Here is the scenario.....

A kid builds his very first airplane. It has a 2-stroke engine, tricycle landing gear, high wing, and ailerons and he's heading for the flying field!

He is bound and determined to fly his plane that day with no experience.

When he gets to the flying field there is no one around. But, he remembered 3 things an experienced RC Pilot told him one day if he ever flys it alone for the first time.

What 3 tips would you give him?

1) Bring a big plastic bag, it'll make it easier to bring the parts home after crashing.
2) Make sure the cell phone is charged so that he might have a chance to call 911 and have the emergency people arrive before he bleeds to death after cutting off his finger, hand, arm, etc.
3) Take pictures before attempting to fly it, cause it'll look better than after the crash.

This won't answer your question but these are my three:

[ul][*] Don't do it.[*] Don't do it.[*] Don't do it.
[/ul]

He needs 3 tips for a successful flight!

They're not kidding.

1. make sure no one else is around that can witness the crash about to take place
2. pray lots
3. pray some more

1st ask yourself, why do newbies dive right into flying glow planes, especially by them selfs ?

2ndly ask yourself if you can buy a cheap electric plane to practice on before flying a dangerous glow plane.

3rdly ask yourself do you really want to smack up a good plane vs patiently waiting for some one to give
you a hand with your first flight.

I followed 2 of these three things and wasted allot of time and money in the long run.

He is bound and determined to fly it whether anyone likes it or not!

He needs 3 tips for a successful flight.

It should be obvious you've come to the wrong place.

No. I'm at the right place. I just typed in www.rcuniverse.com and here I am.

I'm already a member so I thought I'd ask a simple question like everyone else does.

I'm sorry. I didn't know you were in charge of what questions are allowed to be asked.

Excuuuuusssse Me!

Oh, sorry, I misunderstood. Here they are:
1) Get a buddy box.
2) Get a buddy cord.
3) Get an instructor to operate the radio while the kid holds the buddy box, which is hooked to the main radio via the buddy cord.

Sorry if I won't endorse someone trying to fly on their own. I personally think it's a waste of time, risky, and a silly way for most who attempt it to prove us right when they crash. Very few who try to learn on their ever succeed. Most give up after crashing their plane one or more times. I can't remember the number of posts I've seen from people expressing regret that they even tried it on their own. So, if the kid insists, tell him (or her) to lose the foolish pride and get help from someone who knows what the heck they are doing.

Ok. We all know he should not fly it on his own!

What about if there was an instructor with No Buddy Box.

What 3 tips would you give him then?

He is most likely bound and determined to destroy the model!!!!

I have 40 years aeromodelling experience.
Some years ago a friend, who was a commercial pilot with hundreds of hours, asked me a similar question. My advice to him was to allow me to test fly and trim the aircraft and then teach him to fly it. His response was that it is only a model and if he could fly the real thing then he could handle it. The take off and initial climb out was fine, while he was directly behind the model, he then made a left turn and promptly rolled the model and flew into the ground whereupon the aircraft was a total loss, including breaking the carbi off of the motor!
My point being that it does not matter if you have lots of experience with full size aircraft , another form of radio control i.e. cars, boats etc, or theoretical knowledge. None of this will help very much.
Basically anybody who would suggest that they could give you three tips for a supposed successful flight totally unassisted is full of #### and should not be taken seriously.

Russell

Re-read posts # 2 and 3, there are 6 tips.

Edit: forgot to count post # 6, that makes 9 tips.

dan... you're beating a dead horse. go get an instructor and ask him what to do. you'll thank us later.

Dan are you trying to get the right answer? As in, fly high, coordinate the plane so you have full control, and make little corrections? Because that wont do any good, by the way, thats a nice looking cub, which one is it?

I'am not so sure that a newbie couldnt do it this day in age .

Here are my tips if you really want to try ......

1) Put about a thousand hours in on a good simulator

2) Use a really cheap plane !!!!

3) Stand behind the plane on take off and fly way away from yourself.


I'am sorry but i have trained several folks to fly , I have yet to see anyone solo themselves although i'am sure there is some out there. I have soled folks there first day at the field. They had alot of time on a simulator they were young and had alot of drive to fly. I will say, please get someone to help you the first time. This hobby is so much fun it should be illegal. If you crash alot it is no fun and you will not stay in the hobby. This hobby can get real real expensive real fast. Get some help and you wont regret it. But if you must try it then good luck and be careful. Contary to most people's belief RC planes are not toys !!!! There are real flying airplanes and they can kill you[].


Chad

1) Have the instructor inspect the plane
2) Have the instructor take the plane up and trim
3) Have the instructor land

Personally, I refuse to use a hand off method, but sometimes I will let a newbie fly with the right stick, with me holding the TX firmly.

Dan, apologies if you think I, and others, are not being helpful. There is no formula or magic 3 tips that can help someone who insists on trying to learn on their own. The best option has already been suggested, get an instructor. If the kid refuses, the only other thing that MIGHT work, is to invest in a simulator and spend some time trying on it first. That MIGHT work, but it's still very possible that the kid will panic when trying to fly the real thing on his own the first time. An instructor is the best choice.

He's not kidding

Yes, I agree with Chuck. We are all trying to be seriously helpful. Of course there are those who take to the sky like a bird, but I have yet to see such a person. I remember having trouble with one tip even with an instructor.

How about this, a list of things that I've seen before a first flight,

1) Make sure all the controls are going in the right direction
2) Make sure you have the recommended number of rubber bands
3) Make sure all of the hardware is tight
4)...

The point I'm trying to make is there is a long list of stuff that needs to be right.

I taught myself to fly -- it only took two months before I had a model that survived more than two outings. That was back in the fifties when proportional radio's & buddy cords didn't exist. Now it would only take two months before you had a model survive two outings.

you guys are a lotta help.
HERE are three SURE-FIRE tips.PLUS a 4th for free!
I GUARANTEE he will go home with the aircraft in EXACTLY the same condition as when he got to the field.
1.put the plane on the ground,back away 5 to 7.75 feet from it.
2.LOUDLY call out-"FIRST FLIGHT" and then go RMMMMMMM-RMMMM-RMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
3.LOUDLY call out "LANDING" and start walking to your aircraft.
3.Pick up the plane,go home and put the plane in a safe place.Notice that there is not a scratch on it!
AND HERE IS STEP FOUR -A FREEBIE get on the computer to AMA and find a local club,call them,get the number of their instructer and call him and arrange a day to meet him at the field

Samolot.

That is the goldberg aniversary piper cub "clipped wing" version with an O.S. 46 AX on it. Flys really great!

I had another one with a S.T. .61 on it. Too much power! About tore the wing off!

I like the more economical planes. When they're up in the air, they all look the same!