Hello to all of the cool folks here at RC universe. I have a question: I recently got a trainer airplane (Hobbico Nexstar) from a friend who is into low wing planes now. He relocated to another
state far away from where I live, (Approx 2,000 miles) I'm stuck with an Airplane I want to try out but I have never flown before but always desired to. I tried to become a member of a flight club
but they discountinued the club because of a lack of flying space in my area. I am a member of the AMA club but my local airfield is a long way away and I don't drive. I live near a huge park with 2 baseball fields and 1 softball field and there's plenty of room there. Is it possible that I can try it out alone? Also I have been flying the great planes sim for about a year and a half now. Should I try it alone? I would love to get into this hobby that I enjoy so much...any help would be appreciated. Would I risk injuring someone if I tried it?

With 121 posts this has to be a "Troll"

Well, I will wipe the drool off of my face, charge you a toll for crossing and mention to you this:

I have knowledge reading and flight sims but I don't have real flight experience...That's a big difference!!!!!

dont do it. you live in the bronx, as far as i know thats a pretty damn populated area and i bet there are a number of people in the park at any given moment. You will crash. Its alot different from "real" flight. you have a few options here.
1. sell the trainer and get an electric park flyer like the aerobird or something.
2. find someone to drive you to a flying club.
3. Try it, and seriously hurt, maim, and/or KILL someone (They have and will kill people)
4. Give up trying the hobby (hope you dont, but the only other choices you have are listed above!)

sean

If youve been reading these forums, then you can only expect everyone to tell you, NO..If you were really good, you might be able to fly a trainer in 2 baseball fields, but your not....sorry, I'll get burned for this one myself, but ...sims dont count...Rog

hey lets all make him feel like an idiot, yaaay


Check around your area for other fliers. MOST of these r/c guys are REALLY nice and willing to help you out (IE: give you a ride with them to a club). I know when i started out, anyone at my club was willing to help if i had a question.

wow,,,,guys, guys ,guys,,,,where is the support,,,damn....this guy said hi to everyone and you just push him away...damnnnnnnn,,,whats our hobbie comming to....need to be more positive,,,...Mr Jones....i want you to do a couple of thing for me,,,,get on that sim,,,ok...and put that plane down right on the runway,,,,over and over...till its natural...ok....and just work on that...if your landing all over the place,,,thats not good...learn to fly it....not just poke around in the sky....now fly'n the real thing is kinda tough..your legs will shake and the nerves will be racing,,,but youll be fine...if you have been fly'n on a sim that long...you have it down,,,,dont let anyone tell you different....i learned on my own,,,with a Dave Scott video,,,"one week to solo"...and i flew my plane for 10 min,,,came in for a landing...no problem,,,,On the ROAD.....granted it was a back road in the desert up here,,,,but i made it happen..been fly'n ever since and every new plane gives me a thrill......look around you ,,,if you really think it will be fine...jump in....i give you 2 thumbs up....please let me...(IM me) know how it goes so we can rub it in......good luck...and make sure to balance it before you go out....

Thanks to all of the folks who had something positive to say,

Well, to be honest here in New York flying R/C is not very popular, (Like I mentioned there was one club in the Bronx and they no longer exist because of a lack of flying fields and/or further interest). The plane was given to me because my friend wanted me to learn because I had a desire to get into R/C. It's a Hobbico Nexstar, with AFS and the flight sim software. I have been flying that sim inverted and making perfect landings. I wanted to try it out because I want to see if I can pull it off if I crash it then I didn't lose anything and actually that might be the best thing because I can learn how to fix it which would be valuable. I will go to the softball and hardball fields at about 6:00AM, (there's NEVER anyone there that early) and try it out. Is the field large enough to fly it? (It's two hardball and two softball fields in one area together) It looks long enough what do you think?

Take the camera. I hate to see anyone crash a plane, but I hate to miss it when they do.

Yeah dude go for it why not. But if you wanna keep the plane alive I would suggest finding someone that can help you. Just find a hobbyshop nearby. I saw a hobby shop somewhere between 50 and 46 on 7th Ave. You have to go down some stairs into it. They might help you get staerted or let u know of fields or instructors nearby. Just take the subway up there early and find the place.

Jesus H.!! If you cant reply with something constructive that actually pertains to the guy's question, why not just keep your mouth shut! He's got more posts than YOU do!! Who elected you commander of the troll patrol, anyway?

Mr. Jones,
I would have to agree with the ones who say you need to TRY and find an instructor first. If you exhaust all options and cant find anyone, you might consider getting an FMA Co-Pilot device. At least that would give you some help. If you DO end up trying to go it alone, just make darn sure there is NO ONE at the field when you make your first flights. Hey, you never can be too careful. Also, keep flyin' the sim, even if you find an instructor. It will make you a better pilot in the long run. Good Luck!

That's not enough room unless those are 10 acre baseball fields.. You need around 30 acres, in my opinion to fly. That doesn't count losing the plane and having it go 600 yards out and crash. Why don't you try to sell the plane and get a park flyer? Sounds like that is more what you need.

What about flying off the roof of your apartment building?

Mr Jones, I wouldn't pay much attention to the smart ass comments here. Try to find a place big enough (30-50 acres) and give it a shot if you can't find anyone. I'll bet if you look a little more somebody will be able to help you. That sim works. I learned on the sim after my instructor kept crashing my trainer.
I don't think the ball fields are going to be nearly big enough.


Edit: My trainers (plural)

Mr. Jones........there is tremendously more to flying than buzzing around the sky....namely safety and proper technique for preflight routines that are best left to finding yourself a qualified trainer. Doing the SIM thing is great and if you have mastered that then I would say save your trainer and get yourself a foam park flyer and go for it. They are slow and resilient enough that if and when you crash you'll be able to glue back together and continue flying. You may not be that lucky if you crash your glow engine trainer. Spend a couple extra $$ with the park flyer and save the other 'till later. You won't regret it. I speak from experience. Tom

Mrjones, it's more fun learning and flying with others. It's also safer, more efficient, and usually more successful to work with an instructor. You don't have to go it alone. One can usually find someone to help if one looks and asks. Besides, you just might locate an instructor/flyer that will give you and your plane a lift to the field.

I found two clubs listed in the Bronx on the AMA Charter Club locator. Contact them and tell them of your situation. Ask them for help! You might get it. If one of these is the club that just shut down, call the other. If you don't have any success locate other clubs outside, yet near, the Bronx - and ask them for help. Eventually, I think you may find someone who will help you. It may even happen quickly.

BLUE ANGELS R/C CLUB*
Contact: JOSEPH T SCIMECA JR
Phone: 718-829-5939
Email: [email protected]
Address: 1414 CROSBY AVE
BRONX, NY 10461

TRIBORO THUNDERBIRDS RC FLYER*
Contact: MIGLED CABALLERO
Phone: 718-741-5877
Email: [email protected]
Address: 2543 DECATUR AVE
STE #5C BRONX, NY 10458
Url: www.hometown.aol.com/citystreets1

Good luck!

if you have been using the flight sim that came with the nexstar for about 1 1/2 years are you sure it is a nexstar you have. correct me if im wrong but the nexstar was not in the stores then, in fact tower hobbies have just started to get replacement parts for it.

Thanks Zombie,

I know I tried those numbers and e-mails and the Blue angels are no longer in existence because the flying field that they use to have they no longer have. You folks are right, I will wait until I can get to a flying field although looking at that plane that I have is really tempting. There's one about an hour and a half away from me driving, (The traffic getting there is pretty bad). I was there a few times and the people there were very nice. The turbines there were awesome.

As far as stupid comments goes I ignore them. Too many postings in general is about a few people bickering back and forth and
they slowly drift away from the topics.

Paul you misunderstood,

The first posting I said I have been flying Great Planes for over a year and a half now. The sim that I got with the Nexstar I have perfected it because it's not too different from Great planes, in fact that's who made it!!!

I know how you feel! Been there! I had a bit of a hard time matching up with an instructor. It was very frustrating. But, when I finally found an instructor it was heaven. I soloed in a very short time - due to all the sim time I put in ahead of actual flying. I learned quite a few good things from my instructor - that I may not have learned going at it alone.

You have my sympathies about the traffic. That's one of the reasons I live in Montana. Not very crowded. There are usually a number of very nice folk in the clubs. It makes the hassle of joining and getting there worth it, in my opinion. Incidentally, my instructor lived in New York for many years. Drove heavy equipment for a living - in New York City. Has some wonderful horror stories about the traffic. LOL!

Make contact with the club ahead of time, if possible. Find out if there is a training night/evening/day - or try and set a flying time with an instructor. That way if you go to the field you don't end up not flying. also, If you can matchup with an instructor ahead of time maybe he or one of the club members can give you a lift to the field.

Yeah, one of the things I like about joining a club is all the fun planes I see at the field. I get a lot of good building and flying ideas, tips, and tricks from the other guys there. It's nice to have some company occasionally, too.

Good luck, buddy!

mrjones,
I sympathize with your predicament. An hour and a half drive in traffic would likely keep me from flying very often, but learning to fly almost requires it.

I'm guessing that with the year and a half Sim time you could probably solo in one day spent at the field, with an instructor that's willing to work with you. I agree with Zombie, try to contact that club and make arrangements prior to going up. You might be able to arrange that full day by phone. It may require that you join the club, but if you explain the drive issue, they might be willing to let you fly for the day without membership.

I don't often advocate Park Flyers as a final solution to RC, but in your case it might be the best alternative. Planes like the GWS Tiger Moth, Slow Stick, or Pico Cub would allow you to fly close by (like inside the bases of a baseball diamond), without endangering anyone. They're so light, and fly so slowly that as long as the motor was stopped, I'd be willing to act as a target for one of those things.

What I'm saying is, there are alternatives to the 60 MPH glow planes that would allow you to get stick time fairly often. I'm betting that you could probably fly one without instruction too.

Good luck,
Dennis-

Jesus i am sorry if i offended anyone i just thought that someone who has that many posts would have been around the threads for a whilst and as this question comes up almost daily must have already known what everyone would say.

So once again if it was a genuine question then i am sorry i am sure you will get the advice you need or even have a look through the rest of the beginners forum.

Lee.

I still think it's a troll. I agree 100% Cougar.

go away! read his other posts and you'll see its not a troll. just a newb asking for help!

I can't understand why some of you guys would tell this guy to go fly it IN THE BRONX IN A PARK THAT PROBABLY HAS MORE PEOPLE IN IT THEN MY TOWN!!!!! why would you tell him to do that???

mrjones, trust me, i want nothing more then you to get into the air, but don't listen to these other guys when they are telling you to go fly it. that would just be a bad thing and it could put another black mark on the hobby if something were to happen. I see you already said you wern't going to fly it until you got help, thank you, i just wante to reinforce the fact. good luck

sean

words of wisdom from an expert! Well gee, with guys like you helping beginners, we're all in better hands. Like I said, if you cant contribute, shut up! You might do well to read a little bit before you go spouting off about someone. It's attitudes like yours that put beginners off this hobby to start with.