Claire.Alley

Hello - yes that is a great idea - thank you!

As it is, went flying on Saturday, but the wind was ridiculous!Managed to get in several flights, but we thought it best if my instructor did the take offs and landings as it was quite hairy in the gusts!

Was flying my WOT4E - having adjusted settings i now feel much more confident handling her. We were doing more 'level' circuits - and that took alot of concentration i tell you in those weather conditions!

Keeping fingers crossed for calmer days ahead :-)

Thanks
Claire

Dave Wilshere

I had no issues standing up and the kite man didn't have enough wind It was more wind direction rolling off the trees that made it bumpy at ground level.
One important thing from me is that of radio set up. Generally the instructor will chose the radio settings. I'd set "Pinky" quite soft as it was to be Claire's first aileron model. Smaller movements and 20-25% Expo. This was a mistake! I took several flying sessions to realise the expo was a bad thing for a novice, it reduced Claire's confidence on the sticks, I realised she might be putting in a control input, but if the model didn't instantly respond, question that input and have a "moment".
By taking nearly all the expo out and increasing the movement slightly, Claire got on really well on Saturday and worked her way through a bag of Li-po's with very few "instructor" moments.
Considering the number of flying sessions, Claire's progress is incredible, the word natural is used maybe too often...but she is
Dave Wilshere

Dave Wilshere

With light winds forecast and some stuff to drop off nearby, Claire managed another training session today. Most of the day was bright and sunny and the winds were light, so today we set about mastering the take-off and landing phase. Because "Pinky" has a flat plate alloy undercarriage and Claire's flying site has mixed grass, I decided to bring a spare Graupner Electro Trainer with wire legs and Claire's T-28 Trojan for landing practice. We started the day flying Pinky and Claire had two batteries of circuits and aeros.
After, we flew 3 flights on the Electro Trainer with Claire practising approaches and landings. The motor set-up is a bit strange, so we ended up doing glide type approaches and we did manage a couple of touch downs before the steerable tailwheel/rudder horn cracked.
Its been a few weeks since Claire flew the T-28, but yet again she felt really comfortable quickly and started chucking it around. Claire's man turned up to eat his lunch between jobs and commented how comfortable she looked throwing the T-28 around...about this time Claire decided to fly inverted which caught me out, as we had not discussed it!!!
Seeing she was getting on so well, I decided to talk Claire through some take-offs from the tarmac lane used for access. This is quite narrow and a bit of grass was used too
Since the T-28 copes well with the grass we moved onto the green and Claire did a few take-offs and we worked on smooth circuits aiming for a set touchdown point....this took a few packs as we were now doing Claire's least favourite right hand circuits On the third pack things started to click and Claire achieved her first totally unaided take-off, flight and landings with the model rolling to a stop each time. (the T-28 copes really well with rough grass)
With Claire's man back to collect her, we stopped after achieving three good touchdowns in one pack.
(further thought-anyone who has been through this will understand the "big break through" this can make in your confidence, landings are so important )
Dw

Claire.Alley

Hope everyone had a good weekend?
Had fab flying session this weekend. Fantastic blue skies and light breeze.
Am pleased that i managed solo time on T-28, take offs AND landings!
Cant wait to see how i progress, although I am off to large Toy Fair in Germany later this week so looks like it'll be a couple of weeks before i can get out again! Looks like it'll be back to reading through theory ready for A cert in my spare time.
On the plus side, at least days are getting longer so we can start looking forward to packing more flights in :-)
Have a good week
Claire

Claire.Alley

Went to the Nuremberg Toy Fair last weekend.
It was great going round and seeing things through a modellers eyes! Although i now have a list of planes on my 'to buy' list

Starting to miss flying, haven't been out for over a week now, so hoping i may get out this weekend.
Have a good week
Claire

Dave Wilshere

Claire's wish came true and we flew today in balmy conditions, 5 degrees warmer than my home area, it was odd as the insects obviously thought it was spring, they were out in force too! Even with missing a week Claire's progress continues. Light winds allowed plenty of flying and Claire managed her first tail dragger take-off's with "Pinky" Confidence in the aerobatics is allowing multiple Rolls, left and right, bunts and vertical 8's of sorts. We spent most of the time working on flat circuits, left and right working towards the UK A cert.

Dw

malthepal

My Feedback: (1)

Welcome Claire,
Regarding cutting up credit cards: I save cash then go to the local store and buy a pre-paid visa and use it. It's just as fun, but no bankers. Have fun. I have 5 planes from a trainer up to a 26cc gasser.

WaffleMan

My Feedback: (1)

Going pretty good Claire. I think Its about time you get a plane that is not a cut-up beer cooler ( AKA foamy) and has a real engine on it (AKA glow engine)

the_madgenius

Well Clair, from the land down-under, Australia, welcome to this wonderful hobby. The first 6 weeks are the hardest and then the next 60 years are all fun . I see you are well on your way to a life time of fun . Enjoy .. Bill

Dave Wilshere

Claire had the opportunity to be in my area yesterday and followed a suggestion from a common friend to visit my main flying club. This would be Claire's first flying session in a full club environment, shame the weather didn't play ball and we had our worst interrupted flying session, high winds in the morning made flying challenging and not much fun, meaning we could not work on landing practice as planned. Early afternoon brought showers, before clearing in the afternoon and the wind dropping. This at least gave Claire the chance to fly her Micro T-28 Trojan. This model will give Claire the chance to play when weather allows back home.

Dw

Claire.Alley

Hi Everyone,
Have been out quite a bit in the last couple of months - and am pleased to say that i have now got landings sorted thus meaning i can take off, fly and land without my instructor needing to help!! I have attempted and 'okayed' inverted flying, and I am improving on my rolls and loops with every session.
I am enjoying the hobby more than ever, but i am now looking forward to getting my A certificate done so that i can move onto the B certificate!
I am pleased that the weather is finally now improving, and i hope it stays nice so that next weekend i can fly in a nice calm environment and we can put the windy conditions of the winter behind us!
Have a good week all!
Claire

grantie67

Welcome Claire ! Yes, once this bug has bitten it's all over and you'll wonder why you did not start when you were three years old.
I joined today, have been flying for a year and absolutely love it. I have a little 30 size trainer, two gliders and a Hangar 9 Saratoga with a 55OS engine. She's a beauty and flies like a dream.

Here's wishing you many years of fun.

Claire.Alley

Hi guys,
Had a fantastic days flying today!
Firstly went to a friends flying site...was great flying off 'proper' runway rather than off the lumps and bumps of the local common.
Was also a good challenge getting to grips with a completely new site, trees and all!
Flew both my Wot4E and my T-28, practising some nice steady circuits, and landings. But because it was a new site to me, I stayed on the buddy box, just in case! These pesky trees seem to pop up out of nowhere!
Then....well.....my instructor Dave decided to hand me the controls of his EDF Venom (no buddy lead)....and it was AMAZING!
It was alot heavier compared to my little planes, but was so smooth to control, and i even managed a few of my now trademark aerobatic moves ;-)
Dave will hopefully post some pics up at some point over the weekend!
We also got my colleague, Craig, up in the air again. He borrowed my super cub - this he got on nicely with, which is just as well as he has recently purchased one himself!
Enjoy the rest of the weekend
Claire

Dave Wilshere

Yep. We had a great days flying in really good weather compared to my home area, it was interesting driving up that the weather was bad to within 10 miles of where Claire lives-then blue skies and light winds!!
Need to move
We met up at our usual Common land site and managed to get a few flights in before Claire's work Colleague Craig joined us for the short drive to the Newent club flying site used by another colleague. I had a car full with Claire's four models and my EDF DH Venom (6s 4400), PZ Stryker and Blade 450X chopper.
The club site had plenty of trees and the runways cut into the grass did not really follow the land-marks, so a difficult set of challenges. Claire coped really well landing Pinky and the T-28 on what are small runways (compared to the whole common we normally use!!) Claire had some A Cert tuition from Baz too.
Craig had several flights on Claire's PZ Super Cub and got on really well. We also test flew his Firebird Stratos which flies really well.
As Claire said late on in the day I had been flying my Ready2Fly EDF Retract/Flap equipped Venom and she asked whether it was her go yet...so I said yes. I think her experienced colleague was surprised I was handing over the box without a buddy lead, this is far and away the heaviest and fastest model Claire had flown...yet she flew a full pack (i did the take-off and landing this time) of 7 minutes and performed loops, rolls and some inverted. I know Baz and Craig were impressed!
Dw

Dave Wilshere

More, some shots of the Venom being flown by Claire and then some low shots taken by Claire on one of my flights to show she's good with a camera too!

Dw

Gray Beard

My Feedback: (-1)

Could you please tell us more about these certs you have mentioned. Here in the states we aren't required to be certified but the AMA has weight limits on our planes so it holds down the size. Once a plane hits a certain weight then the AMA does require the plane and pilot to be certified once a year. Just wondering what is required to fly RC in the UK.

Dave Wilshere

Gray
Our AMA is called the British Model Flying Association BMFA. For years we have had two certs A and B, just recently there as been a C cert introduced for pilots who want to show a piece of paper that they are really really good
The A cert is a basic certificate to show a pilot has full control of a model aeroplane and understands safety (the candidate has to answer 6 safety questions from our BMFA hand book) the flying is take off, circuits both ways, figure of 8, a simulated dead stick landing and a landing. This cert is used to show a pilot can fly on their own, many of our flying sites are on the edge of towns, we just don't have so much open space on our little island . It means if a pilot goes to another model flying site the new club knows they have a minimum skill level. The B cert is a much more demanding cert used to show good piloting skills, greater understanding of safety and show type flying safety (we use this cert as a minimum for flying at public shows) Some clubs also use it for permission to fly over 15lb models and Jet Turbine aircraft.

Dw

Claire.Alley

So - a quick update!
I haven't been able to do much flying this summer due to having a far too busy schedule!
BUT I have now flown my first jet - A Boomerang Nano - which was awesome. And I have started to build my very own pink and purple Ultra Flash. Although that is now on hold whilst I move house! I hope to spend some decent time on it after then.
My first Jet experience was a scary and exhilirating one - I got goosebumps - but I couldn't stop smiling. I didn't take off or land, and I made sure I was WAY up in the sky. And luckily it was a beautiful day for it.
The last plane I flew was last week in Germany. I was lucky enough to attend the German Jet Formation Cup as a team manager. And on the Friday (Practice day)  they was a spare slot, and so I decided to get the Venom out and have a fly. It was lovely after several weeks of not flying anything, and I got some positive feedback about my flying style which was nice to hear.
My goal for the winter is to get my certificates, and get a move on with my Flash build, and then you never know, I may see you at some of the UK shows next summer :-)
My next show to attend is the BMFA Nationals this weekend, and then the JetPower show in Germany in September.
I will be on the Motors & Rotors stand, so come and say hi if you're there!

Claire.Alley

Autumn update.
Have had a coupleof flying days recently, getting out my T-28 and practising my smooth circuits and landings.
Now hoping that as the show season is over we can get some more flying in, sort out my A cert, and get my Ultra Flash built!
Had a lovely day at Merryfield last weekend, Somerset, so thanks to the guys there!
Claire