ORIGINAL: jkpape
I learned to fly with a Topflight Headmaster Sport 40. Excellent flying, but no longer kitted :-(. Plans are available through RCM Plans service though. My Second plane was a Topflight P-39 (original kit, not the gold edition). The easiest, most forgiving warbird I've flown is the pica FW-190.
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0);">I took on the duities of an Instructor While in Arizona this winter</span></span></span>. <span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0);">This was a real EYE OPENER. First Student Pilots arn't created equal and what they bring to fly range from piles of Junk to brand new never flown trainers. First of all not every one is equiped with the same abilities. I had a 13 year old (man) not boy that had flown a couple of Fomies in his back yard and showed up with a new never flowen electric T-28</span></span></span>. <span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0);">I checked it out and fixed a couple of minor things like reversed ailerons, and maidened it. Because he had only 1 battery and no charger, he asked if he could attempt to fly it. Reluctently I took it up high, ya know the 3 mistakes high. Handed him the Xmitter and said now keep it in close and keep it up there. Well 4 minutes into a 6 minute flight he asking to attempt a landing. I take a quick look at tne wind sock and it's a direct moderate cross wind from our back. I reinerate "It's your airplane. Well Long storry short, He had just soloed and didn't need any more help. Wonderfull feeling to turn a student loose, even if all I really did was maiden his plane.
Then their is the OLD GEEZER with the biggest pile of JUNK for a trainer. at least 6 different color pataches and fixes. He shakes so bad he can't hardly hold onto the sticks. Nice guy and I can tell he wants to learn. He had started with our head instructor with a Trainer P-51. ya know the one with the air bracks and wing cuffs ect. Whell he had a spectrum 5ie and 6i as he buddy box. I witnessed the pland after several flights, and the Instructor flying, This P-51 trainer dig a hole in the desert, no reasn at all, just decided it was tired of living and WHAM.
Anyway he comes to me with this God afull peice of JUNK and asks if I'll train him because I'm there every day and the other instructors only instruct on week ends. Suprisingly the "Peice of JUNK" Flies fairly well. The ground handeling is attrociuos and a lot of trouble to take off.
Well after about 5 weeks and 3 major crashes, he declares he's ready to solo him self. OK go for it. OH this is after he does major repair to the plane because it quit on take off and I didn't get it back to the runway and it broke in half when it hit a rock pile we affectonily call the "BERM'.
Mind U he had never taken off because the plane was so squarilly. But he had converted it to a tail drager and it was easier to taxi. After 3 attempts to take off him self and hitting the fenc 3 times he picked up his "BALL" and wet home. Now the stories not over. Next day he comes along with one of these "LECTRIC" T-28's. has someone else maiden it for him and he's off to the races. Got to hand it too him he did real well. Took off like a pro, flew around the pattern like a pro and landed ok. Kept this up for a couple of days, Even flying formation with the young man with the other T-28. Then one day I was helping one of my other students and I hear heads up and low and behold here's this T-28 in about 20 peices in the parking lot. Well since then, and befor I left on April 12 he had killed 7 more airplnes all to gether.
Everyone has differant abilities, I have seen people struggle for years trying to master this hobby/sport and the U have the 13 year old that flying IMAC and blowing every on out of the water. We all know some one that will have problems flying R/C for ever and those that are just naturals. We are all here to have Fun and so long as a person flys SAFE is all that counts. Doesn't mater what you try to learn to fly on. Everyone has their opunions and differant answers to the same question. If your lucky a ear from now it will all be a MOOT Question. and you will have your opinuon on the subject. Just remember Safty First and Have Fun.
And for those that don't like the RED or the BIG type. Don't read it.go on the next post PLZ.
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