Giant_Scale_Gasser

My Feedback: (84)

Personally, I also practice high speed, emergency landings as well as the simulated dead sticks. There is always that time where you need to get down in a hurry (flutter, objects falling off, radio issue, etc) and going from high speed, high altitude in a hurry is an art just like perfecting the dead stick. Going from 100 feet or higher and high speed to a landing without getting in the pattern is interesting to say the least.

Oh and the biggest difference in flying giant scale should be obvious.... You need a bigger shovel to get the heavier parts back! J/K!

asimatt

My Feedback: (26)

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
An airplane is an airplane. They ALL do the same basic maneuvers,loop,roll,spin,and fly straight and level. It just depends of what variation of that maneuver you want to accomplish. That's the only way to think. Without 100% confidence you will never get to that next level. I know you were looking for basic flying but I am going one step ahead of you. I see so many guys flying defensively just hoping not to crash rather than know they are NOT going to crash. The difference between a pro and weekend warrior. Nothing wrong with either just sayin

flartz

Mike, I'm currently making the same transition to giant scale. About to maiden my H9 Taylorcraft with OS GT22 petrol engine. When the cold, wet weather improves (winter here). Next will probably be a big warbird. The comments here have been really helpful, and very similar to those from the guys at my LHS who fly large electrics and 100cc petrol. Still a bit scary but. Good luck. Sean

Lifer

My Feedback: (1)

Take one of your older .40-size sport planes and add a lot of weight on the c/g. Practice landings now that the plane doesn't float in to a landing.

Enjoy the bigger planes! They are a blast to fly!

skyarrow1

I like this... and you are correct, I need to build more confidence for when I am flying and the only way to do that is to fly.

Thanks,

Mike

skyarrow1

Would love to hear how your first flight goes... good luck.

Mike

foodstick

One thing I haven't seen mentioned in this thread is the fact that most bigger airplanes need Obvious amounts of rudder mixed into the turns. Many small planes will carve around with no rudder inputs at all. However some big scale type planes react very different when you try to aileron turn them, they will just lean over and continue away from you. I will admit to you ... I was never one to use the rudder a lot in my early days, and when I first started to fly bigger airplanes I thought something was wrong when they didn't turn like I was used to them doing ! hahahha well the trouble it was WITH ME ! The airplane just wanted help initiating the turn.

That would be my advice of the main difference.

jdewolftx

My Feedback: (14)

One other thing not yet mentioned is the need to back off on the power during down lines. Flutter can be a bigger issue with big planes. This is most important for scale aero ate like yaks and extras. For these planes, sealing the aileron and elevator hinge lines are a must. I actually cut back to idle on most of my down lines and then feed power in gradually as I level out.

Just thought I would throw that in there.

-Jeff

Currently flying EF 100 yak and EF 50 cc Edge.

BarracudaHockey

My Feedback: (11)

If you're flying EF planes you've obviously never seen Chris or the team pilots do full power down lines into blenders.

It all depends on the airframe, and, I think it's been mentioned before, wing loading

I have a 50 CC Sbach that will land slower than most trainers at our club and roll about 3 feet. I have a Parkzone Corsair that with the flaps and gear hanging out needs almost half throttle to maintain a good speed and needs to be flown right to the runway.

flycatch

My Feedback: (26)

I also have a Taylorcraft H9 but I would not consider it giant scale. It flies just like a clipped wing J3 Cub.

dirtyoldman00

My Feedback: (100)

There is a nice giant scale .com web site you may want to check on

hanko

Its easier, cleaner, sounds better, cooler. youll never go back to slimers

sensei

If you wish to become a really good pilot, forget about the price tag of the airplane because worrying about crashing will hold your talents back, cause crashes, and you will never move forward. Remember, this is a hobby, and it is only money that you can't take with you when you go anyway, so just relax and have fun.

Bob

skyarrow1

I don't worry about it... my wife does.

cng

The biggest difference is going to be the cost of running gas compared to glow fuel. You will pay for all the up front cost quickly. At least that is what I told the wife And all the other things mentioned here as well. Have fun going larger!
Craig

jcvt

My Feedback: (2)

I have flown the big stick , there is not noticeable differences between the smaller cousin and the giant. It fly better with higher inertia, which means you should think ahead of the airplane. It just fly better. For giant warbirds, That's totally another story. With the warbirds you should program what you are going to do instead of making holes on the sky. Landing and take off should be closer to perfection, plus a bunch of things in the safety dept. Keep in mind that loosing control of a 25-.30 pound airplane that fly over 90 Mph is not an option.

GerKonig

Nope, in my experience, the opposite is true. It all depends what giant scale he is going to use. My 1/4 scale cubs (2), 1/5 scale bipe (Hawk), and RV4 do not fly and/or land at all as a heavy .40 airplane...

They all float in except the bipe, of course.

Gerry

Scalenut-RCU

Hi Mike,

I saw you mentioned Sod Busters in August.  I am the event CD and look forward to meeting you.  There will be plenty of giant scale pilots in attendance so if you need any help just let me know and I will hook you up with someone that will be glad to assist.   As a sanctioned AMA event we can not allow test flights during the event days - Thur, Fri & Sat.  However some folks will come in on Wednesday and the field is open then for any type of flying so come early if you want to take advantage of our wide open spaces for any first flights.

Here is a link to the event details if anyone is interested:

http://www.RCFlightDeck.com/event_de...?event_id=1246


See you then,

Forest

Lifer

My Feedback: (1)

Gerry,

True. I was referring to heavy metal war-birds. They don't float into landings, but some types of giants do.

skyarrow1

I saw about the test flights... I am sure I can get some help at my field (GMA) for this. Not sure if I am going to be bring any planes or not since I most likely will be working the IMAA booth/table. I am working on getting my approvals now to be at the event for IMAA.

Thanks,
Mike

splais

My Feedback: (25)

It has been alluded to above in a few threads. The biggest single difference is purely emotional, a mental thing. No way to get around it. More money, bigger more intimidating plane, etc, etc. Once you get over worrying about all the money you can loose and watching that BIG plane fly, things become a lot easier and more fun. Just start out slow, get comfortable landing it and pretty soon it will be no different than flying your little ones.