All us newbie pilots, lets share..

***Grossman56*** · Jun 7, 2015, 09:53 AM

RE: All us newbie pilots, lets share..

And just for the fun of it, I put it all in video form on You Tube.

See what you think!

Grossman56

**Rocketeer** · Jun 7, 2015, 10:36 AM

RE: All us newbie pilots, lets share..

Greetings GMan,

Great Job on the Video/Slide Show!!!!

That will be great to look back in years to come!!!!

I've been thinking.... while it is amazing that this thread has run as long as it has, I'm not sure you qualify as a "Newbie" anymore......
That's the price you pay for going Pro!!!! :D

I'm just saying......

Thanks for sharing the video....... Do you mind if I show it at our club meeting this month??

Bill L.
In OKla.

***Grossman56*** · Jun 8, 2015, 04:56 PM

RE: All us newbie pilots, lets share..

Hey Bill, I guess your right! So now I'm on the other side of the fence, hoping new people will come on board! Any way to help a fledgling pilot.
I would be honored to have you show it at your club meeting, please feel free.
Had the Mustang up in the air again yesterday for two flights, had L/G trouble again with the one side, good thing I run a preflight every time because that's twice I'd have been caught with one wheel down. Took the retract right apart and replaced the mechanism, now she's working great. I also have a second spare, just in case.

The field near Cowley is huge and wide so lots of room to land. Brought her in twice and pretty good landings both times. Just getting used to how slippery they are in the air, she sure can move out. By the way, I now know the disadvantage of camouflaging your airplane. The green is bad enough, but the grey undersides are dang near invisible. Still, a very impressive plane to watch in the air, which is the reason I bought it. After seeing Ryan fly his, I just sat back and went "Wow, Christmas time"
I sort of anticipated this when I was doing Old Crow's paint job. Now Bud may not have had the invasion stripes on his D model, but man, they'll stand out from the ground, so I put them on. When you think about it, that's exactly what they were supposed to do!

Anyway, its a bit of a drive to that particular field (100 miles round trip) but well worth the effort when you're getting used to a new type of plane, so there'll be a few more trips out there.
I just picked up a couple of SkyRC B6AC+ V2 6 Amp 6 Cell (6S) AC/DC LiPo Battery Chargers to ease the pain of recharging. Takes me all day to get the 11x2200's and 6x3600's all recharged, so this should cut my time in a third. Fly all morning and be ready for the evening, like living in Paradise.

So we're back up in the 80's here and a bit of a breeze, so if all goes well, I'm off to the local field with the Pandoras and some more buddy boxing with Diane.
She's going to be great!!!!

Grossman56 (Team Gross!!)

**Rocketeer** · Jun 8, 2015, 05:58 PM

RE: All us newbie pilots, lets share..

Greetings GMan,

Thanks for the OK on using the video!!!

Sounds like your new field is a gem even if it's a drive.

You can spend the time on the way thinking about what you want to do,
and the time coming back thinking about you did.

Clear Skies, my friend

Bill L.
in OKla.

**Capt. Crunch** · Jun 8, 2015, 08:37 PM

RE: All us newbie pilots, lets share..

Hey Gman

Maybe a dumb question but I noticed in your video that Dave holds his sticks with his fore finger and thumb. Is that what he teaches to do or is it personal preference? I only have my thumbs on the gimbals and was wondering if there is some sort of advantage using both fingers.

Jeff

**Rocketeer** · Jun 8, 2015, 09:31 PM

RE: All us newbie pilots, lets share..

Greetings,

I noticed it as well.

Most of the "Pros" seem to profess the "Pinch" technique".

I'm sure Dave recommends it but, I'd be surprised if he required it.

I too will be curious to hear what the G-Dude has to say.

I'm a thumbs guy.

Bill L.
In OKla.

***Grossman56*** · Jun 9, 2015, 06:13 PM

RE: All us newbie pilots, lets share..

One of the reasons that his course is successful is because of that very thing!
Allow me to quote from the master:
"To help make smoother (more consistent ) control inputs and reduce over-controlling, place your thumbs on top of the control sticks and the tips of your index fingers on the side of the sticks near your thumbs for added support.
A notorious source of difficulty, and especially hard bad habit to break, is removing the index finger and using only the unsupported thumb to jerk or snap the stick-thus making it impossible to apply consistent control inputs.
By remaining mindful to keep your thumbs and index fingers on the sticks, you will not only naturally make smoother input, the improved control will foster a confident feeling of being connected to the plane, i.e., you will sense that the plane is not just responding to your inputs, but is responding in ways that more closely match your intentions!"

Dave does not fly with thumbs only, and yes, he requires it, that's what the experts do, why wouldn't you? The pretense behind the course is to use the same inputs and the expert fliers use. The plane doesn't know who is flying it, only the control inputs, so, therefore, if you do exactly what the experts do, you get the same results.
You really need to pick up the "One Week To Solo" course book, there are so many great tips that helped me out immeasurably.
http://www.rcflightschool.com/Solo_Manual.asp
Its all there, bet you can't put it down once so start into it.

Grossman56

**Rocketeer** · Jun 9, 2015, 09:14 PM

RE: All us newbie pilots, lets share..

Greetings Gman,

Careful buddy, your about three quotes and 2 compliments away from a 'Bro-mance"!!

I agree and I will say that I have owned the book for a couple of years and it is packed with great tips.
If anyone is interested in it Let me know.

But, that being said, "expert" or not, I think I'll stay a thumbs only guy.

You know, the old dog, new tricks thing....... plus I'm pretty happy my thumbs still work well.

Clear Skies

Bill L.
In Okla.

**Flygirl** · Jun 9, 2015, 10:19 PM

RE: All us newbie pilots, lets share..

I'm a pincher cuz I have shaky thumbs. Well really, shaky hands, truth be told... If I use thumbs only it looks like I have a gyro with the gains set WAY too high. LOL! I also have to be sitting with the radio resting on my legs. I'm weird... :)

**Capt. Crunch** · Jun 10, 2015, 05:34 AM

RE: All us newbie pilots, lets share..

Wow...I guess it wasn't a dumb question!

I had never given it much thought before. I have trained myself using only thumbs and wonder if its going to be like Bill mentioned, an "old dog new trick" thing, but I'm going to give it a shot next time the wind calms down enough to fly. I'll let you know how it goes.
Thanks for sharing that info Gman

Oh...I'll be ordering that book too

Jeff

I

**Rocketeer** · Jun 10, 2015, 05:39 PM

RE: All us newbie pilots, lets share..

Greetings Capt.

I'll be interested in learning how the new technique goes.

Keep us in the loop.

Clear Skies

Bill L.
In Okla.

***Grossman56*** · Jun 10, 2015, 07:02 PM

RE: All us newbie pilots, lets share..

Well, that's the beauty of the hobby I guess, each to their own. Personally, I see the advantage. I also see the advantage of not wearing a strap as well, where a lot of people wear one and even use trays, or using the rudder/aileron mixing to eliminate adverse yaw, to me, its been a great step forward. These are things I've learned from Dave and I'm grateful, just as for all the help I've received from many people here, not the least of which has been my buddy Bill. Whatever you do, in my opinion, do it because it makes you better. I heed the advice of anyone more experienced than me, which is ALOT of people and if I feel that it helps me to succeed in this hobby, I go for it, if not, then I'll store it away in the useful information brain file. There may come a time when it fits into my flying or understanding of the inner workings of the airplane systems.
It all comes from the right place in people's hearts, wanting to help someone succeed.

Grossman56
[hr]

Originally posted by Capt. Crunch

Wow...I guess it wasn't a dumb question!

I had never given it much thought before. I have trained myself using only thumbs and wonder if its going to be like Bill mentioned, an "old dog new trick" thing, but I'm going to give it a shot next time the wind calms down enough to fly. I'll let you know how it goes.
Thanks for sharing that info Gman

Oh...I'll be ordering that book too

Jeff

I

No such thing as a dumb question, ask away!

Grossman56

**farmflyer** · Jun 10, 2015, 07:09 PM

RE: All us newbie pilots, lets share..

I was told once that the only dumb questions were the ones that never were asked.

**Rocketeer** · Jun 10, 2015, 09:03 PM

RE: All us newbie pilots, lets share..

Greetings,

Ahhh, Yes!

I spout that one often to my students.

Bill L.
In Okla.

**Capt. Crunch** · Jun 10, 2015, 09:15 PM

RE: All us newbie pilots, lets share..

Thanks Guys
I consider myself beginner/early intermediate. So maybe I will still be able to change my technique. Heck, if it helps me become a better pilot, why not give it a shot.
So I know Bill is a thumbs guy, what about you Farmflyer?

**farmflyer** · Jun 11, 2015, 02:37 PM

RE: All us newbie pilots, lets share..

I'm all thumbs I tried to pinch with index fingers but it just seemed to get in the way. Pinching made my inputs late and too exaggerated so my flying wasn't nearly as smooth. I'm self taught and learned thumbs only I think if one is early in the learning stages it would be easier to do. I don't know if one is better than the other. Thumbs works for me I don't have to think about it while flying the inputs just come naturally unless I'm learning a new maneuver or learning a new plane. I wouldn't dispute an expert or instructer I'm just saying what I do and why.

**Hippie 64** · Jun 11, 2015, 03:11 PM

RE: All us newbie pilots, lets share..

Thumbs on top finger or two wrapped around . If I use just thumbs I would be doing more repairs than flying .

Bryan

**Rocketeer** · Jun 11, 2015, 03:52 PM

RE: All us newbie pilots, lets share..

Greetings Guy's

I will say that when I first learned to fly on my job, I was encouraged to use the Finger/Thumb technique but all that was required for that was basically pattern flying.
I tried it but, it just didn't take. Its been thumbs ever since.......

To Thumb-finity and beyond!!!

Bill L.
In Okla.

**boomer108** · Jun 11, 2015, 06:46 PM

RE: All us newbie pilots, lets share..

I'm a thumb and forefinger flyer I learned that way. I tried thumbs only,it just doesn't feel right. To each his own and whatever works for you it seems. Good flying!

Roy B.

***Grossman56*** · Jun 11, 2015, 09:27 PM

RE: All us newbie pilots, lets share..

Wow, who-da thunk it?
All these responses for how to place your fingers. Personally, I like the feel of thumb/index (bet you couldn't guess) but my control throws are small as well, If I go into a turn with bank, neutral and pull elevator, my control movements are not much more than a 1/4" for ailerons and elevator. I like it that way so I have my planes set up that way. Power steering versus manual kind of thing. Something else to consider when you are choosing a method to control the sticks.

Grossman56

All us newbie pilots, lets share..

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