I am curious about when a beginner is considered a intermediate flyer. What qualities are necessary to be a intermediate flyer?? Time? Maneuvers? Landings? Thanks[sm=confused.gif]

Michael

I think when you can handle setting up your plane and understand why things are done the way they are...and can fly your trainer with confidence, and authority. Thats when you are no longer a beginner.TMHO.

Yeah what Aeronaut said, once u get ur plane up in the air by urself and can land it alone and take it out of trouble alone, and can also fly another plane different from a trainer, ur an intermediate

You will remain a beginner until you have successfully crashed your plane, after that, your a Newbie no longer a beginner...........

You are no longer a beginner once you lose that fear of not doing anything close to the ground. When you start to get daring and push your limits.

What Carolina said.
You've become an intermediate pilot when you can fly a low wing sport plane, and do most of the basic manuevers well. ie. Rolls, loops, inverted flight, land where you want and well, (almost) all the time.

However, you're no longer a beginner when you begin answering more questions than you ask. [sm=biggrin.gif]
Dennis-

Hi Michael,

When I could fly my WM Super Sport 40 by myself. Takeoff, land, do loops, rolls stalls(a couple of mistakes high), tune my engine, then I moved to intermediate. How are things? What are you flying these days? Again a lot has to do with how many questions you have when you are flying. Every time I go to the field I learn something new, that is normal for me. I am curious and want to learn about any new thing I see. Sometimes I still feel like a beginner because someone is flying a 1/4 scale plane. So much to learn and not enough time. But, if you can handle your planes and engines and radio equipment, then I think you have crossed the line. I may never get past intermediate, I may never want to. I take my time and have as much fun as I can.

Bill

Hi Bill,

sent you a e-mail. Sig 4*60 withOS61FX. Flys great, doing basic aerobatics with it.

Michael

Nice, there you go. I love that plane and I think it is a very good airplane to fly. Just keep on flying it, it will serve you well. I think you are well on your way. BTW, how do you feel when you are flying it. Are you comfortable yet? I know some nerves are good, they keep you alert. I judge it on how I feel. If I feel more relaxed, then I know I am flying better. Is it a ARF? How is the orientation? Did you add anything to the bottom to help in that?

I'll check out the email later. [8D]

Bill

a beginner is no longer a beginner when he can recover from any mistake as much as possible, remembers where his plane was incase he looses orientation, and feels confident in himself.

How 'bout....You're no longer a beginner when the "Newbies" start asking YOU questions ?? LOL !

Ugo

once you have over 100,000,000 posts[]

You are no longer a beginner when you can put an ARF togther take it to the field takeoff set the trim up and land it all by your lonesome and be able to tell if the CG is right or not and wether the thrust angle is right or if the weight needs moved.

You are no longer a newb when:

-People stop laughing and pointing at you when you fly.
-People stop ducking for cover or hiding in their cars.
-Your family and friends don't cringe when you come home from flying.
-You spend less time pi**ing with your airplane, and more time flying.
-You stop asking dumb question in these forums (refer to several of my posts)
-When you can take off and land without shoving the controller into your brothers stomache to take over.
-You stop coming back home with a paper bag with tiny pieces of balsa brimming from the top (oil soaked of course).
-You don't need a 6 pack to calm down from 'your experience'.
-You stop turing your body with your plane on the ground to counteract the directional dislexia.

And the #1 thing that denotes that you are no longer a newb in RC:
(drum roll please)
-You do the complete opposite of what I do.

Sincraft,

Great line. LOL
My I use it?

Good Post!!

It is interesting how many poeple mention being nervous. I usually find I calm down after my first flight is over. At that point, I really am not a aware of anything else going on around me and my focus is more directed, natural and relaxed. But oh boy, sometimes that first flight can be shaky.

Michael

yeah. i hear you. my first flight, i am always shaking a bit, but after that, i jsut can't stop. i need to get used to the plane after a dormant week. then, i can do anything i want

RedWing-RCU: Humorous things are always even more humorous WHEN THEY ARE TRUE! Yes, quote me for sure. eheh.

S

Six consecutive five minute flights - which include at least two loops and three rolls - that end with the models wheels on the ground (and still attached to the model) and the motor still running, without needing to bend, glue, tape or replace any structural member or covering material of the plane or any article of your own clothing between flights. If the model by design is incapable of a loop then two horizontal figure-of-eight patterns can be substitituted.

That, or 100 flights accumulated, whichever comes first. If you ain't got it by then you can't use "newbie" as an excuse.

Extra points are given for agreeing to take up an even fresher newbie's new, unflown plane and successfully returning it to earth undamaged after trimming it in flight; and then adjusting the linkages on the ground in such a way that it actually improves on the next flight.

Double points are given if you return the plane to earth undamaged after the fresher newbie had installed the aileron arms backwards, but immediately deducted because you didn't notice on your pre-flight check.

I have been flying a little over a year now. I felt that I was no longer a beginner when a new club member, who had seen me fly, asked if I would train him. Although I am not totally comfortable training yet, I felt better about my own skills when this happened.

Btw, there's an old adage that you don't fully understand something until you try to teach it to someone else.

Teaching others, and preflighting and test flying other guy's planes has made me a better pilot, no question about it.

You guys are brave. Flying another persons plane seems rather crazy to me. But to the newbie (me) you instantly earn their respect when you bring it down in one piece.

CHARLIE: I think that should be the definition of a Club Trainer honestly. Nicely put.

S

I always fly a rectangle as my first maneuver, just to get my b...s out of my throat and to check the plane trim also. After that is all hot dogging. If you're able to get your ba..s down at this point you're no longer a beginner.

Regarding needing help, I think every body need help at some point for many reasons, is good to fly alone that new plane and trimmed it your self, but suddendly the wind picks up like crazy and what do you do? risk to land with a new plane that you have never land before or ask someone with more expirience than you or someone that you know flys that particular plane to land it for you or at least be your caller in the landing.

There is no pride in a crashed plane, only a long, long, long ride home.

Ok, let me spark another spin on this conversation!

-When does a beginner, decide he/she/it is ready to solo...I mean solo as in no screaming help and someone comes running.

after 2 solo's with an instructor nearby? More? Less?

AND what do you do your first time out, try to keep it within easy sight and make boxes in the air until you can get the guts to next...LAND..? (my plan personally hehe)

That's why they pay me the big bucks. Oh, wait, I don't get paid. Nevermind.

Actually, it's a lot of fun. And a challenge all it's own. And I get to "sample" lots of different planes, radios, and engines.

Of course, most of the time the plane being flown is a trainer, and these days, with the quality and popularity of ARFs, 9 times out of 10 the test flight is totally uneventful, almost boring. Well, never boring. But that 1 out of 10 sure makes for some fun and excietment. I don't know about other guys, but I get a huge charge out of bringing back a funky flying plane in good shape, when I know a lot of guys would have reduced it to splinters. Back when most planes were kits, first flights were always more exciting. And yes, I do seriously go over a new plane to minimize anything that could go wrong.