Anyone out there had a plane they could fly. It flies very well and you've had no issues taking off or landing. It's not scary once its in the air but since you've only flown it a few times firing up the engine sends terror through your body?

I have an H9 Mustang with a Saito 100 on it. I've flown it, had no problems whatsoever with the take off, flight and landing. Both of my past instructors have been very helpful with setting up and there have been no objections to me being ready to fly it - if anything right now they are aggitated I'm scared of it. Once I'm in the middle of the take off I'm fine. Once I'm in the air I'm fine. When its time to land I'm perfectly ok with it...but carrying the plane to the stand to start it up sends my heart racing like I'm about to give a presentation in front of 5000 people.

Just wondering if I'm alone in this area.

Yes.
Nope, not at all alone.

You are definitely not alone. I have a gorgeous Great Planes Super Stearman that I just finished and have about 15 flights on it in a matter of 3 days and I still feel my knees shaking right after takeoff and right after landing. Like you during the flight I am perfectly comfortable

As you get used to the plane the nervousness subsides but it can be a good thing as it will make you more alert and careful. Look at it this way. You must really like the plane. If you didn't you probably wouldn't be so nervous.

look at it this way, at least its not the 20,000+ dollar plane the dude from our club is almost done with.

its a freaking 54% extra 300XS. from what ive been told, its so big he has to have a waver from the FAA to fly it...... Illd be nervous before during and after....

I guess I am luckier ... I kinda have a do or die attitude. For the maiden its do or die ... and since its a ARF when you kill it just get another off the shelf!!! Hehehe ... guess its just a hobby and no point getting stressed.

Try to get some pictures of that 300xs if you can and post them.

i just saw it at the fly in we had yesterday. if i can, i will get some pics(if hes a member here , ill ask him to). The thing is MASSIVE. its supposed to have a 300cc or so motor on it. he had it in a pretty large trailer, and it barely fit turned sideways. i want a pic of it assembled(i just got to see it in the trailer.....it had rained and he put it away).

shakes268... As said above, I believe we all have that feelings I
think it's just part of the hobby:-)... But as with most things.. Get
a good nights rest, insure your equip. is up to par... batteries fully
charged.... And do the preflight checks!!!! including range checks
to be as ready and safe as possible!! Making the above a "habit"
Then we know we are as ready as we can make it... Then it's
just up to the "R.C. Gods"...... All planes are numbered and you
never know when your number will come up... So do what we
can humanly do to be ready... And get her up, Be safe and Enjoy
you work of art
And when it just does not feel right... remember!!......
Take-offs are optional... Landings are mandatory

I can relate to that.


With me, it's the drive to the flying field that makes me nervous. It's about 25 minutes of pure terror. Pits are wet by the time I get there. I've even turned around once and went back home!!

Once I gas up I'm better.

Long time ago doing test flights is when I realized adrenalin was brown.

Man I'm glad I'm not the only one. Since I'm fairly new (only 30 or so flights on my Nexstar) I get nervous any time I hit a little bump in the air! It is getting better now, but I'm still very apprehensive when it comes to trying new maneuvers. I'm usually at least 3 mistakes high..and I still get the shakes a bit even on a simple loop or roll. I guess my cautiousness is good thing in the long run.

Flypaper, that's a funny, funny line.

I get very wound up on maiden flights of models that I have invested too much time (or $) in, & I get tight with some particular models long after they aren't new.

I started flying the middle of last summer with a NexStar. I too am still a little nervous until it is back in the pits without damage. My fears are mainly trying to improve my skills by doing loops, rolls, etc. with this plane as any significant crash will result in repair/rebuild efforts. To offset this quandry I have built a few S.P.A.D.'s (I know, they are not "real" airplanes) for improving my skills. Other than the radio equipment and servos these can usually be built for $10 - $20 and in an a few days. This way when (not if) you crash you are not out a lot of time or money. I just crashed one first time out this year. I was doing some rolls about 10 ft. off the ground when a wind gust caught the wing and sent it to the ground (plowed corn field) full throttle. Only damage was a broken prop and spinner, and a very muddy engine. I could have easily cleaned the engine and replaced the prop and spinner and continued flying. If it were a Balsa plane, ouch. I have found that my nervousness is greatly decreased and allows me to focus on flying and perfecting maunevers rather than constantly worrying about crashing. It also helps me focus on the area in which I am flying, rather than tunnel vision on my plane. This helps me avoid other aircraft inthe sky.

This year I have built another S.P.A.D. (Stick style), an SSC combat plane, and a Hangar9 Twist. Hopefully This summer will be filled with lots of flying and continued improvement.

I'm glad I'm not the only one here. I too get the jitters a little on the drive out but its not bad.

Really, I'm not scared to fly this plane. I'm scared to death of the take off roll though. So many times I've heard people telling me "watch it, it can snap on take off" or "you really need full right rudder". Due to that, I can just see it in my head going crazy on take off. When I did take it off, the tail raised up so fast it scared me - more than I thought it really did at the time.

I have one instructor telling me to hit half throttle and just go get it in the air asap. Another one is about the long the scale roll out.
What do you guys suggest as far as A) The correct take off for this plane and B) Getting over this fear that I'm going to lose control of the plane on the rollout?

As some history - I've never lost control of a plane on take off but I have seen it happen a couple of times to others - once, a few people almost got hurt.

I get it when maidening a new plane. Its the take off and the first few seconds of flight. Last nite, I maidened a Sig Kougar.
I had got this for $20 off of ebay. Servos and all. Although, they were Airtronics old style and I re-did the ends. Re-covered the wing,
painted the fuse etc. Got out my nifty CG program and input the numbers. Turns out the CG was right about at the 4 inch mark.
I put in an Evo .46 (a scary engine all itself!!!). To my delight, the damn thing took off and flew. It flew fine after a few clicks of down elevator and right aileron. Past month, felt the same way maidening my Pete 'n Poke and Seagull Spacewalker 2.

Dave...

Yep, when I got my heli I was scared stiff to fly it for quite some time. I eventually just had to force myself to fly it.

I get shaky only when i am doing stupid stuff. All of those times i made the right choice. I need to practice some Take offs though. Most of the time i get shaky is when i go inverted and pull out 10 feet off the corn. I then land the plane and come in. That situation is one you have to be careful of. You have to make that split second decision. Lookily i have always made the right one to spin and pull up.