doing pretty good and the pilots I've met down at the park I fly with have been very helpful as well. So today I got up enough confidence to put him to the sky! I ain't gonna lie.. I buddy boxed to a very skilled flyer and he did save my bird on at least two occasions. Mainly due to my nerves, but was very happy and grateful to have him connected. Otherwise she flew pretty nice. A little under powered.. from what my buddy boxer was saying. He trimmed it up for me and I took over. Flew two batteries.. counted my blessings... and brought him back to the hanger for another day. :)

[rifleman_btx]

Yup, I accidentally bellied my carbon z T28 trying a super slow super low pass. Just got alittle too daring and said nope as the tail tapped the grass and that was enough drag to knock me out of the air, cut throttle and let her set down to no damage belly landing. So indeed no worries, we all have those moments. :) the other time was in fpv I was inverted flying full throttle and touched the tail of my flying wing, popped the prop and dug the carbon frame into the dirt alittle, but a new prop and she was good as new. Made that mistake at 98mph lol oops

[F22trainer]

It's all good, the wife has 'em back now. She just let me have 'em long enough to switch into mode 3. LOL

So then, after feeling pretty good and recharging the batteries, I went back out and ran through another battery in
experience mode (3). Second battery, not so good. Coming out of a loop, way too low to the ground, I nosed 'er
into the cotton field. Freshly plowed and soft, but still took out the prop, cowl, and motor mount. Seen it coming
and started to hit the 'panic' button, but figured it's too late for that now. Lesson learned. So now I gotta wait for
the guys at MRC to get some more fresh parts to my door before getting more stick time in.

Start 3 mistakes high and recover no later than 1.

I'm flying my Carbon Cub in mode 3 nearly all the time now and find myself getting a little lower than I like accidentally from a poor execution of a maneuver. Also I found that some of the SAFE features were actually getting in the way of what I call 'real pilot' flight technique. I have 5 other aircraft that I also fly, but just started again in January, after 25 years doing other meaningless forms of entertainment. Spent most of last year converting some gassers to electric, flying a simulator and learning all the new technology. Soloed on my second trip to the club. And, today helped an 8 year old solo his prized Carbon Cub which is nearly identical to mine. He took off flew around in the pattern for 6 minutes and landed all by himself with some coaching.
Gosh this stuff is fun, but don't forget some simple stuff - which I also do before every flight in full size aircraft also.

You will make mistakes.
Always leave yourself an 'out'.
Fly it all the way to a stop.
Always check evything before taking the runway.
Take offs are optional - landings are mandatory.
If you are being hurried, step back.

see ya round, Blues' and all you other low time flyers. Once you solo, you're a pilot.

[rifleman_btx]

Yes indeed the good things about crashing is you do learn the ins and outs of your plane. How it goes together and comes apart.

[Grossman56]

As I've said before, you learn to be a mechanic long before you learn to be a pilot!!

Grossman56

[BluesDragon]

It's all good, the wife has 'em back now. She just let me have 'em long enough to switch into mode 3. LOL

So then, after feeling pretty good and recharging the batteries, I went back out and ran through another battery in
experience mode (3). Second battery, not so good. Coming out of a loop, way too low to the ground, I nosed 'er
into the cotton field. Freshly plowed and soft, but still took out the prop, cowl, and motor mount. Seen it coming
and started to hit the 'panic' button, but figured it's too late for that now. Lesson learned. So now I gotta wait for
the guys at MRC to get some more fresh parts to my door before getting more stick time in.

[Grossman56]

Let go of your SACKLOLLOL
Couldn't resist....
Take your time, I was right where you guys are in 2104 and I know exactly how you feel, fly the pants off her. Fly in the wind as well, a bit of breeze is fun when you have the confidence. That's one of the reason I keep the Pandoras, they're great wind planes, turn them into the wind and hover!!

Grossman56

[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. ;)

:Sweating:So, haven't been getting much stick time with some gusty winds keeping me grounded. Today, though, wasn't too bad. So I took to the air, grabbed a hold of my sac, and tossed 'er into Experience mode! Surprised to find I actually felt in better control in full on go for it mode. Pressed my luck and tossed a few barrel rolls and a loop or two in the mix. Got 'er back down in one piece even! :)

Still not feeling confident enough to put the Corsair up, but beginning to feel that itch... :Smug:

[crankestein]

Fhhuber, I understand what you are saying. It makes it much more simple for the new comer to just concentrate on learning the basics of flying.

I dont regret it to have learned glow and balsa, and I have always been a nitro head since the beginning of this rc expenditure years ago. Do have a few 5th scale rigs on 25:1 gas 30.5cc, and always fall back to nitro. To me true classic rc flying must have a flow engine, at least one airplane.

This is very true, one can be flying for years on electric and when doing the leap to glow, they are in for a surprise as the airplane carries much more momentum and there is none of that slow stall charasteristics of foamies. The good thing about glow is one can fly in almost any wind condition as to clock in more stick time. Many times the foamie guys pack their stuff and head home while I am flying on high wind w no problem. Those who attempt to fly, its a handful as soon as that foamie its on the air, becomes basically a fight w the wind, making corrections at all times. Yes, one can slap a gyro, but still its not the same.
Balsa/ glow airplanes track and penetrate easier and more realistic than foam.

On the get go, yes, get a EPO or EPP whatever they call it, and focus on flying and maybe later glow. It has its benefits, in a way easier to fly and repair in case of a crash, some hot glue and duct tape, and possibly a good hot bath and back to the field. I even have one of those HK battery operated glue guns in my toolbox, lol, for my more avid foamie flying days...

[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)

[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.

[thebbqguy]

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

[Grossman56]

Grossman56

Nice looking Pandoras, like the paint job ...

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

Grossman56

[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.

[thebbqguy]

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

[mcriley2]

Grossman56

Nice looking Pandoras, like the paint job ...

[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 ...