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Old 07-19-2009 | 09:56 PM
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speedy72vega
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From: Littleton, CO
Default Happened today........

Well, I don't have any pics to post, but here's the story. Just happened this morning, too.
I was at the airfield flying, and one of the guys that hangs around the airfield came up to tell me he had just got a new plane. He has a Mini Cub, but I have never seen him fly it, so I was interested in his new purchase. It turns out, he bought one of the HobbyZone foamie Corsairs.
He said he had just finished putting it together last night, and asked me to look it over and if I would maiden it for him, so I agreed.
After making some adjustments, we went out to fly it. I lifted it up off the ground and trimmed it out, the thing flew great. I made several circuits, and when I had it flying nice and steady, I asked him if he wanted to take the sticks, after all, it was his plane.
He enthusiastically said 'SURE!', so I gave him the radio. He immediately went into a bank and dive, straight into the ground from about 20 or 30 feet up. I was telling him up elevator to pull it out, but he didn't know what I meant.
It turns out, and I had no idea, he didn't know how to fly. He had never flown a 4 channel airplane, and had only flown his Cub a couple of times. I thought he knew how to fly, or I would have never handed him the radio like that!
Poor guy was heartbroken, as I would have been too. That's when I found out he didn't know how to fly. I have seen him there at the airfield for months, and he knows most of the other pilots and club members, so I thought he had experience.

Well, the crash broke the fuse and wing in half, broke off the tip of the rudder and elevator, and cracked the cowl and canopy. I assured him we could fix it and it would be good as new. I got out the trusty ol' epoxy and clear tape and set to work. We had her back together in about an hour or so, and took her back up (I didn't give him the radio this time, but I tried to tutor him a bit). I made 3 more flights with it, and it flew just fine, although he ruined the 2 blade prop, so we had to put on the 3 blade that came with it also. Still flew, but much slower than before.
I am going to have him get a trainer cable so I can buddy box with him next time, but the plane flew great after the 'Crash and Rebuild' .