Hello guys!

Today I took my Stinger 60 out for "our" maiden flight. Not the right choice of plane for a beginner, but I got it at a deal and really bought it before I researched enough. I have it now, may go ahead and buy a trainer and put the stinger back, have to see how it goes.

Was really going to try and teach myself how to fly and go into it alone, but after reading these foums and seeing almost EVERYONE say "your going to crash". I decided to go out to our local flying club. I introduced myself to the guys and meet some great people, was talking to a few of the club members about checking my plane out and getting things worked out that weren't quite right.(There was a few things I had incorrect and they fixed it up for me.

We gased it up, made sure the batteries were charged up and fired it off!!!!!!!

The guy that was helping me grabbed a buddy box and hooked it up, then two of them took her up and got the trainer box trimmed correctly and handed it over too me. Let me just say this....It didnt take but a few seconds too realize I would have never made it without help. This thing is CRAZY responsive and full of power, like I said not a good plane to learn on, but its what I got.

I flew it around a while and got used to turning and keeping elevation, then with instruction done a few loops and rolls.The movements on the radio to make the plane move are SOOOO small, I was expecting way more movement to get a reaction from the plane.

I made several passes, climbs, turns coming and going, and a few low passes. He took the controls twice due to other flyers kinda close and he didnt want to risk a collision.

We flew it till it ran out of gas then he took over and gently landed it right in front of us.

I'm going back next saturday and sunday to get some more flights in with the buddy box.

Main reason for the post is this.

Taking advice and getting an instructor saved my plane and my pocket book. I had read up on and used a sim and thought I had this thing down, wont be a problem. WRONG that thing got in the air and its different, alot can go wrong quick and seeing it is alot harder than I thought too.

Well it survived for this weekend, maybe I can make next weekend just as good!
Thanks for all the advice I have goten from many of you(haven't posted, but read other post).

ONE MORE THING....this plane screams, climbs straight up like a rocket and will turn like no tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!

Fun, huh?

Welcome to the addiction.

Good job on getting the instructor...plane went home in the same amount of pieces it went to the field, your still smilin' and all is well. All in all a good day for ya and we are glad to hear it. Keep us informed on your progress and when you do your first solo be sure to tell us about it. It's something you'll never forget.

Yep he's addicted

Good work LOYD. As Frank Buck said: "Bring 'Em Back Alive".

Xmmmmm, so you used a flight sim? So did i Till i have read this thread i was full of positive energy about flying a plane alone. I guess i will think twice now and try to get an instructor if there is any in cyprus where i leave.

I used a flight sim as well. It didn't really teach me anything about the actual flying because it was so smooth in the sim. But it was extremely helpful getting me oriented to the controls.

Good job but I don't see the fun in learning on a plane you can barely keep up with. I suggest you take $89.00 and order a trainer from tower hobbies so you can do more of your flying alone and you will learn more quickly.

I am wondering if the people or person at the club would have been so helpful if you came with a high winged slow flying trainer. just kidding.

The simulator helped you more than you think. Well at least it helped me a ton since I didn't have an instructor with the buddy box to maiden my first plane.

One question goes over in my head while reading this , which is, who broke the engine in for the first flight .

Continue to have fun and the addiction only gets stronger . Have you picked out your next plane ?

loyd you not only get a good job for getting to fly, You get a big pat n the back for making the above quoted post happen.


panay, im glad you read this and realised without loosing your plane that the flight sim isnt actual training

Good job! At least you found a club with some nice flyers that are willing to help. Sounds like you allready saved your plane and some $$. All the flight sims teach you before you fly is how the basic stick movements affect the plane. As you found out , this is in general terms only. Each plane reacts different and the wind and other factors can't be corectly duplicated on the sim, at least not yet! Wait till you try steering the plane on a grass field. Its stupid easy on the flight sims but takes practice and getting used to in real conditions. Have fun, fly safe.[8D]

Welcome to a great hobby!

Here's a deal on a trainer... but it's a .40-.46 size, so you'd have to buy a new engine. (A .40 or .46 is a useful size to have around).
http://www.raidentech.com/stev4siiiarf.html

Tower's .60-size trainer is $120. http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXCAS1&P=0

You could buy the above Start Evolution II trainer and a Super Tigre .40 ball bearing engine for less than that....



Good flying,
desmobob

Hey Loyd,

What kind of engine do you have in your Stinger? I'm using a Stinger 60 I got an local auction as a second plane with an OS 61 2 Stroke. The plane is loud as hell but isn't that fast. I"m under the impression that my engine is a bit tired.

It did teach me things like ...move the stick this way,the plane goes this way.Stuff like that, but really you should know what the controls do before attempting to fly. The thing that was way different was the amount of movement to get the plane to move, the stick movements were so small that I was barely even moving the controls to get a reaction from the plane, I will say this the SIM was fun, but not alot transfered to actually flying the plane and having to worry about REALLY crashing and the location of other planes.
I should have clarified, it was "our" maiden flight, the plane was actually a veteran... it knew exactly what to do, the reciever was set for a JR contoller and I use a futayba, so I had that mixed up. I actually bought the stinger off of here, it was in excellent shape and the motor is strong and loud...lol
O.S. 60 FP ( I took the cowl off and double checked).
According to the guys at the club, its Fast . To me its WAY FAST....lol
Plan on taking a trip to Americus Thursday to Hodges Hobbies and picking me up a trainer, looking on here and ebay for a deal on a motor and radio equip for it now.

LOYD, it's not a concern on the 60FP, but on an engine with bearings, a loud muffler or pipe will keep you from hearing a bearing failing. Then it becomes important to turn the engine over by hand and feel for roughness when you add after-run oil. I just had a bearing fail on a fairly new engine. It started a banshee wail I could hear on the near passes.

RGR, thx for the tip!
Will keep my eyes(ears) open and check it out often.