ORIGINAL: CGRetired
Usually, the very first thing I do at the field is fly ovals and figure eights for a few minutes, then I develop the nerve to do a few touch and go's. The reason is to let the butterflys settle down before I do anything that I might really screw up on. Can't hurt much with ovals and figure 8's, I say.
Then on the second tank of fuel, I begin to get brave and start to do really awful stuff like an aileron roll or maybe a really difficult loop.
I really start to whoop it up on the third tank, though.. that's when I do a stall turn and begin to do other stuff like the half cuban 8, or a square loop.. that's when it's time to start to practice the beginning of a whole new era in my RC flying.. I can put to practice what I've learned here today... the Flat Spin!!!
CGr
Idon't try the spins until the second tank of the day. If you don't have a reliable idle or have a model that frequently dead-sticks you can get in trouble. Another reason for height with spins. If you are in the habit of powering out of a spin (opposite of what a full-size pilot is taught) and suddenly the engine konks you may be in for a shock.
Another thought - some models will flat spin better five minutes into a flight than right off. Depends where the tank is. And also, Ihave been told a rearmost C.G. makes it easier to enter an invertedflat spin but harder to get out of one.