In my limited flying experience, I still have those moments of turning/making corrections the wrong way (left, no right, I mean left). I know there are a couple different schools of thought out there I've learned from different instructors/mentors. One technique, with the plane approaching you, point the stick at the low wing. The other is to slightly turn your back to the advancing airplane and look back over your shoulder. What are some of your thoughts on these or other techniques? Pros and cons of one vs. the other? Thanks.

Keep flying until it comes as second nature. If necessary try the stick to the low wing which will work if the model is coming directly at you. Another method is to make a very slight movement with the stick and if it's wrong correct it. You'll be surprised how soon it becomes natural to do the proper thing.

I haven't flown in real life; only in sims, but here is how I do it.

I IMAGINE myself in the plane. It comes pretty easy for me.

Put your plane on the ground, without the wing, and taxi towards you making turns and moves like going around an obstacle course. This is the best training i know to get your direction straight. (other than flying)

Like Ballgunner said, just fly, fly, fly, until you no longer have to think about it.

I haven't been flying enough for the proper "correction" to be second nature all the time, but as long as you are "one mistake high" it seems best to not do anything weird with your body orientation, etc. Just let the experience build up to the point where you dont have to worry about doing it wrong..

The only special thing I do these days is conciously tell myself, as I begin the approach to land (always coming towards me, of course), if I see it tip *that* way I'll correct with *that* stick movement, to really be sure I'm not going to have to think about it when I see a wing drop when the plane is 3' off the deck. Just a thought.

q

get a cheapie rc car. that's what i did. it is a great tool because you can stop it, it doesn't cost you a fortune, and it won't cost you anything if you run it into something. also, if you hit yourself with one, it is a lot less dangerous. the orientation thing came to me naturally on the first flight because i had had several cheapie radio shack cars. the looking over your shoulder is a bad idea and makes people look innexperianced, while thinking which one is the low wing, and orienting your sticks takes enough thought to distract you if you are having trouble

The technique I use...is Nose In... Tail away.. ie if the plane is going Left to right... move the aileron to the nose (right) to make it turn to you... or move it to the tail (left)to make it turn away. Also works going right to left... very good if it gets a little far to see..

happy flying

While any method that helps is good, personally I like the "Look over the shoulder" method. The reasoning is that eventually, you should get to where you don't need a method (Like Ballgunner said), it just comes natural. With this method, you can gradually straighten your body as you get better, until you reach the point when you no longer NEED to turn around.

Whatever works for you is the way to go. Use any and all suggested techniques and you will find things that work. Of course as others have said, actual in-air time is the way to get to that natural state.
Don't be alarmed if you have to fall back and use those techniques again after a long time of not flying.
Good Luck

Hi Russ:
I move the stick to "suport" one wing and "let go" another one in the direction of the turn.

I also should join "the gang" here and say "practice-practice-pracice" it will come to you.

Good flying!

I started doing this when I was learning to fly until my instructor caught me at it and chewed my ***** good for it. He always stressed never using "cheats or gimmicks" to fly as they will let you down in an emergency. He was a pretty stern taskmaster but I think I'm a better flyer because of it. Fly the plane, don't let the plane fly you.

Good Luck,
Scott

I was just wondering if you have used a sim at all. I have only flown a handful of times and only got disorented once when I could barely see the plane (sun was going down and wierd shadows were all over). I attibute the absense of disorentation to using FMS, its free and im quite happy with it. All you need is an adaptor for your Tx and your set, pick a plane closest to yours and try flying as controlled as possible, it will really help.

Good Luck

Both the "turnaroud" and "stick to low wing" methods work well.. I prefer not tomeove around as it changes perspective (and to new flyers) depth of field as well so I favor the stick to low wing method is easier (i think) and it works if the airplane is coming to you in any given direction..

It has been said here, practice, practice, practice. I have used the stick method quite successfully, and there came a pont in my flying that I suddenly noticed that I wasn't "thinking" about the stick method, my thumb and brain were just doing it. It will come eventually, but as you add more tricks or manuevers to your list of "can do's," you will find that you return to thinking about stick movement.

i still suggest the rc car method. it will cost uyou about $20 for a litle cheapie one, but there is no risk involved, and it is the same as with a plane coming twards you. i know this works because i had had several ones in the past, and i did not have an orientation problem when i started.

This is how I remember:

I actually "talk" to my plane and give it instructions:

"lift that wing" (and move the aileron stick toward the low wing)

and, "DO NOT GO THAT WAY" and point the rudder stick to where the plane was heading.

It works for me

Luis

with time it would be like walking.

I DO NOT recommend the "over the shoulder" or "imagine your in the airplane" technique. This slows reaction time and creates very bad habits. It is fine at first but if you continue using the technique you will bust an airplane one day b/c of delayed reaction time. It takes way too long to visualize yourself in the airplane. I teach the "low wing" aka "down wing" method. If you want to fly park fliers and slow stuff forever the other methods are fine but you really need your visualization skills to become 2nd nature with NO hesitation between the eyes, brain and fingers. To visualize yourself or turn your body creates a lag in reaction time.

While my way is the safe and easy way out, it allows you to get it down without putting your "baby" ar risk.

The way I was taught is that you want to "Push Up" the wing...ie: plane is flying towards you. You want it to turn to your right. Therefore you want to PUSH the wing to your left up. And you push the stick to your left.

It only took me about 4 days worth of flying to get it down and I don't even have to think about it anymore.

Good Luck!

I see where that method would be good. Its pretty much pushing towards the low wing method, just using different terms.

I'm not even certain what I do. I think what I do is to always know the result of the last input. That provides the reference for the next. Doesn't matter which way the plane is heading. This is not active thought, however. I know that I'm never running rules through my head as I guide the plane.

Jim,
I agree with you totally. My instructor never even mentioned control reversal, in fact, I've seen him train dozens since I got into the hobby this year and his student never has a problem when having the plane come towards them. He just tells them when to go left and when to go right. After that, pushing the stick in the correct direction comes natural. After watching him teach, I'm surprised that there is such a problem with newbies and control reversal.

nascarjoe