I gotta say I'm really liking this RC flying stuff. I got home from the field this evening just after sunset. I quit shaking uncontrollably at about 7 pm. Wiped the grin off my face while the eleven o-clock news was on. But the adrenaline is still pumping, and I can't sleep, so here I am surfing rcuniverse...

I built a kit trainer in the early summer, started training in mid August, and got signed-off last weekend. Flew a couple of solos that afternoon just to be sure my instructor wasn't pushing me out of the nest too soon.

Went out again today even though the wind was a bit ugly. (My instructor taught me to respect, but not fear the wind). I had the field almost all to myself. Just me, one other experienced member, and my (former) instructor. Of course they stood by to lend support as I got airborne, but what a mess that was. Just after lift-off the wind turned my plane and I was caught up in some sort of spiraling death stall. They both called advice as I fought the sticks to keep the plane from re-kitting. Somehow I managed to stay with it and gain some altitude. I finally leveled the wings, gained some airspeed and proceeded to fly like I had been taught. I had buddy-boxed in the wind so staying airborne was not any great concern. But as I accepted congrats on saving my take-off and tried to steady my nerves, I knew that eight-ounce tank would soon 'call my bluff' if I didn't somehow find the right stuff to get back on terra-firma.

After a reasonable six or eight minutes in the air, I wondered aloud if shooting a landing might be a good idea, "Just to get a feel for alignment in this cross-wind." My companions agreed this would be the prudent thing to do, and I immediately began my down-wind leg and prepared for final approach. My plane was high as it crossed the runway threshold. My supporters debated whether it was too high and if I should abort and go around. Being only two of them, and equally divided on the matter, I had the deciding vote. (he who holds the transmitter has veto power). Yes, the plane was a bit high. But I was done flying for the day and this plane was not going around again. With the throttle chopped to idle, I forced the nose down slightly and held the plane steady against the gusting winds. True to form, my (former) instructor called for me to keep the nose up just as I was easing back on the stick anyway. The plane flared and then hugged the ground as it rolled to a stop well short of the end of runway.

I pumped what fuel was left in the tank back into my gallon jug.

So my question is, just how long does beginner's luck last?

Tomorrow is supposed to be really ugly. Maybe I'll plug the charger in anyway. Just in case...

fever

Welcome and congrats flyingfever. To answer your question about beginners luck, I can't, but lets hope forever. Mine lasted till I got good enough to crash. Always happy to help if I can. Garry

not very long when it comes to flying.

Mine ran out yesterday, I was flyin my parkflyer in the wind(too much wind) and was on the 2nd battery pak , it would zoom one way and then hover on the way back, so I decide maybe I'll bring it on down and charge the batts for sunday.... well just as I drop the rudder to bring it down the wing snaps 200 feet up and it drops straight down into the parking lot (ouch!)....havent quite assessed the damage yet but it dont look good and I aint flying sunday........ :stupid: ..Rog

What kind of plane was that flyingfever?

Well said, I felt as if I were right next to you the whole time. Truth is I really was, in a way. I'm fairly new to the hobby myself and wonder if other's get the same charge as I do while flying. Guess what! they do. I'd like to make a suggestion if I may. Get started building your second plane now, When it finally happen's you'll have another ready while re-building the first. Congrats on your success and happy flying. Below is a pic of my beloved cub on final roll out to death. What happened was undetermined, was it wind sheer, nose heavy,flying too low, dumb thumb's?? I had 17 flight's on her and I suspect a combination of all these condition's the cause, however, like you said. The final say and control input come's from the guy holding the TX. YIEEEKRUMMBA!! DUMB THUMB'S Remember this, when a fellow flier is explaining how his radio fail'd or he was walked on or shot down, alien space ship or what ever the excuse for his crash, 99.999999999% of the time it's good old dumb thumb's Buz^

Thanks for the kind words and advice all...

MasterSmasher, the plane is a PT40 MKII with OS40LA for engine. I built it with the maximum dihedral you may have seen discussed in other threads here. We suspect the extreme dihedral makes the ailerons almost ineffective at very low airspeed. This means I have to be very careful lifting-off into a strong cross-wind. The plane gets up, and before the ailerons will turn the plane effectively to keep her nosed into the wind the cross-wind is already forcing the plane into a turn. That's when the fun starts.

Hey Buz^, great minds really do think alike. I already have a second plane in the hangar. Back in September while I was still on the buddy box I knew this fever wouldn't break anytime soon, so I started building a GP Easy Sport. This one has an OS46FX for a little extra punch. It is essentially ready to go, just needs an exhaust deflector, servo cord extension... little details like that.

This is such a fun hobby with so many nice people involved in it. Here's hoping that beginner's luck will evolve into something equally powerful as my experience level advances.

fever

Beginners Luck lasts until YOU think you're good........then back to the drawing board.

hircflyer got it, just about the time your comfortable or thinkin, hey I can handle this, boom! or in my case (snap) and something goes wrong,glitch, power surge, control horn snaps, fuel line cracks,,, or any one of 1000 other things out of your control up in the wild blue, and theres a whole new set of rules to work out..
I think I can get my stick back in the air with some work....Rog

It's hard to say how long beginners luck lasts, but trust me, when it runs out, you'll know.

One good thing about crashes though, once your plane has a few battle scars, you stop worrying about keeping it pretty, and you REALLY start to have fun flying!

flyingfever,
Congratulations on the flight.
Beginners luck will last forever, your plane will not.
For me the weirdest feeling in the world is taking a plane up in the air for the first time. While not a true instructor, I have instructed and test flown several planes and I still get the shakes. It is my nature! As far as your first crash, it will happen when you stretch your envelope. For some it happens early in the hobby. Others after many years but it will happen. Don't think about it and continue to fly the plane to the best of your ability.

I started this past July flying. My luck was great till I started into the aerobats side of flying.
I was proud to have went from a LT 40 to a 4 star 60 in only a months time.
My luck ran out when I got my 4 star into a spin, and no matter what I did the spin got worse!
Turns out I was told ( and shown example) what I should have done was NOTHING, just let go of the sticks.
Well.......thats how we learn though....when you crash, if we want to fess up , is to remember what you did, or didnt do, to avoid the thing we all know comes sooner or later, the end of the lucky streak, and the re-kiting of the victim.

Spring fever, what you experienced was apparently a tribute to the fine instruction you received rather than beginners luck. I have witnessed a pilot with absolutey no prior experience take off and land his Easy Sport without incident on his first attempt. Never in the course of human events had those of us present seen such an event. That is beginner's luck in its purist form.

Again, I salute those who took their time to provide you with some excellent training. And a fine piece of writing by you. I really enjoyed reading the account of your experience.

Best of luck in the future. I suspect in your case that beginner's luck will not be much of a factor.

flyingfever,

I first must say congratulations on your solo, and your save.
To your question, "how long does beginners' luck last?", I would have to say...

Until you find the new limitations with each and every new flight.

(version .0001)
High winds, low winds, cross winds and side;
Strong winds, weak winds, down winds we ride;
Through loops and through rolls, through snaps and through stalls, we fly, we fly, we fly...
Then comes the day, we find a new way;
to test that ol' aircraft in which we play;
We know what we do, we know what we don't;
then that damn airplane hits the as-phault.
Sorry, I was trying to be funny.

What's my meaning? I have no idea... just know that it'll happen, and probably when you're doing something new, or in a new way.

I have heard it phrased this way; When you start out, you have two pails, one that is full of luck and an empty pail of experience. You must try to fill the pail with experience before the pail of luck is used up. Sounds like an airport fortune cookie!

FF,

Beginners luck NEVER lasts long enough! However, it sounds like you have found a REALLY GOOD instructor! ( never fear the wind, but RESPECT it) YES!

Keep flying, don't let setbacks set you back for long, and "fly for life".

Jetts

Beginners luck lasts until your plane hits the ground in a unintended manner.

Way to go flyingforever!! It's such a rush isn't it?? The way you told the story gave me goose bumps. I was there with you!! I'm shaking right now as I write this. Just remember, your instructor will always be your instructor. The day you stop learning from him (and others for that matter) is the day your beginners luck runs out.

There is no such thing as gravity, the earth sucks!!