Advice needed;
After a few years of kicking the RC flying thing around I finally decided to jump in.
This weekend I visited my local hobby shop and after a long discussion with the owner (a 50 year RC pilot) we decided that I should purchase the Firebird Freedom and give it a try.
I’m a little reluctant to joint a club just yet; I want to make sure I’m going to enjoy this.
Well to make a long story shorter…and after reading countless reviews and advice on the internet and watching the included DVD I thought I was ready to give a whirl.
My 20 year old son and I put the plane in the trunk and when up to the local soccer fields. The weather was perfect, a very light breeze, nobody around, perfect for my first flight.
After checking wind direction, the planes control surfaces and following the instructions again I decided it was now or never. Pointed into the wind and with ACT on and full power, I launched it. It started up then all of a sudden a quick turn to the right and crash. OK first time. Straiten things out, no real damage, launched again, a little higher turned right again and crash. Ok second time no big deal.
I remember someone (on internet) said ATC can be a problem and you should really turn it off, so this time I launched with it off. OK it flew pretty good for the first 50 feet or so but as soon as I went to turn it to the left it veered right and crashed HARD this time both wings creased, tails creased, battery door almost broken off hinges, the propeller came completely off the shaft and the motor housing bent a bit. Oh boy what did I get my self into I thought….my son however was having a heck of a time laughing at his old man at this point. I’m sure he can’t wait to get home and tell his mom!
Ok one more time, I’m going to fly this thing the way it is. We put it back together and one more time we launched it. OK now its flying right wing bent and flapping in the wind (how is this thing flying I’m thinking to my self), I turned it towards us, still flying, my son and I are in stitches laughing, then the crash. Again the propeller went one way and the rest of the plane went the other.
At this point although I’m still amused it was flying but I’m starting to feel a little disappointed that I failed this badly my first time out.
Is this normal, did I purchase the wrong plane for beginner?
Should I put new wings and tail surfaces on and try again?
Any words of wisdom or advice would be greatly appreciated.
I did have fun,
TNT