Here's my story for fellow newbies. I've been into some type of R/C since maybe 12 (now almost 31) I used to sleep, eat, and drink R/C. I pretty much have the darned Tower Hobbies catalog memorized then, and now too! I remember my father telling me back then that if I could only learn my shool work like that tower hobbies catalog! My toys then were a Marui Big bear, Blackfoot and the strange Chevy 4X4 with one of the first 2 speeds on an electric car. Planes and gas motors were a no back then. See back then parents didn't buy children everything they wanted and $400 was a fortune, out of the reach of every other kid I knew (parents now take note!!!!!). So I got into motorcycles (one I got for free), then girls, then cars. Even now I'm a total toy friek from the boat to the corvette to my beautiful Jaguar. Ok enough about me. About 11 years ago I built a midwest Sukhoi as a static display, but then went and added the radio, motor, and everything else. To my dismay, well it's definately not a plane to learn on. Being in the Navy with $0 it sat. Now 4 years ago I bought a Hobbico Airvista to learn to fly my Sukhoi. So being how I am I decided not to go with the instructor. My preference and my mistake. Well being out here in the "semi sticks" I found a field right up the road. I finally got the motor running perfect(tower .46) and I took it off and Viola! I was flying not too hard as it was a decent overcast day with a light breeze.. Now for newbies and planes. For me it was unbelievable how from the first few seconds of awe to see my new plane take off. Well that was fine I'm pretty darned good at cars. Well the airlerons are the hardest thing to master those few moments. I'm used to hold til you're done turning. Try that with those and well obviously you're rolling.. So I couldn't get it so I decided to bring it a little closer and lower so I can see exactly what I was doing (I know I know) well you guessed it the closer and lower just reduced my "safety margin" and I did the exact same thing so nose dive in the field. Bummed, but it only broke the firewall and dumped the fuel tank right through the bottom.. Well 4 years later (2 weeks ago) I decided to get back. So I replace the $1.50 worth of wood I broke and I had a plane again.. Being me and the lack of getting an instructor. I highly recommend one, but I personally decided to do it 100% no matter how many planes I crash. Guess I want to show it's doable. So 2 days ago I took it out and looked for a good place. My old place is now inhabited by cows so that was out.. I found a dirt road in the middle of nowhere with huge open spaces great.. So there it went, but it was extremely windy and It was all I could do just to keep it up (didn't sound good
) well after yankin and bankin I got it down w/o breaking anything. Sure it went into some thorny bushes and put a hole in the covering, but a little scotch tape and that's that. So there's my lengthy story. If fellow nubies don't mind get an instructor, but I'm proof it's not 100% necessary only 99%
... This weekend I'm joining the local field (Raleigh Aeromasters here in NC). That was my biggest thing was the place to fly it at, and of course the wind too. Being windy and new it was really hard to differentiate my inputs from the effect the wind gusts were having.. My advise is to have fun, it's sitting on my dining room table waiting for my next flight and I can't wait!! I also want to say what a terrific place this is and just reading the handful of posts and the help and kindness is unmatched! Other forums I've been into isn't "close knit" feeling.. Guess everyone here are just like the one's I used to look up to in awe when I was 12 and dad took me to the local flying field. Simply Awsome! Thanks for letting me share my story!
Todd