ORIGINAL: Jacobs Jasta 7
ORIGINAL: Microz
ORIGINAL: Jacobs Jasta 7
ORIGINAL: countilaw
The best way to get rid of the maiden flight jitters is to learn to fly, and learn to fly correctly. Too many new pilots get planes that are above their ability to fly. I see too many new comers buying mustangs, P-40s, and the like thinking they can fly them.
It's best to start with a trainer and getting good with it. Then moving to a more intermediat plane and getting good with it. Once you are good at the controls and you have cofidence in your ability, the jitters go away. You then experience ''excitment''.
Frank
I agree to a point Frank, everyones learning curve is different, and it's not up to anyone to say if he or she is ready to handle whatever plane IMO. I've seen newbies on a warbird the second year in, and not crash it. I've been flying about 10 years and I still get the jitters at times. Also I fly scale and some of my planes have taken a year to build.
Also every first flight of every Spring my hands start to sweat a little. So to the OP I say you are right where your supposed to be and it is OK. I read somewhere someone older with a heart condition got a heart attack flying his RC airplane for the first time. He started feeling pains in his chest, managed to land the plane safely then dropped dead. It's rare, I wouldn't worry about it. Just focus on your airplane and watch what it does. Practice keeping your wings level and practice keeping your turns smooth. Remember to be nice and easy with your control movements (keep it smooth and gental). If it seems too much, just yell and have someone take over that has more experience. Another thing you can do is teather up with a instructor just in case.
Me if I get stage fright at a big event, I just try to picture everyone naked.
Pete
Okay im only 15 but this has me concerned...i can DIE from being too nervous!?!?!?!?!?
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LOL! You will be fine, it just takes time.
You see, if I were to think about all the time and money I spent on the plane I'm flying, I would always be too nervous. I try and put all those things out of my mind because if I didn't, all my planes would be "hanger queens" and I'd have nothing to fly. Then I would be pestered by the fact I had perfectly good planes to fly, and I would crave going out to the field with them. So I guess I have a inner struggle going on and I'd rather I'd fly my works of art.
Unfortunately all planes have a expiration date and it's a matter of when and not if we crash. But we build up our flying skills so that expiration date is postponed.
Because I fly modified ARF scale warbirds only, I get invited to fly at many events. It's one thing to be nervous before a maiden flight, or first flight of the season. But when I flew for the first time at a large event with 200+ people watching my plane, I finally got to know what being nervous was really like. I felt my heart pounding in my chest, my hands started to sweat, my knees started to knock and become weak and I had a lump in my throat. And once the flight was over and I landed safely, that's when my hands started to shake.
Please believe me when I write that the more you get used to your airplane, and know how it handles, the less you will be nervous and will start enjoying the freedom of flight much more.
Pete