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learning without an instructor - 9/7/2002 8:23:07 PM   
troyp



Posts: 416
Joined: 8/17/2002
From: Broome, AUSTRALIA
Status: offline 		All the posts on this forum say that you should use an instructor to learn to fly and even people like myself who dont have any clubs in the area are advised to somehow find someone who can teach us to fly. Im wondering what it is that can go wrong when learning to fly, I mean I can understand that someone who doesnt even know the basic principles of flight would need an instructor, but what about people like myself who have flown on computer flight simulators etc before. Surely it would be a simple matter of taking off, letting the plane gradually climb to a safe height and then practice turning etc.
Okay I know that sounds a little naive to think it would be that simple but assuming that you have everything setup correctly wont the plane climb to a safe height without to much trouble? Then you have plenty of space to practice and get used to the controls before needing to come in for a landing.

The question I am asking is what sort of problems have other beginners had when first learning to fly? What can and does go wrong when your first learning to fly?

Regards,

Troy.
       Post #: 1

Go for it!! - 9/7/2002 9:16:27 PM   
Rcpilot


 

Posts: 6837
Joined: 3/20/2002
From: Arvada, CO, USA
Status: offline 		Hey, I say GO FOR IT!!!!!!

All of us who advise beginners to get an instructor have no idea what we're talking about. We never actually needed an instructor either. We just did it to appease the old farts.

If you go ahead and fly the plane on your own; whats the worst thing that could happen?

You might get lucky and get it off the runway without breaking it or running it into someone. Then if you get it off the runway, it will surely fly straight and level and just climb gently to altitude without throwing you any curveballs, right? What are the chances that you might have the ailerons reversed, or the elevator reversed? Heck, I'll even bet a weeks pay that you'll have the balance perfect!!!!!!

Go for it buddy!!!!!!! YAAAAHHHHHOOOOO

It only costs about $500 to build a plane. You've got deep pockets and if you happen, by some unforseen reason, to crash it; just go get a new one, right? No problem.

I'll bet you can even land the sucker on your first attempt. After all, you do have extensive flight simulator experience. And any idiot knows that a simulator is "Just like the real thing". Flying a simulator has probably made you an expert pilot already, and you haven't even flown a real plane yet. Flying a real RC plane isn't all that different than a simulator. Just go for it!!!!!!!!!!

You might want to take a few pictures of your plane BEFORE you head out to the runway. Just in case something bad happens, and God forbid, you wind up taking the plane home in a trashbag.

Good luck. Heh heh.

_____________________________

Airplanes have expiration dates. It''s just not printed anywhere on them.
I''m not really an airplane pilot; but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

(in reply to troyp)
       Post #: 2

learning without an instructor - 9/7/2002 9:37:25 PM   
Geistware



Posts: 12946
Joined: 4/9/2002
From: Locust Grove, GA, USA
Status: offline 		Get a knowledgeable flier to trim your plane and make sure everything is sound. As far as learning, get Realflight G2 and be able to land on the runway 10 out of 10 times with all the planes. If you can do that, you are competent. What I did was practice taking off, doing a stall turn, then land. Take off again, tail slide, and land. I could do this 8 out of 10 times, then I started flying the trainer. Nerves were my only issue. Flying as a breeze.

_____________________________

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http://www.rcaircraft.net/
Information on the building and flying of Radio Control Aircraft.
Site for hobbyist in the R.C. Aircraft modeling world.

(in reply to troyp)
       Post #: 3

learning without an instructor - 9/7/2002 9:41:04 PM   
TIGER2PLANE


 

Posts: 208
Joined: 3/4/2002
From: Las Vegas, NV, USA
Status: offline 		If you want to fly, you can. But the reason you need someone close by that does, is the NEWBIES always try to fly in the next town, while they are still home, more planes have been lost to them being to far out and cant see what the bird has done before it finds the good old brown stuff. Or when you are doing a low approach and you want the bird to go left and it GOES RIGHT, because you feed the wrong control into the bird.
I did learn to fly on my own...... I had a bird that was strong at staying together. I landed on top of a barn, into the side of a hanger, through a tree more than once, in to a tomato field but I learned to fly by my self. this only took 3 months to do. Just have fun and take your time at this and you will be alright After all I SOLO-ed on my first flight. LOL

(in reply to troyp)
       Post #: 4

learning without an instructor - 9/7/2002 9:56:42 PM   
LEDZx



Posts: 126
Joined: 4/27/2002
From: Cape Town, SOUTH AFRICA
Status: offline 		Troyp, i am also learning to fly without an instructor, and it's very daunting, especially on an old bipe ( tail dragger).

I have done a few high speed runs , almost took off, just to get the hang of it, but after a while I realised this plane is just too advance for a first time r/c pilot.
I m sure i could handle it, but its balsa and my thumbs aren't so experienced.
I have flow full scale Cessna 172s and microlights and turbine helicopters ( Alouette 2 ) fine on my first flights , but i sense something about these little planes, especialy the minimal response times.
A month or two back I was doing circuts on a Super Stick of my friend's, I found it OK, but wasn't happy about landing these things, in all I have flown 5 times.

Just the other day i found that I had some PVC pipe, and I am now in the late and finishing stages of building, these are semi-indestructable and 'ok' for learning on, not the best bye any standard. I chose to build the DPS, Das Plas Stick.

I feel my confidence growing, hopefully I won't become 'cockey' as they say. But I will be going solo on this spad and I think i will be able to do it now that it is a trike gear configuration, not as trickey as a tail-dragger.

Anyway, good luck for your endevours, I just wanted you to know that your not the only one in your situation, give me a shout if you want some advice, and I will keep you informed on my progress,
Cheers troyp,
LEDZ

_____________________________

NOBODY is a VIRGIN........... life screws us all !!!

(in reply to troyp)
       Post #: 5

learning without an instructor - 9/7/2002 10:39:20 PM   
rovmanuk


 

Posts: 2
Joined: 9/2/2002
From: Bedfordshire, UK
Status: offline 		I say good look if u want to try, i hear getting it down is the difficult part. anyway "Rcpilet" no need for all the sarcasm you coulda been a little more polite.

Also troyp, just check all the controls on the ground and make sure they function correctly for your given inputs.

(in reply to troyp)
       Post #: 6

learning without an instructor - 9/7/2002 10:39:41 PM   
MikeL



Posts: 2542
Joined: 3/8/2002
From: Bloomington, MN, USA
Status: offline 		Once it's taken off, you can't just let it climb. You're going to have to make a turn fairly quickly. That's not going to be as easy for you as you might think. For one thing, it's uncommon for a model to take off and fly straight and level. You mention it being set up correctly. Without an experienced eye, how do you know? Even if it is set up correctly, you're going to have to trim it out yourself. Trimming is something that takes a somewhat practiced hand. That plane is going to bank, pitch, and yaw without you making any control input. That's because there are subtle flaws in the design and in the build that require correction in the air. If you don't know how to quickly and accurately make those corrections with your trim levers, you're in for a world of hurt.

I don't think you comprehend just how quickly things happen when you're flying. Once you've learned, you don't think, you just react. In you're position you're going to have to race to think ahead of the model. You'll get behind it, and that's when the trouble begins. You're not going to have as much time as you think.

Are you used to the control reversal as the model flies towards you? Nobody is going to be there to mention pushing the stick towards the low wing. It's easy to say you'll do that yourself, but when it's up there you'll find yourself in a different state of mind.

What about the engine? How much experience with glow do you have? If it deadsticks, what will you do?

(in reply to troyp)
       Post #: 7

learning without an instructor - 9/8/2002 12:56:35 AM   
torque_roll



Posts: 207
Joined: 9/3/2002
From: Jon Bon Jovi, CA,
Status: offline 		An instructor helps a lot when learning to fly. Sims are a lot different than flying a real airplane. They are a lot easier to land and take off.

Instructors are there to make it so you don't crash.....and to help you learn to be a good pilot.

A lot of people learn w/o an instructor, but they usually crash a few times before they are succesful.

I would say that having an instructor is a definite plus.

Have fun and good luck.

(in reply to troyp)
       Post #: 8

Re: learning without an instructor - 9/8/2002 1:09:28 AM   
gpmikemorse-RCU


 

Posts: 142
Joined: 1/2/2002
From: Garrett Park, MD USA
Status: offline 		[QUOTE]
The question I am asking is what sort of problems have other beginners had when first learning to fly? What can and does go wrong when your first learning to fly?
[/QUOTE]

In addition to what's been said, flying the airplane is only a small part of the learning process. For most newbies at our club, the first hurdle is assembling the plane so that it is flight-worthy. The next big hurdle is getting the glow engine to start and run reliably, and doing so in a safe manner. The third part is understanding everything it takes to fly safely. None of these can be learned on a sim. Most people (me anyway) learn things one at a time, so it's really nice to have an experienced person take care of all these things while you concentrate on learning to fly.

The advice about not going it alone applies to the typical .40 size glow-powered trainer made out of wood, because they are relatively fragile. If you have to go it alone, I would recommend either a park flyer, or an indestructable plane like the U.S. Aircore or the spad.org Debonair.

On a related subject, I was quite impressed to see that Hangar 9 is addressing the engine learning curve. According to their advertisements, they are now selling engines that are already broken in, with limits on the needle valve, and other features to make them easy for newbies to run and keep running. Yea Hangar 9!

(in reply to troyp)
       Post #: 9

learning without an instructor - 9/8/2002 1:13:24 AM   
Three


 

Posts: 182
Joined: 8/5/2002
From: Waller, TX,
Status: offline 		I learned to fly on my own with no one around. After busting up two nice trainers, I realized I needed help or a plane that could stand hitting the ground. So I got a Sturdy Birdy. I crashed that thing about 30 times but was able to get back in the air right away every time. I definitely learned the hard way. What everyone is telling you is true, especially "MikeL".

Good Luck

(in reply to troyp)
       Post #: 10

learning without an instructor - 9/8/2002 6:09:30 AM   
troyp



Posts: 416
Joined: 8/17/2002
From: Broome, AUSTRALIA
Status: offline 		Thank you everybody for the advice. RCPilet you did not need to be so sarcastic, I did not say that I am good and I do not need an instructor I was just asking what problems can occur when first trying to fly. MikeL answered the question perfectly and gave me a good insight into what I can expect if I go it alone. Unfortunately I do not have a choice as I live in a remote town in the North West of WA so we do not have any clubs etc here. But I might be able to find a fellow flyer that can perhaps teach me.

Thanks,

Troy.

(in reply to troyp)
       Post #: 11

learning without an instructor - 9/8/2002 6:43:42 AM   
TerrellFlyer


 

Posts: 1631
Joined: 3/19/2002
From: Terrell, TX, USA
Status: offline 		Hi troyp,
no, you probably didn't like RCPilets answer,but it was truthfull,my aswer to your question is, hurt yourself,hurt someone else,crash,crash,crash,and crash again.If you don't run out of money and patience,you can learn to half a** fly,facts of life.
Have a goodun,John.

(in reply to troyp)
       Post #: 12

learning without an instructor - 9/8/2002 6:48:39 AM   
MikeL



Posts: 2542
Joined: 3/8/2002
From: Bloomington, MN, USA
Status: offline 		Troy, have you thought about taking a day trip to a more populous area to get some instruction? You seem motivated and knowledgeble, so an afternoon's worth of stick time might be all you need to get you up and running. Consider the amount of time and money you've put into this project, and the enjoyment you stand to get from it in the future.

(in reply to troyp)
       Post #: 13

idiots - 9/8/2002 8:16:12 AM   
whstlngdeath



Posts: 914
Joined: 5/25/2002
From: Catoosa, OK, USA
Status: offline 		It's idiots like "Rcpilet" above, who can't even spell pilot, who give
this forum a bad name. Hey, get a life and try and help someone
for once.

_____________________________

"Greater cruising speeds are possible, but the size of the earth does not warrant greater speeds." - Igor Sikorsky

(in reply to troyp)
       Post #: 14

learning without an instructor - 9/8/2002 9:25:55 AM   
troyp



Posts: 416
Joined: 8/17/2002
From: Broome, AUSTRALIA
Status: offline 		MikeL,

A day trip for me to the nearest town is Pt Hedland which is 600 kms away (About 300 miles). They do have a club there as I have seen thier website. I have heard of one or two people in my town who have planes and although I do not know them I might try and get in touch and ask if they wouldn;t mind helping out.

Thanks agan,

Troy.

(in reply to troyp)