I got a chance to really fly,second time up i took it off,sure feels good doing figure 8's and not worry about crashing,the sun is out in front of the runway so early evening is a pain but last night there were clouds which made it easier but still blind spot in the sun but what i did sure felt good.

Sounds great keep up the good work.

That brings up a good point that I haven't mentioned in a while.

Note to all you newbies:

Two pieces of flying equipment that you should never be without - Sunglasses and a hat.

Note to all you newbies under 40 yrs old:

Put your hat on backwards... You may think it looks stupid, but believe it or not, having the brim in the front will keep the sun out of your eyes.

Good advice...big 'haha' about putting the 'hat on backwards' with the brim facing forward
So I know it wasn't a blanket statement, but I'm 25 and rarely put my hat on backwards [:'(]

Um, yea...just stuck at work, don't mind my stupid post

Witty, Mike, very incisive
Like that.
Luis

Sorry NewbieT, I didn't mean to insult your intelligence, I only meant to insult the intelligence of those people (Not necessarily fliers) who's IQ is so low that they stand there (And I have seen this happen) with the brim of their hat over the back of their neck, while they shade there eyes with their hand! [sm=rolleyes.gif]

"You want fries with that?"

No insult taken Besides, I'm 25 going on 50 anyway

I know this may be off topic, but I've been getting a lot of time on a sim (G2) and in my eyes I've become quite proficient with straight take-offs, circling, figure-8s, level flight and controlled landings. I have flown a few times in the distant past but the sim seems really easy to land, and only on the most realistic setting it has (using the pt-40, incidentally the same model I built for my training). Is there anything I can do to make the experience as realistic as it gets before going to the field? What are some good weather settings, cross winds, speeds, variation and gusts so I can get better at controlling weathered landings and flight?

With G2 about the best you can do is dial up a nice crosswind and make it gusty. Sorry to say, but the weather/wind in any simulator is a FAR cry from what you experience in the real world, but it never hurts to practice.

And I wear a floppy bush hat so nobody can tell if its on backwards, frontwards, sidewards, etc etc. Gonna have to get me one of them spiffy straw panama hats one of these days....


Andy

Maybe a nice sombrero....

I want to remind everybody about sunglasses and hats.A few years ago i had this spot on my face below my ear,something i couldnt see in a mirror but over the years it got bigger then started changing color,i went and had it checked,melanoma ? (spelling) cancer,one of the worst kinds,i had it cut out and you cant tell now but that was a wake-up to me,i'm just sorry i waited so long before i had it checked ,now i also use a good sunscreen lotion.Sunglasses,you can't imagine the damage caused by the sun especially looking towards it,and if you fly your gonna have to look at it quite often,i suggest a good pair not the $3 dollar pair.I wear glasses,just need them for close-up but i keep them on my face all the time because there easier to keep up with,also they change,get darker in the sun,where i fly i can see a lot better than most when we have to fly towards the sun.It pays to take care of your health early in life,just wish i did.

UV rays are the reason for early cataracts (and skin cancer of course)

Luis

If you take off and you suddenly realise you forgot to put your sunglasses on - do NOT NOT NOT try to take them out of your pocket and put them on unless you are REALLY confident of your flying skills. This is what I did. When I looked up I was looking at someone elses plane wondering why it was not responding to my controls. Meanwhile my plane was diving to it's doom at full throttle.
Photoniq

hehehehehehehehehehehee,,,@ mike...LOL

dont forget sunscreen and water to drink ! Nothing worse than a nasty burn!!!

Sunscreen and water are also excellent suggestions, but my point about the sunglasses and hat had nothing to do with you personal health (Although it's something to consider).

I meant it in terms of seeing your plane.

Sunglasses for obvious reasons, and a hat with a brim, because if you fly near the sun, a simple slight nod of the head can cause the brim to shade your eyes.

Just don't wear your dark sunglasses when it is getting late, I lost a plane when I couldn't tell it's attitude; then I realized I was wearing my dark polarized sunglasses and couldn't see it well. At least that was my excuse,
Luis