I have a Hobbico Superstar and I have been getting used to the controls on the ground. I am very new to this. Saturday I was going down the raod and I decided to give it some gas and it took right off, went about 30' into the air and I froze up, I let off and it glided great then I gased it and landed with some bounces but all together it went smooth besides breaking my prop. Well my question is, on a sim, you use airleons, roll right or left and then pull back on elevator to turn. Is this correct when flying or will it turn with just the airleons? I have used the rudder and I seem to crash so I am going to just try airleons if it will work better. Thanks for any help on turning!

It will turn with just airlerons the elevator keeps it from lossing altitude during the turn and for tighting a steeply banked turn.

however from the description of you first flight I would strongly suggest getting help from an instructor.. It sounds to me that you used up all that planes luck getting on the ground with only a broken prop.

It could have been and might still be much worse without help.

Sims are great but don't take the place of a good instructor

As tempting as it is to take the plane out and try to fly it by yourself, don't do it. Join the AMA, a flying club, and have an instructor teach you. Through my experience, having someone instruct me was just a matter of showing up at the club with my plane and trainer cord and getting experienced people to buddy box with me. People were more than willing to help. I have a hobbico SuperStar also. Just keep hammering away at the simulator, getting familiar with the sticks, and your orientation down, and you will be on your own in no time.

Unless you live in the absolute middle of no where, you should not fly your plane on any road as with your lack of experience, you could hurt someone, yourself, or damage some property. It wouldn't take much for something to spook you while you were toying with your plane in a residential area, and cause it to crash. If you do everything right the first time around, then you will be better off in the long run. Good Luck, Tim

bri69, While there are good reasons to use the rudder along with ailerons to turn the plane, you don't need to worry about them with that plane. Do as Crashem says.

If you dig up a flying book of some sort and look for "coordinated turn" you will see one of the uses of the rudder and why it is important to use in a turn with some planes. As you become more capable you'll also find the rudder indispensible when, for example, landing in a cross wind. Look in your flying reference for "side slip". The same maneuver can be used to loose some altitude without gaining speed. Mastering it is rather enjoyable.

You'd do well to heed to the other's advice regarding the instructor.

Here is an interesting read on the trouble you can get into and out of with the rudder: http://www.av8n.com/how/htm/snaps.html

I just went over my response and realized I didn't even try to give my 2 cents to your turning question. I don't want to be that person that tells you to get an instructor and nothing else.

My first few flights, on the buddy box, I never touched the rudder when in the air. One of the guys who took me up kept saying that I need to get used to the rudder if I want to be able to take off, and land. While using the sim, I made it a point to initiate my turns using the rudder. Getting the wing to about a 45 degree bank, then using some up elevator to maintain the same altitude. It helps if you can set up the sim so that you have a box in the corner of the screen that will tell you your speed, altitude and wind. My sim, G2 realflight has this. While flying on the sim it is easy to loose where you are, if all you see is blue sky. At least when you fly for real, you will know if you are loosing or gaining altitude, and where you are flying in relation to the pit area. I actually think that the actual flying part is easier when you do it for real as opposed to the sim.

Anyway, when I want to end the turn, I practice using both the ailerons and rudder to level the plane out. Try this doing ovals, figure eights, and box patterns. When landing, I can honestly say that I am yet to use the rudder. I'll just fly my final approach, let off the throttle and slowly bring her down in the middle of the runway keeping the plane level with the ailerons. The other day when landing in about 10-15mph crosswinds, I can see where better rudder control would have been useful. I was keeping the plane level when landing, but it was drifting a little sideways with the wind. I landed no problem, but rudder is definitly something I have to work on.

Now keep in mind that this is just my newbie 2 cents and there are a lot more experienced responses you could get out there. I have had no problems so far so somethings working right. Tim

Thanks for all the replys. I am looking for some time to venture to the nearest flying field to get a little help. I need to join the AMA first, how much does that cost? My wife thinks Im a big kid when I talk about getting an instructor but I have invested enough money in ths plane and I dont want to loose it because I probably want get another forr a while. I really do believe I can fly this plane though. I had a Megatech Skyliner and wow, was it a peice of junk, I tried it about 4-5 times and I got it to stay up for about 10-15 seconds max. It would just bank left and spiral down into the ground. The SuperStar seems to recover to a nice level glide if I let off of controls in time. I think I will try to fly this plane this weekend with or without a trainer. I do have somone I used to know that was really into plane and copters but he was a pain in the a^*. But I think Ill call him and see if he can help me. Well wish me luck this weekend and I will let everyone know how I make out. Is there anyone on here that is In the Wilmington, NC area that would be willing to help me?

Thanks
Brian

Brian,
Your wife thinks your a big kid for wanting an instructor? She'd rather have you spend another $100 to $300 for plane and equipment when you crash it? (And you WILL!)

Please take advice others have given, find a club and instructor, and a chartered field. Do not fly from a road or other public property, the liability issues are pretty bad if you hit someone. (You could lose you home if sued.)
Dennis-

And you don't have to join AMA to go visit the local field, just show up.

May I suggest you just use the rudder and tail to do your business till you get more comfortable?

Before you do ANY of this, make sure someone else flies your plane and 'gets it trim' before you have a big problem that isn't your fault.

I am a beginner also but after 6 solos I am doing very high speed circular dogfights with my brother in his trainer. Even the trainer guy at our airfield can't believe we both only flew a little over an hour. So this worked for me:

Takeoff:
-keep it straight on takeoff, pull back nice and gentle and straight. Let it climb out on full throttle and then with the RIGHT STICK ONLY turn left and pull back a bit. As you complete your first turn you should be a bit higher now or at least level to when you started your turn if you did this right.

Flying:
-Do gentle gentle boxes around the airfield. If it is climbing to much, cut the throttle a notch or two until it stops climbing. I would not suggest pushing down as this is when the plane gets squirly. Not to mention I have seen many people death spiral from this that are just learning.

Landing:
-You want to be able two telephone poles high on your 3rd downward leg and throttle chopped to the point where you would think it is almost at idle. If you have a large airfield, I would suggest keep it faster until you learn more so you don't stall on landing (BAD) or on your last turn stall because you will have to pull back even more on the right stick as you turn because your speed is chopped.

When landing, I turn my body away from the plane and look a bit over my shoulder (ok not anymore): that's what I did my few first times. It really helped me overcome that nervousness when landing.

You sound like you have alot of experience in the flight sim and knew how to bring her down in an emergency on your first try. In a couple weeks you will probably be wondering why it was so difficult for ya.

IF YOU ARE STUBBORN and must do it yourself like me, then try to follow the above. But if you are smart (unlike me) then you will want to fly with someone that will takeoff and land for you for a bit. Takeoffs are not difficult, landings are. And remember:

Takeoffs are optional, landing is mandatory.

EDIT: BTW, I know how difficult it is not to fly when you REALLY want to fly. Especially in my area, not many people to fly with thus the reason I went it alone. I DID have someone takeoff and land for me for AT LEAST 5 flights before I solod. PLEASE, Remember that once you damage your plane. I doubt it will ever fly the same unless you do a damn good and long, extensive repair job. ANd that will take you out of the air even more. Take your time until you feel you are ready when you are sitting at home. At the airfield is a different story, we all get nervous before flying...

S