ok guys... i went to the field today to give the maiden flight on my avistar (2nd one AWARF model 40LA) NO instructors were at the field but i seen 2 guys flying low wing birds and asked if they were instructors... they said "no" but that they can fly trainer easily... so i asked them if they could look my plane over and trim it out for me... they said "sure no problem" so they got it in the air trimmed it all out then he handed it to me to see how it handled after a few minutes i gave it back for him to land he landed it easily... then they said well were out of here have fun dont worry about the landings it floats in pretty well... i said ok and they left... at the is point im pretty amped up and scred to solo... but... i got her on the runway and started going down she lifted smoothly !!! i am FLYING SOLO!!! i stayed in the air maybe 5 minutes and decided to see if i could land her so i made wide approach to the runway & cut the power shes floating in nice and gracefully not trying to hit the runway she is comming up on the grass.... Whoo HOOO landed nice and neatly in the grass nice and smooth landing... although.... i landed it about 50 yards from me so i go down to get the plane and when i get to it i look for damage and NONE!!! whoo hooo i looked to the sidelines and told everyone """IM SOLO!!!!""" they all clapped and said good landing... i guess what im saying is that i need an ATTABOY if you could make it out to Shawn that would be great

Superfab!!!
One little tiny bit of advice, You said you landed about 50 yards away. GREAT! Don't try to stretch the glide out, and don't be obsessed with spot landing right in front of yourself. (the two cardinal sins of beginners). YOU DID IT MAN!!!!!!!
Keep it up, it only gets better and better.

Jetts

yea... i wasnt to worried about hitting the runway actually i didnt want to hit the runway cause of the bounce that happens sometimes... i wanted the nice soft grass i landed it in front of me it was just about 50 yards infront of me about 40 yards beyond the run way

X where the plane landed

____________________________runway

O ME

yahoo !

Any landing you don't have to fix something from is a good one!!!

Once again, CONGRATULATIONS MY R/C FRIEND!!!!!!!

Jetts

Good job dude!!!!

Congratulations!

Good to hear a beginner got one down w/o problems. Had my maiden flight today although an experienced flyer trimmed it out and took-off for me. Tried the landing after a couple attempts--bounce bounce down. Little damage (propeller) but that's it.

Time to get out the Guinness for a toast!

Congrates
Mr Midnight and jsmithjr732
Its always a sweet memory to think back when u did your first solo flight.

Welcome to RCU jsmithjr732.
Heres one place you can ask anything and everyone is there to give their piece of advise.

yea it was the maiden flight for this one also... another guy trimmed it but i soloed on the second flight of the plane... that was my 3rd day at the field with someone helping me.. about 6-7 lfight with instruction before solo... dont get me wrong i have electrics that i fly frequently but the glow planes seem to be a little different with the speed/power and of course the landings....
beginners please dont try to maideon your new plane at least have someone else trim it and look it over before taking it up the first time... it will save you alot of time and money to have someone help you come on man wheres my ATTABOY or do i have to hit the runway first before im considered solo?

Congratulations midnite. Feels good don't it.

By the way, Minnflyer does the "Atta Boys" out of the goodness of his heart. It's not something that's automatic for every RCU member, so give him a break.

Next step is to consistently hit the runway.
Dennis-

Shawn,

For your "attaboy" see post No. 2.

What am I, chopped liver?

Jetts

of course your not chopped liver... i just think those signs that minnflyer makes are cool... i think im gonna go fly again today
IF it doesnt rain

Sorry for the delay, but I was out flying yesterday!

ATTABOY Shawn!

Congrats midnite. Feels good, doesn't it!

Yes, those signs that MinnFlyer makes are cool aren't they. Being the sad geek that I am, I printed mine out on a color laserprinter and now have it in a frame hanging on the wall over my workshop bench

thank you minnflyer!!!! hehe finally im solo.. it seemed like a long process, but im in the air and its all me now i just need to stop at the hobby shop and pick up more fuel

i think im going to take it one step further.... im going to frame the ATTABOY sign AND the prop i used for the first SOLO!!!

put the attaboy on the top part of the frame and pin the prop under it i know im a nerd but i love every minute of it

Ah, I'm too busy still using my first prop to power my aircraft!

yeeehaawww!!!! i flew again today 4 flights!!!! 2 landings in the grass and 2 on the RUNWAY!!!!! whoo hoooo here is a list of manuvers i was doing on the avistar AWARF with 40LA !!

inverted flight into a 1/2 outside loop
2 regular loops in a row
rolls left and right
and YES!!! flying inverted into a full outside loop!!!! SWEET!!!
did a couple hammer heads...
and 1/2 loop, 1/2 roll makes for a good U turn
im using a 10X6 master airscrew prop... i dont think it is as good as a top flight wood 10X6 ... but .. for all the people wondering about the 40LA i say .. dont worry about it has plenty of power for the Avistar.. would i like to have the 46fx? SURE!!! but the LA is fine for starters... i did all these manuvers and i have only been flying glow for a short time... here is my progresion in flight from the last 3-4 months

firebird II (electric) i do not recomend this get aerobird
GWS Slow Stick (electric)
GWS Beaver (electric)
Avistar (glow fuel)

i have only been flying all total about 3-4 months...
with some time on the FMS simulator using a playstation 2 controller.. i have an adapter for the playstation 2 that is USB seems to work great....

HAPPY LANDINGS !!!!

So now that you're solo, when are you coming out to Willmar Shawn?

where is Willmar!!! why dont you come to SPRC? its in Ham Lake... maybe you could teach us some things

Ham Lake? Sounds like a place where Oprah would spend her vacations!

What days/times are you guys usually out there?

on the weekend it usually has alot of people... actually anytime if the weather is nice people are there....

Congrats on your solo....

I did it the hard way.... took off and landed sucessfully all by myself... no training....BUT... i did have many hours on a sim... i believe that is what saved first flight.

I went on to crash of course....cockiness willl get you in the end!

hehe....congrats solo dude!