I have a Superstar 40 ARF trainer and i put a O.S. 46 engine in it with a 6 channel radio. I live on a farm so i have plenty of open places that i could fly my plane. The closest club is 90 miles away. I have taxied around in my yard and broken in the engine. I decided that i wasn't ready to fly it yet so i bought a Firebird Commander. It is only 2 channel but i have flown it so many times that it's now boring. I think that i will fly my glow trainer within a couple of days. I would appreciate any comments or sugguestions.

NO!!!!!!!!!!!! DO NOT FLY IT YET!!!!!!!!!!!! If u absolutly cannot get to a field, i would highly recemend the great planes G2 flight sim. Go by the sim, and use that for about a month or 2 befor you try an fly on your own. Dont short live your plane.

What is so dangerous about flying by yourself?

I dont fly yet, but it is common sense that you wont be able to fly let alone land if u never flown rc or simulator.

Why not go to the club 90 miles away just for just one day. I would give that a shot first. Give them a call and explain your situation. Surely someone there could take you up on the box for a few flights. You are in better shape already than someone who hasn't flown anything. People have taught themselves on aerobirds and other small electrics. The simulator is a really good idea. I don't blame you for not wanting to drive 90 miles to a club for several weekends. That wouldn't even be an option for me.

it's not a smart idea...

doesn't mean you won't crash... but your chances of not crashing are better with a sim or even better... an instructor.

Good luck!

I agree with redbirdy about going for one day to the club.

Even if you turn out to be a natural at flying and landing, there are other issues that they can help you with. Such things as making sure your plane is properly trimmed and making sure you don't have any servos reversed.

I do have the luxury of having a field within a few miles, however, I am an independent, do it myself kind of person. Only at the last moment did I decide to go up with an instructor. I will never regret the decission to go up with an instructor. I am positive that it saved me much more than the cost in money and time, of traveling 90 miles.

It turned out that I probably would have gotten in the air, flew, and even landed the plane successfully IF (and a big IF) my plane was properly set up. It turns out, the plane was moderately out of trim and my aileron servo was reversed! I've had full scale flight experience in both ultra light and single engine planes, and still missed the control reversal. I flew with him for the first time on June 19th and with his help, I soloed on my second visit to the airfield, entered into a trainer pylon race two weeks later, and today soloed my kit built, 4 star 40 on its maiden flight. I am sure I would not have progessed this far without the two days, and 6 flights with my instructor.

Scott

I have been thinking about going and flying with an instructor at least once but it seems like i should be able to fly it by myself and be able to trim it fine by myself.

I agree.. If you could make it at least once to trim and see
how a Glow engine plane flies with an instructor is great
advise.. In MOST cases it will save you money!! Things
at times happens fast!!... Can you try it by yourself.... I
guess so... But the smart and most the time cheaper way
is at a club and instructor... But sometimes it's hard to
pick that up... It does seem so easy.... And in some cases
it is... But most the time..................................^&%$!

use self control!! i was introduced to r/c about 15 years ago by a independant contractor
2 states away from where i live. i then went out and bought a 40 size trainer waiting for
him to come back (he never did). however i was hooked so i left the wing off and drove
here around the street in front of the house until i figured out how to steer. found out just like
you the nearest instructor was 89 miles away and the field was another 15 miles past
that.he told me that he was a pilot in ww2 when he started to learn r/c he told everybody
that he was a pilot and did not need a instructor. 11 aircraft later he decided that enough was enough and finally admitted he needed a instructor. you need at least 1 trip to a field,
why not wait a little longer and perhaps save a lot of money in the process. would
hate to loose a new r/c fan over a small amount of time. instruction is free!! or hows about
a sim i have one,was not thinking of parting with it however...mike[&:]

as a relativ newbie myself I'm very glad i hooked with a buddy box instructor
plane at first was a handful as it was terribly out of trim, I doubt i could have
handled it for more than 5 secs, after the trim was set, it took 6 flights
before I could fly it without shaking , I didn't progress fast, and was at about 30
flights before I could even think about landing it ( I didn't progress fast at time
cause i'd only get out once every 2-3 weeks ) when reading back on forums
2 lines stick in my head,
1. self taught pilots are as rare as thier planes
2. no instructor , no fly,

not to discourage ya, you may make it , but it aint as easy as it looks

The biggest advantage of learning to fly via an experienced instructor pilot is you learn to fly SAFELY! Not only do you need to learn how to control your own airplane, you also need to learn how to fly when other people and airplanes are sharing the space. Not only will you learn how to control the airplane but going the instructor route insures you also learn about radio maintenance, engine tuning, prop selection and... it's just plain more fun to fly with other folks.

Hope you consider the well being of the cows as well... [8D]

Luke,
How far are you from Lawrence ?
I can save you a lot of money and time.

That's what I ask, he lives miles from anywhere, - no danger to anyone.
He's already got his orientation etc. from the little plane.
Now he wants to try a trainer, ( he already knows how to handle the engine) well what's wrong with that?

Aagh! disaster will come upon him, - I'ts not allowed, - you can't possibly do that, - it's not in the book, - we'll have to stamp out this trend of uncontrolled self learning behaviour!

Drive 90 miles to find an instructor? - geez!

Please post the results on the crash forum so all can learn from your adventure.-Mike

My son and I taught ourselves to fly about 15 years ago. We did not have the firebird experience. I only had control line experience 25 years prior, so I understood glow engines. I knew nothing about RC at the time, and ther were no "helpful" forums to discourage us. The first flight of the Sig Kadet lasted may be all of 15 seconds, the the damage was easily fixed. We flew from a remote pasture, a long way from any neighbors, and basically put only ourselves and the aircraft at risk.
Subsequent flights were progressively longer, the less frequent damage was unfortunately more extensive, but we not only learned how to fly, but to rekit and build as well.
I suspect the Aerobird experience will serve you well. If you can fly out and back again, you have the basics. There will be a steep learning curve, but if you accept that, are willing to repair damage, do not frustrate easily, and are not putting others at risk, do not let the "YOU CAN'T DO THAT" crowd discourage you.
Many people enjoy clubs, many people need instruction, instructors, rules, order, and some thrive on being told what to do.
It's a good thing nobody convince Henry FOrd that he had to work on a production line before he tried to start one himself.
Enjoy, and please report back when you are doing the basic aerobatics and consistently landing well.

Mr. Troll,

I say go ahead and fly it. It's your airplane and property, do what you want. It's the only way to find out if you can or not.

Most people on here will tell you that your chances of success are near 0%. I say more like 50/50. Go for it.

You're absolutely right. It is his airplane and property, so he should go right ahead, but I will guarantee that he will have some significant repair bills, which is OK if he's prepared for it.

In my limited time back in this hobby, I've seen a couple of guys discouraged by early crashes for which they weren't prepared, either financially or skill level. That discouragement saw them get right back out of the hobby before they were into it which is sad for them.

I'd recommend at least getting hold of a simulator and flying that for a month or two and being able to land competently first. That's where all my early mishaps occurred, from base to touchdown.

I'm not saying that you can't teach yourself, but the chances of success are remote compared with going down the simulator and instructor path first. Wilbur and Orville did it 100 years ago, but they also had some significant repair bills; both airplane and physical.

Your choice!

The only thing worse than a troll is someone who scrambles to be the first one to yell "troll" on every post that is the least bit controversial as if it was a big find.

I have a "liscense" to do that!

51 years ago, I learned to fly control line by myself. Ever since, I have flown holding the handle upside down in comparison to 99.999% of the world's CL fliers. Should I take up RC, I will learn with an instructor.

Jim

Come on folks...he did ask for comments and suggestions...I'm pretty sure he wanted positive feedback.

So here is my .02 cents. If you decide to go it alone, you are bound to crash. Maybe you will get by once or twice, but YOU WILL crash. Instructors are worth so much more than just showing you how to move the sticks, which I believe you already know how to do. However, there are far too many things which can bring your plane down besides being incompetent on the sticks.

I hope you will take the advice from so many of us who say, GET HELP! But if you do not, then good luck with your endeavor. Be sure as was suggested, to post your results. This will serve to reinforce "our" position on the issue. I wish you good luck.

But...before you try it alone, maybe you should put out the word here on RCU, and try to hook up with someone who lives near you. Maybe you could arrange to have someone come to your farm and give you a little personal instruction.

See..already one of the RCU flock has extended a helping hand. Reach out...and someone WILL help you. That's your best bet.

Jim

Jim
Your comments do not fit in well with your signature!

What I said was a comment ( albeit a little cynical), and it was not negative ( as your statement implies). - what is negative about having a try?

As for your other statement, "you are bound to crash" etc. - is that negative or what?
Is a crash such a disaster anyway ?

To have a good instructor is a blessing, - I wouldn't deny that, but there are situations, as in this guy's case where it is perhaps necessary to go without, and this is quite possible, (I know from personal experience).

I think the environment he flies in is very different to the environment where people fly from clubs near towns, and it is not for them to impose their ( necessary for them ) rules on those who fly way way out of town, - he is actually the lucky one.

Just fly the thing!

Thank you for all of your replies. I think I have decided to fly my plane by myself. I was going to today but the good ole Kansas wind kept me from that. If tomorrow will turn out to be good weather I will fly.

Just make sure it's calm and don't take off too steeply, good luck!