One of the problems with identifying which model category is suitable for you as the pilot, is actually trying to decide what skill level you are as the pilot. Beginner, intermediate, advanced. The following is a guide to help you decide which group you best fit into as a pilot. Its all to easy to consider yourself to be advanced, when the reality its much less. The following is what I use myself as a bench mark when considering which group or class a pilot fits into comfortably, and that is the key word. Can you say to yourself, "Yes I am comfortable flying this model". Yes, I know we all shake and sweat when a new model takes to the air for the first time. Its the fear of the unknown.
A beginner is someone who has no experience of flying and has no idea what the controls do even. Taking the first step up the ladder, under instruction or training from an experienced pilot or instructor. You slowly start to learn about an RC model aircraft, what the controls do and how they effect the flying characteristics of the model. A good instructor will explain not only what is happening but why it happens as well. This will give you a better understanding of what to do in various situations. Just as it is with the real thing you need to start with a trainer plane.
As you learn and begin to understand that flying an RC plane is not as easy as you first thought it was going to be. Slowly it starts to come together, and what you at first thought to be impossible, now becomes possible and your instructor is taking over less and less. You can fly left and right hand circles, fly a figure of "8". This will have you flying a left and right hand turn in the same sequence. In doing this you won't become used to flying in one particular direction.
You can take off and land from both the left and the right. Do you find it easier to fly in one direction than the other, if so practice the one you are not so comfortable with until it becomes second nature to you.
You stand at the side of the runway to take off, not behind the model. You do this for three reasons.
1 Safety, if you are standing behind the model to take off, you are in the way of anyone else who wants to land. Especially if they have an emergency situation.
2 Standing behind the model, you can't judge how fast the model is accelerating down the runway.
3 Standing behind the model you can't judge the angle at which the model is climbing away.
Standing to the side of the runway takes all the above into account.
1 Safety, you are not standing on the runway.
2 You can judge the speed easier as the model passes in front of you.
3 You can judge the angle the model climbs away, and adjust as necessary.
You should be able to carry out all the above with a trainer plane. You should be able to make corrections to the flight path and position the aircraft where you want it to be, and not where it happens to be.
When you are confident and comfortable flying the above you can them move on to an advance trainer. This can be a low wing model designed as an advanced trainer. With this model you will learn basic aerobatics, loops rolls, spins and inverted flight. At this point you are what I would consider an intermediate level pilot.
Moving on to more advanced aircraft such as a scale aerobatic model , or a EDF jet is the next step up. With this type of model you should be able to fly inverted figure "8", while keeping both circles the same size, using the throttle for wind correction. Roll both left and right, including four point rolls in both directions. Carry out both inside and outside loops, coordinating all controls as necessary to keep the loop round. To get to this point does require a lot of hard work, it is very satisfying when you achieve it.
Many people don't have the time or the inclination to get to this point, and thats okay. The most important thing is that you have fun and enjoy what you do. Fly safely and consider your fellow pilots.
Martin.
A beginner is someone who has no experience of flying and has no idea what the controls do even. Taking the first step up the ladder, under instruction or training from an experienced pilot or instructor. You slowly start to learn about an RC model aircraft, what the controls do and how they effect the flying characteristics of the model. A good instructor will explain not only what is happening but why it happens as well. This will give you a better understanding of what to do in various situations. Just as it is with the real thing you need to start with a trainer plane.
As you learn and begin to understand that flying an RC plane is not as easy as you first thought it was going to be. Slowly it starts to come together, and what you at first thought to be impossible, now becomes possible and your instructor is taking over less and less. You can fly left and right hand circles, fly a figure of "8". This will have you flying a left and right hand turn in the same sequence. In doing this you won't become used to flying in one particular direction.
You can take off and land from both the left and the right. Do you find it easier to fly in one direction than the other, if so practice the one you are not so comfortable with until it becomes second nature to you.
You stand at the side of the runway to take off, not behind the model. You do this for three reasons.
1 Safety, if you are standing behind the model to take off, you are in the way of anyone else who wants to land. Especially if they have an emergency situation.
2 Standing behind the model, you can't judge how fast the model is accelerating down the runway.
3 Standing behind the model you can't judge the angle at which the model is climbing away.
Standing to the side of the runway takes all the above into account.
1 Safety, you are not standing on the runway.
2 You can judge the speed easier as the model passes in front of you.
3 You can judge the angle the model climbs away, and adjust as necessary.
You should be able to carry out all the above with a trainer plane. You should be able to make corrections to the flight path and position the aircraft where you want it to be, and not where it happens to be.
When you are confident and comfortable flying the above you can them move on to an advance trainer. This can be a low wing model designed as an advanced trainer. With this model you will learn basic aerobatics, loops rolls, spins and inverted flight. At this point you are what I would consider an intermediate level pilot.
Moving on to more advanced aircraft such as a scale aerobatic model , or a EDF jet is the next step up. With this type of model you should be able to fly inverted figure "8", while keeping both circles the same size, using the throttle for wind correction. Roll both left and right, including four point rolls in both directions. Carry out both inside and outside loops, coordinating all controls as necessary to keep the loop round. To get to this point does require a lot of hard work, it is very satisfying when you achieve it.
Many people don't have the time or the inclination to get to this point, and thats okay. The most important thing is that you have fun and enjoy what you do. Fly safely and consider your fellow pilots.
Martin.
Comment