I have built 2 kits and 1 arf. I took many years off after I destroyed my 1st kit build. (it took me like 50 hrs).

Now I am ready for lessons. I have joined AMA and a club with instructors. BUT...I am a bit nervous as a newbie. I now have like 3 arfs and a kit built. Plus a Srurdy Birdy which I have scavenged parts from.

I know crashes are a part of the hobby, but I am thinking I may not be able to pick this skill up. My second lesson is Monday......my first was ok, but I realized how far I have to go. (my first lesson was a, way too high, no buddy-box, circle the field kind of thing).

I just hope I can do this..it has been on my mind for like 12 yrs....and I have seen experienced guys and gals both dead-stick and crash.

What I want is some first-time experiences to make me feel less awkward. The members of my club are very encouraging and they think I will solo within a few weeks, but I am not so confident.

Perhaps I need a lot more stick-time. Well, of course I do....but jeese I feel bit anxious.

I think I am just whining...whaaaaa...poor me....whaaaaa.

Any help would be appreciated.

Why oh Why do you go up without an instructor on a buddy box?

It makes a WORLD of DIFFERENCE since:

1) You won't necessarily have to fly so damn high that you can barely see the plane.

2) You won't have to worry about the instructor ripping the plane out of your hands and/or fiddling with ackward positions because taking control with the buddy cord/box is flip-the-switch second.

3) If your instructor is good, you can basically make mistakes until you've learned not to make them as much (or any more).

I can guarantee your jitters will still be there but they will be a whole lot less with a boddy box. A lot of instructors at my field will simply not try to fly this way because it is too risky and difficult to manage.

Spend the few dollars for a cord that is compatible and/or radio with the majority of instructors at your field, it is way cheaper both in time and money than repairing a plane.

Let me tell you my experience.

I first got into the hobby when I was in high school, my dad and I were into the hobby. We bought an airplane all the goods. We built it but really didn't know how to fly it. Went down to the hobby shop and asked the owner if he could show us to fly. He was not an instructor. We met him at this spot just off the highway. He flew the plane around and then let me fly it around. Was a piece of cake. My father and I determined that it was pretty easy and we went out by ourselves the next day. Taking off was easy, but the plane got very far away and I lost control and it went down in the middle of a highway. No one was hurt but it could have been really bad. We didn't know about MAAC or AMA, no one ever told us. Later we rebuilt a new trainer a good a instructor to train me, much much better. I learned how to fly in a matter of weeks, this was without a buddy box as well. Accidents always happen but if you train with an instructor they are less likely and you will enjoy the hobby much more. Alot of people who try to train themselves end up quitting due to frustration and anger due to the fact they crashed thier plane.

Stick with it, this is an awesome hobby.

Later.

Ryan

Buddy box and cord attached to Instructor with some ability. You learn at your own pace, which is just as fast as you should. If you pick it up in a week fine, if it takes a year fine. As long as you are enjoying it. Welcome to RC flying!

PS: I crashed my trainer after I buddyboxed three times and thought I "had it down". [:@]But put it back together and got with it again. Had a few more BB flights and was much better.

An instructor and a buddy box will prevent those crashes you're worried about, at least until you've soloed.

You'll have those jitters for the first couple years, at least I did every time I flew. You eventually get good enough, and confident enough to lose them.
Dennis-

After a couple of buddy-box flights, I got cocky and tried it solo. Let the plane get too far away and put it through the roof of an abandoned (fortunately) barn. Several more weeks on another plane until the instructor said I was ready to solo. Not long after, I failed to concentrate on a low pass, got dumb thumbs and saw my Big Stik become a cartwheeling spray of splinters. Built another Big Stik and, two weeks ago, a cousin of Charlie Brown's kite-eating tree reached out and, fairly gently, embraced it. Just finished the repairs and hope to re-maiden it this afternoon. I'm about half way through the build of a GP Super Stearman, and sure don't want to get complacent with it!

A certain degree of jitters is good - they keep you on your toes. Just hang in there, listen to your instructor, and accept the FACT that accidents will happen. As you said, you've already seen experienced pilots plant a balsa tree.

Jitters and fear of crashing are normal. Many people have learned without a buddy box, but as others have said, perhaps one would make you feel more comfortable. Also, it's easier to learn when you don't have too many spectators. Eventually you need to learn to deal with crowds, but not in the beginning. It's good that you can have lessons during week days, the fields are usually quieter.

I'd like to add that a flight sim is very helpful learning tool. You can make mistakes and it doesn't cost you a plane. In the spring I joined a club, and started with an instructor using a buddy box, about the first words out of his mouth were a question, "Have you been using a sim?" (me) "Yup, all winter" (him) "It shows!" And I still have my trainer plane in one piece for it's second flying season.

I learned a lot on the simulator, but I learned even more with the instructor. I'd highly recommend this path of learning to anyone. The advantage of a sim also is, in the dead of winter I can keep my thumbs in shape.

The buddy box is the way to go if you have someone who can teach you. A buddy cord only cost about $8-$15 depending on which one and where you get it from. As long as your transmitter and your teachers transmitters are the same brand name you can get a buddy cord that will tie the two of you together. You just have to look at the type of plug on each transmitter and get a cord that matches up. If the clubmembers are the typical flyers they probably already have a buddy cord that will work and will be eager to get with you and teach you how to fly..

You can get away without the buddy cord, but will more than likely suffer some minor and probably major crashes while learning to fly. Its such an effective and inexpensive way to learn to fly there is really no valid point in doing it any other way unless you just have no other alternative.

As far as the jitters I admit I still get them, only when I mess up and have a near miss with mother earth but they are always there.

PS, I strongly support the flight sim as well, ESPECIALLY if you dont have a person to work with you on the buddy box. If you can learn to competantly takeoff, fly and land on the sim you will be able to fly a real trainer very quickly if not immediately in the real world. Im a big fan of Aerofly Pro Deluxe www.aeroflypro.com, but Realflight G2 or G3 are plenty good to teach you how to fly as well. Once you get to be a failry accomplished flyer the sim will allow you to improve rapidly and in quantum leaps due to the time it allows you to spend at the sticks and the no risk factor which allows you to reapeatedly attempt to work on and develop skill that are inevitably going to result in crashes if you try to move forward too quickly with a real airplane.

Think about it, at the field you make 3 or 4 10 minute flights in a day probably 30 minutes to an hour apart. On the sim you can fly constantly for 2 or 3 or 8 hours. Its a huge advantage,, I speak from personal success. I got my sim 1 month ago and I can do things with my real airplane with relative precision and confidence that I only dreamed about 1 month ago. I probably spend at least 2 hours a day on the sim granted but man its an awesome tool if you really take advantage of it....

Mike

,

Well, your honest. No buddy box. Good move, shows confidence. If your lucky, your lesson on Monday will be your last. Then you can double the amount of time before you return to the hobby again. Make sure you bring all three planes, you may need em.



[quote]ORIGINAL: agexpert
I know crashes are a part of the hobby, but I am thinking I may not be able to pick this skill up. My second lesson is Monday......my first was ok, but I realized how far I have to go. (my first lesson was a, way too high, no buddy-box, circle the field kind of thing).

Re: "If you pick it up in a week fine, if it takes a year fine. As long as you are enjoying it." << Exactly!! I have had some new flyers being able to have complete control of the plane after about 3 flights! This is far from normal however. Most new flyers come out on the weekends and it usually takes most of the summer to get good enough to solo. The 2 most common causes of not being to solo in 1 summer: 1. equipment; using a plane that flys too fast or is too maneuverable or using a cheap engine that is hard to keep running. Other goofy ideas such as using a 46 size engine on a 25 size trainer, makes landings difficult because the plane doesn't want to come down! 2.consistancy; coming out to the field only every other week or once a week isn't going to cut it. You are going to run into a weekend or 2 of bad weahter but, when the weather is good, get out there. Make it first thing in the morning as well. The winds are usually calmer then and a better chance that there is going to be an instructor around. Showing up at 3 pm when the wind has come up isn't going to impress anybody! Being nervous is common and only stick time and confidence will help that. I have been flying for years now and I am still usually jittery on the first flight of the day before I calm down. Thats why I get in a few flights on my own planes early in the morning before I start teaching the new flyers on their planes. Talked too much here, sorry. [X(]

Snoop, the man said he didn't have a buddy cord, he didn't say he didn't have an instructor. I believe he was saying he had an instructor, but no buddy cord. "if you're lucky, your lesson on Monday may be your last". What does that mean. This forum is for encouraging new beginners. This man has an instructor, no buddy cord, and a real concern--and you reply with something like that. I'm glad you were not my instructor.

Definately go with the buddy box and a GOOD instructor, not just a good pilot. Some can fly but not instruct. If nobody has a buddy box, go buy it and the cable yourself. It will be worth it in the long run in money and time saved. It can also be used on future maiden flights if you wish until you get used to a new A/C. I am working with an older student in my club and he is picking it up slowly but surely. I have told him that I will stand out there with him as long as it takes or as long after that as he wants. It is imperitive that the student be able to rely on the instructor so that he may concentrate on learning. Do not be in a hurry. With the buddy box you can let the student make all kinds of mistakes and attempt recoveries (the only way to really learn, within structural limits of A/C) and still be able to recover before it reaches the plastic bag to carry it home stage. It also makes it easier to demonstrate manuevers for them to attempt.

Good luck,
Bruce

Bruce you are right. The instructor not only needs to be able to get you out of trouble, but also be able to teach you what to do to avoid trouble proficiently.


Snoop Doggy Crap... its about time the moderators excommunicated you... You do nothing but spew negativism everywhere you go. Yes it irritates me, it should.

Im sure you are getting a cheap thrill, getting a good laugh and dont really care,,, but you are not helping at all.... It would be absolutely great to see you make a positive and productive contribution. For a change why dont you help a guy out by encouraging them to do the right thing instead of blasting him for not really understanding fully what the right thing to do is and how to go about doing it.

Theres a big difference between beligerantly insisting on not getting help and risking your own safety and the safety of others, and just not understanding all of your options and how to take advantage of them.

Mike

agexpert-

Just wanted to offer some encouragement. I flew for a little bit in high school, but never really learned. I took about 17 years off and just started again this year. I was nervous as heck at first, but with each flight you get a little more comfortable. Eventually you are relaxed enough that you are ready to solo. I still liked to have someone standing next to me for support the first few times. After a while, it becomes almost second nature. Then you get a new, slightly more challenging plane and the jitters start all over. Don't worry, you'll do fine. A buddy cord is a huge help, however.

-Scott

Don't sweat it. I learned with out a buddy box years ago, and I splattered my plane so many times it wasn't even funny. We did the "pass the box", and so many times it was just to late. (I got some lousy advice, and my plane wasn't really a trainer).

Anyway, the advice above, sims, buddy boxes, and choosing a good instructor are all great things that make learning go a lot smoother. You'll get it down, it just takes practice. Some guys more than others.

Folllowup post in support of what some others have said. I learned a long time ago, without a buddy box. I still remember my first landing. My instructor was teaching me to land by standing to my right and a little behind. I had my fingers on the sticks and his were on the sticks above mine. He was controlling the landings, but because my fingers were there, I learned what he was doing. One time, when the plane was a couple feet off the ground, the instructors hands went away, and I landed on my own. After a few more landings with him close I was on my own. Not saying a buddy box is a bad thing, but it's not so difficult to learn without one.

I've been teaching using a method similar to this for decades now. It has only been recently that members of my club finally accepted this method and asked me to show them how to use it. Now there are 2 instructors who totally swear by it and will never use the buddy-box again.

CCR

http://www.kites.org/rc_instructors
http://www.amadistrictii.org/column/...9%20Column.pdf

Thank You All very much!!!!!


I do appreciate all of the friendly advice. Just to clarify, all of my lessons will be done with a Buddy-System from now on. My first lesson was with an instructor who took off and landed the plane for me without one. The club I have joined has many instructors and I have met most of them. I have a simulator on order and IF I EVER GET IT....Grrrr....I will be using it to cure my 'digital dyslexia', (Stupid Fingers). Again.... Thank you all very much!!!

With regard to Dog-Boy:

Throughout my personal and professional life, I have been made painfully aware that in any large group, there are bound to be a few intellectually small and insignificant mal-contents who feel the need to belittle others in order to make themselves feel better about themselves. I have learned that the best way to deal with such frivolity is to expose it for what it is and then shun the individual(s). I pity you, and hope your life improves, Dog-Boy.

Nicely said!

Conrats agexpert. Seems like you have yourself and your future RC flying experiences in order.

A buddy box, a good instructor, and some patience is all it takes to do well in this hobby. Oh yeah, there's a money factor involved too!

Good luck,
Dennis-

I re-maidened it today. My Brother-in-law/instructor was there but I did it all myself. Four successful flights, including one dead-stick landing (that thing just WON'T run on fumes). Who says the jitters will go away!

Hang in there, agexpert and you'll look back one day and wonder why you waited so long to get involved. You'll also realize you've developed a good, thick skin to survive the jibes and digs by the other club members which is their way of letting you know you've arrived. For some reason, R/Cers can only pass back-handed compliments.

Just one small word of warning with the buddy box...
When I was learning about 6 years ago off the umbillical cord, I was still terrible at landings.
I was coming in and my approach wasn't good, and somehow my instructor managed to step on the cord and pulled it out of the back of my transmitter! [sm=eek.gif] As I remember, I think I totalled that plane. But the instructor was actually a close friend of mine, so it wasn't akward or anything.

That seems so long ago, now... [&o]

I don't instruct so you don't need to worry about it.

Encouragement you say. Lets not go there. When a guy comes on asking for help, great but if I come on and say "today I flew so hi I could not even see the plane and without a buddy cord! " How about this oldie but goodie, Can I teach myself to fly? or How about a Corsair for a second plane? If some of you want to butter him up for a huge disappointment go ahead but spare me. Countless people leave this hobby because of events that happen based on bad advice. Some others ignore us completely and like to learn the hard way. Whatever!