ORIGINAL: OzMo
Hi all,
I have a good flying buddy that keeps crashing... a lot. I have helped him set up his planes and have helped him replace planes. But he crashes. We think SOME of the problem is battered radio gear. Some may be nerves. But now the other club members are thinking of restricting his flying for safety reasons. He seems to fairly well when not to many are out worse if there is a crowd.
I recently set him up with a 60 size sweet and low stick. At least two guys checked it all over and it seemed to fly very well for the first three flights. It went in wide open last Sunday behind the flight line by the cars. Very impressive debris field and lots of concerned members.
He is a VERY good club member in all other aspects. Open for sugestions.
We have a fellow that crashes almost every trip to the field. I am really dismayed. He is a kind gentleman and I simply hate to see him crash and yet, I know he can fly. I have watched him do some dead-stick landings and grease them. He went wide open as well and crashed into the pits back in the early part of the year and the plane just blew to pieces in front of a car. Man, talk about "heads-up." We were all not sure which way to run.
He has engine issues, plane setup issues, and just regular issues flying. I think most of his problems are plane and radio setup. I watched him closely to analyse what his problems are. I cannot imagine crashing almost every trip to the field. I would have given up long ago. He really enjoys the social aspect more, but I notice he does like to fly, but just cannot seem to get it together.
I have offered to help him and he does come out some more when I am there. Also, another buddy is out as well. We are hoping to help him more but he keeps his planes so torn up it is hard to assist him. I offered to let him fly one of mine and I could help him, but he is like me and won't fly other people's planes.
I think one way is to just hang closer and help him do things and then also work with him while flying. One thing I noticed the most of all is his landing approaches are all over the place and this has contributed to most of his crashes. If I can get him to practice approaches at the same height and location, I believe he will eliminate much of the crashing. Somehow, I plan to help this man in any way I can so he can enjoy flying more.
When he flys most people will stop what they are doing and watch, or will keep their heads up because they just know what is coming. [X(]