ORIGINAL: countilaw
I've newbys flying pattern in their second year also. But they didn't start flying pattern ships in the first 6 months of flying either. They started out with the proper training, the proper plane and the proper technique. You must learn to crawl before you can walk. Too many newbys start out with planes that are too far advanced for their owners capabilities.
When I am going to maiden a new plane I know it's straight and balanced. I know it's going to take off level and climb out straight. I know that my installations are correct and air worthy. I have confidence in my ability to fly the plane. Therefore, I am excited to fly it.
With the world of ARF where someone else built the plane, you don't know what's going to happen when the plane leaves the ground. But with close inspection and measurements, you can take some of the guess work out of the results.
How many people have we seen or heard of that purchased a RTF and took it to the school yard or park and tried to fly it with no instruction? Quite a few I'm sure. They crash the toy plane, it breaks and they walk away saying, " Well, there's a shot $200. They drop it in the trash and go play video games. If they had purchased the correct plane, had so instruction, and learned the correct technique, they would probably be enjoying a great hobby now.
I am sure there will be some people pop on here and claim that they taught themselves to fly. Well good, but at what costs? How many planes did you go through? How long did it take you?
This is the internet, so everything you read here is always the truth and no one lies about their experience and how great they fly or how long they have been flying.
Frank
So I take it to mean that everyone that is self taught is lying or has spent a bunch of money on wrecked planes? Not necessarily so, but that subject has been beat to death in other threads.
To the OPI say,most everyonegets nervous on the maiden of a new plane. My knees were almost knocking when I put my Flyzone Focke-Wulf FW 190 in the air the first time. Same with my Parkzone T-28 Trojan, but since then, no nerves with these two. However, I have a Flyzone Cessna 182 Skylane Select Scale that I know I am going to be nervous putting her up the first time. Although Iprobably won't be as nervous as the first time I put my HZ Super Cub up, my second plane overall. Being nervous is just being human. On the other hand, I know two fellows that have bought planes and are terrified to fly them, who knowswhy. Anyway, get out there an fly, if you crash, so be it. She'll fly next time.