RE: Six Keys to Success for new pilots
<div>PREFLIGHT AND FIRST FLIGHT PROCEDURES FOR PARKFLYERS</div><div>by Ed Anderson</div><div>aeajr on the forums</div><div> </div><div>Here are some quick tips and a "check sheet" for preparing your parkflyer</div><div>for launch. If you are a new pilot, you really need to heed the wind</div><div>caution. If you are experienced, use your own judgment.</div><div> </div><div>Here is how you prepare for your first flights. Skip a step and you open</div><div>yourself to problems.</div><div> </div><div>Respect the wind - For new pilots, dead calm to 3 MPH is perfect. No more</div><div>than 5 MPH for early/training flights or you will be fighting the wind, not</div><div>flying the plane.</div><div> </div><div>1) Make sure no one is on your channel BEFORE you turn on your radio. If</div><div>someone is flying on your channel and you turn on your radio, they will</div><div>crash! Check first! If you are on 2.4 GHz, you can skip this step.</div><div> </div><div>2) Do a range check before the first launch of the day</div><div> </div><div>3) Make sure that battery is fully charged just before the launch. Not 3</div><div>days ago. Not last week. I mean, last night or today!</div><div> </div><div>4) Make sure all your surfaces are properly aligned and move properly before</div><div>you launch. Check the manual if the surfaces do not appear to be properly</div><div>aligned. Also make sure your wing is straight! Check the linkage</div><div>connections</div><div>to be sure they are secure</div><div> </div><div> </div><div>5) CHECK THE TRIMS! Check the trim slides on the side and below the</div><div>stick(s). Be sure you have not bumped one out of position. A bumped trim</div><div>can cause the plane to crash. Make sure the surfaces are properly aligned</div><div>on the tail and the wings.</div><div> </div><div>6) Always launch and land into the wind - ALWAYS</div><div> </div><div>7) If you are hand launching, - good firm level throw or only very slightly</div><div>up. Never throw the plane upward - Typically you use full throttle. If</div><div>this is an e-glider, part throttle might be a better choice.</div><div> </div><div>8) Let it fly out and gain speed. I would say a minimum of 50 feet, and 100</div><div>would be better. From a hand throw, it will drop a bit, that is OK. It</div><div>should start to climb all on its own. If you use the elevator, only use a</div><div>small amount.</div><div> </div><div>The plane must get up to speed before applying strong elevator. Apply the</div><div>elevator too soon and you will "stall" the wing, the nose will drop and you</div><div>will crash.</div><div> </div><div>IF THIS IS YOUR FIRST FLIGHT AND YOU ARE LEARNING ON YOUR OWN</div><div> </div><div>If your field will allow it, launch, fly out 100 feet or so then come back</div><div>to about 1/4 throttle and let the plane drift down for a landing straight</div><div>ahead. Just before the plane touches the ground, cut the motor.</div><div> </div><div>Use the rudder to keep it straight. Avoid turns. Do this a few times till</div><div>you understand how the plane launches and lands. Then you can go for climbs</div><div>and turns.</div><div> </div><div>I fly electrics and gliders. With my gliders, I ALWAYS do a test glide,</div><div>with a hand throw, straight out then glide to the ground before launching</div><div>off the hi-start or the winch. This confirms that the plane is balanced and</div><div>everything works right. Good idea for electrics as well using that straight</div><div>out launch, under power, then land. Saves much damage and embarrassment.</div><div> </div><div>If the plane is properly trimmed, it should climb on its own at full</div><div>throttle or require only a small amount of up elevator.</div><div> </div><div>Use the elevator carefully! Unless you are going for a loop, use small</div><div>elevator inputs. Too much up elevator with the plane flying too slowly will</div><div>cause the nose to rise, the wing to stall and the nose to drop. Do this</div><div>near the ground and you crash.</div><div> </div><div>Flight tips</div><div> </div><div>Keep your control movement smooth and don't over do it. Turn before you</div><div>need to so you can give the plane time to react. This is called thinking</div><div>ahead</div><div>of the plane. Plan you moves.</div><div> </div><div>For three channel parkflyers that use rudder/elevator or two channels that</div><div>only have rudder, don't hold rudder commands for more than a couple of</div><div>seconds. On these planes, rudder commands will cause the plane to bank, or</div><div>tip over in the direction of the turn. That is good because that is how</div><div>they turn. However, if you hold the rudder too long, the</div><div>bank will continue to steepen to the point where the wing will lose lift and</div><div>you will go into a dive or spiral in for a crash.</div><div> </div><div>Of course you read the whole manual several times and watched any videos</div><div>that might have come with the plane before you fly.</div><div> </div><div>Here are some other tips you might find helpful: Six Keys to Success</div><div>http://www.wattflyer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18</div><div>http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=355208#post3551513</div><div> </div><div>> Throwing up will make you sick - read from the first post</div><div>http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_3267744/anchors_3708346/mpage_1/key_/anchor/tm.htm#3708346</div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Clear Skies and Safe Flying! </div>