Prudent comments from a very experienced pilot.

Wings has decided to contradict and put down anything I say. ia m now simply going to report every such posting to the moderators with no response to him. will simply repeat this warning message... listen to Wings at your own risk. He's dangerous.

Just requoted what you posted. Is that dangerous?

Well... to crash an Aerobird you just about have to try... Its in the "Toy" class of RC aircraft. Generaly they fly themselves and you push the stick to try to make it obey somewhat. Sort of semi-guided free-flight. First you say you cant crash it. You read the warning labels in the airplane's instructions... it warns that you need assistance to learn to fly the thing. (Yes its in there) Then you say you need to read the instructions. Which one is correct?

Both...

If you read the instructions... its a very simple thing to fly.

If you ignore the instructions, and treat it as a toy you are going to break it. (like tha average 7 yr old will handle it)

Yep! If you treat it like a toy then it will get broken.

Of course it should not be treated that way or used that way. I think the box says 12 and older. I am 50, so I guess when I bought mine I qualified.

Now I have 8 toys ranging from the Aerobird to a 3 meter Sailplane.

I love my toys. They are so much fun. Only difference now is if I break 'em, I gotta fix 'em or pay to replace 'em.

Ah for the simpler days!


( Daddy ... sniff .. by an accident the tree hit my plane and broke it. sob sob! You get me a new one Daddy?)

LOL

obey the age suggestions on the box?[X(] Can't have that![:@][:'(]

That would be kind of like... obeying the instructions about which engine is appropriate... and we all KNOW the planes just CAN'T fly that way.



(There's 2 or 3 points in this sarcasm...)

jonw55 ,

After reading your question about learning to fly without the aid of an instructor and seeing the usual RCU debate on "toy" vs "real" model airplane I'll stay out of that particular debate (I think most know my personal feelings concerning the bird series of planes)

Learning to fly without an instructor boils down to this

1. Expense. Can you afford to replace all or parts of the model multiple times if neccessary in order to learn how to fly.

2. Frustration. Will you become frustrated and quit before learning to fly if your flight time per outing is measured in seconds and your first stop after leaving the field is to the hobby shop for another plane or more spare parts.

If the answer to question one is YES and the answer to question two is NO then I say go for it and ignore all advice here untill you have tried it for yourself then you can report your findings here and we can start another chapter in the Learning to fly without an instructor saga

missed this question earlier about FMA Co-pilot

FMA Direct
http://www.fmadirect.com/site/fma.ht...roducts&cat=29

Take a look at these links for inof on the Co-Pilot
http://www.hobby-warehouse.com/copfligstabs.html

Do a search on yahoo or similar engine on FMA Co-Pilot review and you get several hits

The Co-Pilot and the Futaba equivilent (and now the device from hobbico in the Nextstar) can make learning both easier and harder.

They are useful in that they help the aircraft to remain level, or to get back to level quickly just by letting go of the sticks. They can save your airplane almost as well as the instructor.

The co-pilot can't see the tree you are about to hit

The co-pilot also won't help you figure out which way to turn to get that little spot to start heading back toward you instead of away....)

The Co-pilot also can't tell upright from inverted...[X(] If yuo got it REALLY messed up, and let go of the sitck, the plane could end up flying level, upside down (with a trainer that means descending VERY fast.. roll quick or its going to hit the dirt.)

You can also end up deendant on the thing to constantly correct your errors... you simply never learn to properly fly the airplane, so you never progress to the type of flying you really want to do. This is similar to the student on the buddy box who just won't ever solo, because he is too busy doing "tricks" to learn to fly level.

The last is all to common with those who are between 10 and 14... [>:]unless the instructor takes over at the start of every loop or roll.[>:] ( "Fly level around the pattern or not at all kid!"[:@] ) But you have to let the kid do some of the loops... or he loses interest[&:] ( I HAVE taught a few kids a little about flying... )

****

These things are tools. You can use them and they can assist you. You can abuse them... and you will not gain the experience you need to become a better pilot.