ORIGINAL: eddieC
I'll play Devil's Advocate:<div>
</div><div>You say you don't 'have the time' to spend at the local club learning to fly with an instructor, yet this is the third thread you've found the time to post on self-taught flying.</div><div>Your repairs take time, and leave the plane heavier and possibly compromised such that it may fly worse. </div><div>The self-teaching approach is inefficient, in that you crash more frequently and don't learn many things a teacher imparts. It can be said you're learning more about crashing, because that's part of what you're repeating. How do you learn safety principles, aerodynamics, etc? It's not all reflexes and eye-hand skillz. </div><div>As you experience more crashes, you subtly 'learn' that dubious skill. </div><div>
</div><div>I would hope newbies reading your posts realize this is an example of what NOT to do. Investing a little time and patience learning from a mentor will lead to quicker, safer learning. You sound like one of those folks who doesn't take advice from others. As for me, I don't have the time to make all the mistakes, I'll learn from the mistakes of others. </div><div>You're also missing out on making new friends at the field. </div><div>
</div><div>I tried what you're doing when I was very young. I bought a couple second-hand planes and tried it on my own. I didn't know there was a small club nearby. After totaling those planes, I talked to the guys at the hobby shop and got the name of a couple teachers. I built an all-new plane and had the instructor teach me. It only took about 4-5 trips, and I soloed. That trainer lasted about 12 years, mainly because I repeated successful things over and over. </div>
Eddie - Its not telling anyone what to do or not to do. Like the US the UK is a free country and hobbyisits can choose theeir own path whehter it be self teaching or learnign at a club. I don't want to turn this thread into a debate over whether to join a club or not. Thats why I started a new thread that is solely for my diary and progress so that for the few that choose the same route they have some reference points to help them along the way. I agree that a club is the ideal way to learn for the average hobbyist with enough time but its not just about whats ideal for the average person. Everyone has different lifes and things they need to work around. I have 3 kids, two dogs and run a business so my time is precious and I just like to take the odd hour here and there to nip to a field and fly for some fun with mates. I just don't have time for the club life and without sounding arogant I don;t have time to make more friends. I struggle to keep in touch with all the ones I have. You mention that I have time to post on here but not be in a club. You will find that a lot of the posts I make are late at night in the UK or are in the day time when I am perhaps sat wiating for a meeting to start. I can slot posting on here in at convenient times where ever I am. For a club I would have ot be there at set times to meet tutors to an agreed schedule. I can't do that. Some will agree wth my points but most wont simply because they are club members and are biased the opposite way to me.
For the sake of this thread It would be great if we could leave the "join a club" nagging alone and just allow readers to learn from my mistakes. I can assure you that my diary on its own will probably make most people understand that a club is the normal route and will highlight many reasons why. But there will still be those readers that like me don;t want to be in a club so will learn from my mishaps and hopefuly succeed like I hope to.
In my 5 flights I have carried out one major repair which took all of 45 minutes when I snapped it. That included covering time. I'd say I added no weight as I removed the thim ply coverinng totally and just used strips of balsa to make props and reinforce it. I would say it is now stronger than before as I spoooted an obvious weak point and rectified it. If anything it may be 5 - 10 grams heavier but thats it and its a whole lot stronger. And besides I've flown it 4 times since then and it flies straight. Without wind it does anyway but thats a story for my fifth flight. the only other repairs have been propellors and front wheel that fell off. There was a repair to teh tail plane but that was before I started flying it and I caught in in my van doors. That doesn't count. [>:]
I haven't totalled a plane yet so I'm not even close to the two you totalled. Perhaps I have done more preperation. Lets see over the coming weeks.
Watch this space!