Jessekib,
Don't get anybody here wrong....we're all here to support each other in pursuit of our R/C goals. The only issue that has occured here of late, which you're seeing the end of, is a difference of paradigm(sp?). Carl24bpool came in and defied the conventional wisdom and wishes to learn to fly on his own without an instructor. There's nothing wrong with that which might sound the death knell for the AMA.....I don't know. That he might cause damage by his behaviour.....I don't know. Then he told us all off and resorted to calling us names. You go on ahead and root for that, bud. You go right ahead.

Scar,
How many people have you ever seen do what you describe? Besides the one that you spoke of that is? I've been in this sport a long while.......and I can't remember but 1 or maybe 2 lucky souls.....but what do I know?

Hi again people!

Just been reading the latest replies. Wow what a spectrum of replies.

Can I say thanks to all for posting your comments, positive and negative. I have taken on board all your comments and will decide after my next solo attempt whether to join a club or not.

From what I've read, you club members seem like a really decent, helpful bunch of guys having fun. Prehaps my original views were somewhat stereo-typical and narrow minded. Apologies to anybody trying to help who I offended.

Anyway was just looking to see what was going on. Nice to see a few others in my boat. Keep at it boys, our trying may be a bit costly and frustrating, but maybe this will increase the feeling of satisfaction in the end.

Providing my Ripmax rainer arrives this week I will fly that this weekend, hoping with all the correct throws and C/G setup I can at least get it up and run a few laps. I will post any photo / video of any wreckage or other amusement.

Regards,


Carl

A year ago I would have said it couldn't be done. I watched a kid who wouldn't let anyone help test fly a trainer from his yard at the lake. He threaded it back into the yard and made a nice landing without a lot of room. He did well. Lots of hours on G2 he said. I was amazed. I would have bet the farm he was going to crash it in the lake but he didn't.

Nothing is impossible.

Its the attitude people have the problem with. Looks like Carl may have that figured out.

If you read the whole post, I said he accepted minimal instruction, and learned on a SoarStar while learing lots about fixing it. He's the only one I've seen.

The year before that, we had two students solo in about a week, both heavily self-trained on a simulator.

Remember, tho, Carl's not interested. Wants to do it himself, damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead. Not my choice, but he didn't ask.

Best wishes,
Dave Olson

Carl, Even if you don't want to join a club, or if there are none in your area, or for whatever reason, make an attempt to visit at least once. I for one like the environment, but there are none less than an hour away from me. From the (much nicer) attitude of your last post, you seem like a nice guy. I have no doubt that someone would be more than willing to at least doublecheck your plane and even test fly it and get it all trimmed out for you. If nothing else it would rule out ant errors in setup, for when you do fly it, giving you a better chance at success. Good luck and happy landings!

Keith

Dont forget: Proper alignment of the club and a good "tiger woods like" grip !!

To the initiator of the thread. Loose your ego, as with golf, if you have learned something by now, it doesnt go well with the sport. Besides most of those old guys are pretty cool and have good stories (often long though....)

I know that sometimes the club experience can be a nightmare but also know that there are a lot of really good, caring guys out there that really want to help newcomers. I had such and experience and it saved me time and money but mostly frustration. Actually is still saving me!!!!

Not having a helping hand in this hobby can hunt you for quite some time. For example, lets say you are extremely lucky and perserverant and you learn to fly your trainer. What happens when you want to move to a more advance aerobatic model (ALSO MUCH MORE FRAGILE AND EXPENSIVE) You will need some help a the beginning, trust me since one if very different from the other................. and your mistakes will represent much more $$$$$$$$$

Anyhow which you luck. Buy some company shares in ZAP, you will be buying toons of supplies.

Peace

I had a bad instructor. Evidently the only practice this guy had was with other people's planes. The sad thing is that the club let this guy continue to trash people's planes. I think they finally put an end to it but not before 2 of my planes were trashed.

I am self taught. It has been almost a year since I soloed on my own and it has been a very good year. No major problems at all. I used a simulator with great success. There IS alot of pride in doing it yourself. I had already been on the sim before meeting up with the instructor and had no problem doing the mile high flight he had me do on our only successful meeting.

Here is my story:
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_13...tm.htm#1300672


http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_14...tm.htm#1413010

The RCU is a fantastic tool if you don't want to be in a club. Almost anything you have a question on can be found in the search, ANYTHING! Including an entire forum on.......crashes!

The RCU has answered SO MANY things for me. There are no clubs around here. I have visited 3 different clubs in different cities. All I heard was "gripe, gripe, gripe". Maybe it's Michigan. If I didn't enjoy flying by myself so much I would entertain the idea of starting a no complaint club.

Learning on your own is not that big of deal. This thread alone has tremendous info. (you have to look for it) I'm self taught with no simulator.

Spanky

Hey Spanky. You da geezer mate. Nicely done!!!

You're an inspiration.

My Ripmax trainer has arrived, so will build and fly it this weekend if I get time. According to some reviews I read this is the easiest trainer to fly, so hopefully it wont be too bad.

Have you got any good tips, from experience, for my first flight and take-off?

Oh, for you golf lovers I played golf last weekend and enjoyed myself. I'm still playing the beautiful game.

Anyone wanna swap some flying tips for golf tips?

Just keep stick movements SLOW. The reason is you can aggrevate a stall if you start ramming the sticks.

I flew and busted up 3 or 4 trainers but had a TON of stick time. Went from that to an extra 300. Many say you can't do this, but I'm tellin ya, the whip crack control rocked! (let alone the enjoyment)

Remember, SLOW and EASY.

Good luck, and don't give up. (I don't think you will)
Spanky

First of all check your plane before you start. Someone I know well who should know better managed to reverse aileron servos last week (despite the leads being marked to prevent such an occurence) then compounded the error by not checking direction.

Good flights start with good takeoffs. If the plane starts to veer on the takeoff run resist the temptation to try and haul it into the sky (many don't). Chop the throttle and start again. Apply power slowly on your take off roll, this will make the plane easier to control. The Hi Boy is a POS for ground handling, so anything you have will probably be better.

Spanky's advice on stick movements is good, from a nice straight run ease the plane up (don't **** reef it off as my instructor expained it to me on a number of occasions)

Climb out straight and get some height before starting what should be a gentle turn into your pattern (BTW, good to have a plan of what you want to achieve before take off). I suggest some gentle oval circuits for the first flight, leave the Lomcevaks until second time up

Try and figure in advance how you are going to land, pick out some markers to help you line up your landing approach.

Just a few thoughts, hopefully others will jump in with more.

Good luck and let us know how you go,


Terry

On your takeoff if you do what Redback said the plane should start to lift off on it's own just feed a little up elevator (be patient) here dont try to hog it off the ground, practice taxi back and forth gradually increasing your speed you'll know when to feed just a little up elevator and then up, up and away as far as landing make a couple of passes and when you get over your runway about 30-40 feet high ease back the throttle just to get a feal for what the plane is going to do then ease back into it then roll out your next time around you should be ready to land swing wide here give yourself plenty of room room to line yourself up straight with the runway try to start your decent with just throttle then feed just a little up elevator and a little aileron to keep your wings straight dont mess with the rudder this time out on your trainer the only time you will really need it is on the ground (but dont try to solo on a windy day) once you get better you can play with the rudder but before you fly you should have some basic idea what every control surface should be used for . and finaly read RCUNIVERSE as much as possible ! Good luck !!! Dont get hurt on the prop Man ! Swing Wide !!!!!!!!!!