Hi All,
Last time I posted it wasn't good. Minor crash but near injury. See http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_20...tm.htm#2064497

Got the plane fixed, went out Tuesday, field empty, no wind. Still no buddy cord but wasnt concerned because I was just going to stay high, get some stick time and practice the landing patterns. Next thing I know I'm making perfect landing passes at 20', instructor suggested i set it down. I did and greased it. Refueled and then took off. Piece of cake, made sure of plenty of speed and a little right rudder to compensate for torque and the ever so slight breeze. 8 or so passes I practiced setting up for landing. the hardest part for me was learning where to make my final turn. real easy to be too far out.

Instructor commented, saying that once you find that spot, or actually what your plane looks like to you when you make that last turn is key, while learning your planes decent rate, then you can set it up so you planes in roughly the same spot on final approach every time, with adjustments for wind. never heard ne1 mention that here.

2nd landing not so smooth, but it worked. we were ready to pack it in, he was checking over my flight log, checking stuff off, and saw no deadstick landing. he said lets go. I was really nevous about this. fired it up, took off, 200' up or so, killed the engine. expected the plane to really start dropping but man, it just floated! perfect landing pattern, and greased the landing again, but a ways past us. expected it to drop alot faster. Just had to jump in the air and do a little jig right there. HAHA Soo cool..

this is my 3rd time out, so I'm betting I'll get some "too early to be soloed posts". We do have plans to meet up once again, then another instructor will have to verify my competency.

Congrats....... Not to early in my opinion. Some people are more natural at it. I was also a natural. Glad to see you so happy about it. Keep up the good flying. Chris

did you solo.... or was it a switch the TX over if something bad happens....

If he didnt do the deadstick, i would say it was too early, but it sounded like you have the basics down, so have fun, and dont be too sad when you rekit your first plane

Good stuff man glad that all was well! Just remember not to rush into your second airplane! CONGRATS

he was right there just in case. never had to take control thru the whole lesson. still qualify as a solo.

not sure what you mean. I took off, killed the motor, made a nice approach and landing, if a bit long.

so what you think. This qualify as a solo or do I need to go out, no instructor, and bring it home in one piece more or less?

and thanks for the words. will not rush and be too bummed when all goes to hell in a hand basket.

Congrats! If its no trouble stick with the instructor while you solo. In other words, when you are ready, have the instructor there (he does not have a box now, only you), but YOU do everything from start, taxi, takeoff, flight, land, taxi, and you'll be solo'd.

Did you actually shutdown the engine???... Our club practices
dead sticks... But we just cut the engine to idle, Just incase...
At our club, That would not be a solo yet... Just building up
to it... But your club may be different... Sounds like you have
all down pretty good.... Great Job!!

yeah engine was shut down. was surprised how easy it was to get back to the runway. one reason why I overshot my landing a little. we'll be going out once more, I'll go it alone again, then will do it once more with another instructor to make sure. will post again then.

Congrats on your flights. It sounds like you have made good progress. However, this is just your first of many hurdles to overcome. Enjoy the accomplishment, but be aware that one solo flight isn't enough to declare victory. IMO, flying with buddy box is not a solo even if it was never used. Yes, you flew the whole flight, but the security blanket was still there. You won the first battle, but now you must face cross winds, unplanned dead sticks, additional traffic, etc. In my opinion, a pilot really hasn't proven they are competent until they have put up ~ ten solo flights (no help, but supervision OK) in a row without a single incident. I'm not posting this to try to burst your bubble, just as a friendly reminder.

For all you natural flyers, go start your own forum for the eliet. You deserve all the applause for being so humble.

I had done the same thing while learning where i had the Tx the whole time and he never took control while standing beside me...

But i didn't consider it a solo until i was standing there by myself...

you can ake it either way...

no bubbles to burst. sounds like my excitement got confused with cocky arrogance.oh well

no buddy box used yet.

will right when i go it alone sometime.

Different clubs have different standards for soloing. Ours happens to require quite a bit more than yours.

During my solo flight my instructor sat in a chair about 30 feet away and watched. I had to take off, fly an oval pattern in each direction while maintaining altitude, then the same with a figure eight. I had to do both a left hand roll and a right hand, and a loop while traveling in each direction. I then had to do a stall turn, and finally show that I could fly a good landing pattern and land.

To me, soloing is something more than just getting the plane off the ground and back down again, but there are no "rules" about what constitutes a solo flight.
Dennis-

ya guess I'm not "soloed" . I removed the request for the Minn certificate. Next time out, I'll go through that same routine you listed Dennis. Sounds helpful to have a plan before going up. thnx

Congrats on the progress! Hey I wouldn't worry too much about the solo thing dude. In real flying you solo totally on your own, because you're the only person in the plane, can't get help except through the radio. This never really happens with R/C (unless you're alone) since you can always yell to your instructor or another pilot if you need help. Granted, there may not be time for the other pilot to come save your model, but still...........I've always thought of a solo as being able to takeoff, fly the pattern, and land, without a buddy box and without the instructor coaching you.

FWIW, I "soloed" on my first attempt at R/C, with a Cox Sundancer (unless you count a few times when I was a kid and a pilot let me control the ailerons/elevator of his Cub or let me follow along as he flew), but I was FAR from competent, and crashed many times thereafter. I flew the Sundancer, a 8' span powered glider, and a couple of 4-channel trainers (and took the sticks of my Tiger a few times, with a more experience pilot present for takeoffs/landings), but never felt really competent until after quite a bit of work with an instructor on my trainer, and later my Tiger. And, strangely enough, I didn't really get comfortable with R/C until after a 2 year hiatus to do my full-scale training...........after getting my private license and IFR rating, my confidence with R/C was hugely boosted. Go figure!

-Matt Bailey

Well, well.......... YOU SOLOED!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Don't let all these people tell you you didn't!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU DID..... This does not make you a fully compitant pilot yet, as I'm sure you are quite aware. As some will tell you here, there are different scenario's that you will have to encounter before you've soloed... Horse crap!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You did solo!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes different scenario's. I've been flying for 20 years and now and again there's a different scenario that comes up for me that I have never had to deal with. Come on people give the man the encouragement he needs to continue to be the pilot that most of us try to be..... SOLO - YES Compitent Pilot- not yet...
One word of advice. Get working on your next plane as sometimes if your first one goes in getting the second ready you may lose interest.... Keep up the good flying. Good luck to ya!!!!!! Chris

thanks guys for the encouragement. I appreciate it.

not here looking for props, attaboys or pats on the back. the forums just make for a nice place to talk about what going on with a new love in my life. I have no doubt that my family, friends and co-workers are growing tired of my endless jabber about this hobby. just felt the need to say that.


patternflyer1, thx again. am looking at a 2nd plane already, a kit to get started on, that I can use my EVO TPS .46 on. maybe the GP Rapture 40.

dont mistake this for wanting to ditch my trainer in the near future.