Ok., all you R/C gurus out there, is it advisable to get some help from an instructor for my first flight? I'm a recently retired crop duster with 8,000 or so hours in everything from Piper Pawnees to Air Tractors. Mostly in Cessna 188 AgTruck.

I learned a long time ago that every A/C is different and to expect the unexpected, and I would guess that R/C is the same.

One of the R/C pilot's a buddy of mine trained was a full scale F-4 Phantom fighter pilot. He told us that learning to fly R/C was more challanging than the real thing, and he was more nervous before his first R/C solo (after the proper training) than he was on his first full scale solo. Having aerodynamics of flight experience helps, but not as much as you may think, especially when the plane turns around and is coming towards you and the ailerons are suddenly reversed. Your mind must develope a whole new strategy for this "opposite" directional control. From what I've seen at the fields over the years is that the Nintendo generation kids actually pick up R/C faster than someone who has spent many years in a full scale cockpit. Yes, get the help of an instructor, because unless you are flying a very slow glider or powered glider, you will (guarenteed) crash.

Have you tried a R/C flight sim on your computer? There is a free one here
http://www.bcrcmac.org/FMS.html
It will even work with a regular computer joy stick if you have one, and will give you a good idea of what it's like to fly an R/C airplane.

Glad to see you here, AG. Your open minded attitude is most welcome.

Most full scale pilots get into this thinking they already know it all. But Tattoo has pretty much nailed it. You will have to get used to 1" control throws(using 1/4" of that mostly) and flying your airplane while it is coming at you - with no seat-of-the-pants feedback. Yes you will need an instructor - not to tell you how the plane flies - but to catch you as you take your first couple flights and get disoriented.

Not to scare you off, but click here for a previous gripe session about FS pilots. I doubt you will be one of these. :

http://www.rcuniverse.com/showthread...hreadid=311504]

Thanks for the advise guys. I think I need to find local club in this area for a little help. There is an old saying among FS pilots that says "There are bold pilots, but no old bold pilots". I think that applies here too! Thanks again.

If you're comming to Florida anytime this winter, let me know. We'll put you up.

Hi There AG. Glad you could play with the 'toys'. Yes, I would agree, get yourself a instructor. You'll have alot more fun flying, and less time digging holes with your plane. In the mean time, here's a link to a free Flight Sim that will help to build hand eye coordination and aircraft orientation.

http://n.ethz.ch/student/mmoeller/fms/index_e.html

friend of mine has a son that is a pilot for one of the major airlines,son came to the field to fly with with his dad,since he is a major league pilot he didn't need any help,after less than two minutes of air time ,we watched him and his dad pick up the parts to a destroyed telemaster,we figured he didn't need any help for that either.I've seen that happen to many times.

AgWings, If you think first flight jitters are bad.....wait tell you feel the first landing JITTERS! I found out about them on my last flight yesterday evening! on my fourth practice pass my trainer said cut the power and my trusty LT-40 made landfall in the proper attitude! By the time it rolled out and stoped, my hands were shaking so bad that i nearly dropped the transmitter!

Welcome to the obsession...I mean hobby!

Regards
Mark

I just had my first flight today....plane flys great and all and all i wasn't shaking too bad...but one time i did pull too much and almost did a rocket launch ...LOL..but really it isn't that bad...flying HIGH and slow...doing some circles but I think my knee's will be rocking when i do come in for landing...btw...no buddy box ..just instructor standing right next to me...telling me to pull more or bank more or less...and only a few times did he put his thumbs on the sticks...so that will give ya some courage...but WOW it was a blast to see something i built fly so darn good..every said it was flying GREAT ...makes ya feel good aobut yourself...THIS hobby rocks!!!

Hi AWACS, congrads. It only gets funner,now if that nut from Michigan doesn't complain about the english,maybe he's still in that tree looking for his plane.Think you are supposed to get some 70 degree days this comming week,hope you can fly on some of those days.

Hey Ag, isn't the full saying:

"There are Old pilots, there are Bold pilots, but there no Old, Bold pilots"?

Welcome to the hobby.

AgWings,

I started training with a full scale pilot buddy this spring.

We both got G2 (and he said it really helped him overcome his tendency toward disorientation.

While (at 40) I am not part of the Nintendo generation, 20 years of computer games made me real comfortable with the 3rd person perspective.

Anyway, I soloed about a month before he did (of course this is not a statistically valid sample).

My 2 cents, 1) try a flight sim, and 2) go to a field and get an orientation flight.

That way you can believe your own eyes. Who knows, you may be a natural at RC. :-)

GB