I'm a new flyer. Started in this sport back in February with a Hobbico Nexstar Select MKII. 5 flights on the buddy box with a great instructor. Soloed on my 6th flight. I got comfortable circle flying and doing basic loops, rolls, split s', etc. This has been the windiest spring I can remember. Most of my landings have been in the wind. No bad landings as of yet. Actually, landing has become my favorite part of flying because I enjoy trying working on "great" landings.

Just completed a 4* 40 kit. I've got only 5 flights on it now. Just had it maidened by my instructor on Saturday and then I took it up. Absolutely love the plane. It'll see a lot more use than my trainer, that's for sure. It's affected by the wind a lot less and is a lot more responsive.

Anyway, to the point of my post...

What advice might you offer to help a new flyer gain confidence in flying lower and closer in? I'm very cautious. VERY cautious. I'm one of these guys who would absolutely hate to see my hard earned money (and hours upon hours of work with the 4*) come crashing to the ground quickly. I believe in doing things the right way and learning how to do things properly. I want to overcome my mental block which is prohibiting me from doing basic aerobatics at lower altitude. I mean, there were some spectators out at the field this past weekend. They saw planes and decided to see what our club was all about. One kid yelled, "Wow, look how high THAT plane flies" when I was up. I know it's safe to give myself a large margin for error and it's good to fly several mistakes high when starting out, but what's the secret to getting myself to overcome this fear of low altitude I have? On the simulator I will fly MUCH lower and closer in, and of course do it with no nerves. That little red button which gives you a brand new plane sure is nice. I am very comfortable on the simulator doing rolls, slow rolls, and other "pretty" flying at a low altitude. I just wish I could translate that to my actual planes.

This is what "beater" planes are for. I try to always have one plane that's expendable. If I crash it, no big deal, I have no emotional attachment for it. Right now my beater plane is a World Models Aircombat Zero. It's absolutely not scale, but flies great. Since it only cost me about $60 I don't care if I trash it or not. In fact, eventually, I will trash it, but that's ok, I have another from the series waiting to replace it. For you, the beater plane could be your trainer. To get over your fear of flying lower, practice doing it with the trainer. If your trainer is still in great shape, and you are reluctant to do this, get a really inexpensive ARF to function as your beater.

Hi Stevnmd

Please don't beat yourself up about being cautious with your flying. I have been flying pattern aerobatics and instructing beginners for a longish time now, and I still get plenty of air under my wings when trying new manouvres. As the you gain experience and confidence with your model, lower and slower will come naturally - don't force it and lose a model with dumb thumbs before YOU are ready. I also value my models too much to throw them away by making a stupid mistake with insufficient height or airspeed.

Most close in, low and slow flying is done with models which have very low wing loadings, and are therefore much less likely to bite you by tip stalling or other nasty habits.

Cheers

Dave

You gain confidence through practice.Burn lots of fuel!

I second the "beater" plane approach. Try SPADS. They take a lickin' and keep on tickin'. I spent $50 on plastic from a local distributor, and have built at least 6 planes out of it, and keep recycling the same set of electronics. Each plane better than the last. They're not competition pattern planes, but they've greatly increased my flying ability and confidence. And when the expiration date arrives, I'm not heartbroken.

Brad

Thanks for the advice. I definitely figured that the best thing which would help is time and practice which result in experience. I also thought about a "beater plane". As a matter of fact, I've got 5 servos, a receiver, and a VMAX .52 engine which could use a home. I've considered throwing them in a very inexpensive ARF which I would not put a lot of time or money into getting ready for the air. Haven't considered a SPAD. Mainly due to the fact I'd imagine their flying characteristics wouldn't be very similar to another true sport plane. Any suggestions for a decent, cheap plane which I'd likely not get any emotional bond to which would be easily repairable if crashed (I still cringe at the though of crashing any plane), which would require the same smooth stick movements as a nice scale bird? I want to one day be able to fly one of the many great and gorgeous planes that are available today with some degree of competence. I'd love to build an Ultra Sport II. I'd love to fly an Edge or Giles. I'd love to get a ShowTime and throw a 26cc gas motor in it. I'd love to one day fly nice aerobatics and even venture into 3D. Those are my longer term goals. I know I have a long way to go before I get there, but I'm really looking forward to the learning process. I've had guys at the field tell me to enjoy the flying I'm doing now because it's probably the most exciting flying I'll ever do. I believe it. Everything's still relatively new and I learn a ton each time I take off.

So, if you were to buy an inexpensive ARF which has a GOOD build quality, which could allow me to develop skills which would definitely make me a more competent flyer of ANY plane, what would you choose? A stick? A Twist (though there are already too many of them at our club)? I'm not opposed to a plane which is above my current skillset, either. I suspect it may FORCE me to develop good habits.

The beater or "throw around" plane is a fantastic idea. Every pilot should have one in my opinion. But I do realize that doesn't help you right now.

Your situation is what happens when a student solos too quickly. Yes they may be a natural and can land the plane quickly, but that doesn't mean they should be cut loose yet. There are a lot of things to learn other than just getting the plane up and down in one piece. The routines of taking a student up on a buddy box for awhile helps the students gain confidence in his flying abilities, and it also gives the instructor more opportunities to explain things to a student. It's impossible for an instructor to sit down and tell his student everything there is to know about this. A lot of things can't be explained, or won't be understood, until they happen WHILE flying. This is what that airtime with a student on the buddy box gives you, more chances for things to happen so you can explain them. When I am teaching a student to fly I don't consider him ready to solo until he can take off, fly the pattern properly, do a proper loop and roll, demonstrate that he follows all field safety rules, do a proper landing, and one last thing..... He needs to be able to take off, roll inverted, and then fly three complete circuits of the pattern while remaining inverted. If he can do that then he is ready to solo. If he can do that then he will have the confidence in himself to fly his next plane.

What I would do in your situation would be to go back to your trainer and practice flying it low and slow. Spend time on that building up your confidence level before you start trying the "fancy stuff" on your 4-star.

Ok, I'm climbing down off my soapbox now!!

Ken

Smooth movements are not a function of the plane, they're all up to the pilot. I'm a big fan of World Models. The [link=http://www.airborne-models.com/html/productdetails.asp?ProductID=16]Sky Raider Mach II[/link] is sort of a bigger brother to the Aircombat series. The main differences appear to be size and the Mach II has cheeks instead of a cowl. If I were shopping for a .45 size beater plane, this would be on my list of candidates.

Oh, I certainly know that smooth movements are a function of the pilot rather than the plane. I am also an avid motorcyclist. Much of flying R/C can be related to riding a motorcycle. Most of the people I see on the latest and greatest, insane performance capable motorcycles make them look like the biggest when they ride them. Then, there are the riders I know whom I admire the most who can ride a 20 year old machine faster and smoother than Joe Moron on his latest and greatest... When I started riding, I focused only on riding smoothly and with precision and alertness rather than speed. It allowed me to become a competent rider who may not be the fastest guy out on the track, but who always makes riding look easy.

Anyway, I know flying is much the same way. Baby steps. Develop good habits early. Don't push the envelope and try to do what the guys who have been flying for years are doing. Just because they make it look easy, doesn't mean it is. I know that.

I didn't start riding on the high performance, hand crafted Italian motorcycle I currently ride. Just like there's no way I'd be comfortable flying a great YAK with a DA-50 in it right now. Do I hope to one day have the skills and confidence to fly ANY plane and feel that there's little chance of it crashing unless it experiences a mechanical failure or I do something stupid? Yes...

So, I've got my trainer now. I bought it new right around New Year's. It's never been crashed. I take good care of it. I want it to stay in the condition it's in.

I've got my 4*. It took me several months to build it. It was my first build. There's sentimental attachment to it for that reason alone, plus the memory of the time I took to build it is still VERY fresh in my mind. I hope to one day pass my trainer on to someone else so they can learn to fly it. I wouldn't be heart broken in the slightest if I saw them crash it, but for some reason I would be really upset with myself if I were to plow it into the ground.

RCKen, I would love to have more time on a buddy box, actually. I think it would help my confidence tremendously. I don't regret soloing when I did. I love the fact that I know I'm capable of taking off, flying a basic pattern, and landing on my own. But, knowing there's a proverbial umbilical cord there would certainly give me more confidence. My instructor is awesome. He's certainly gone WELL above and beyond to help me. He helped me through the build of my 4*. He helped me do my first covering job ever on the plane. He checked out my work numerous time during the build process to ensure things were being done okay. He's agreed to help me on the simulator to teach me the basics of aerobatics properly so I can begin to apply them to an actual plane. But, I would really be reluctant to ask him to reattach the buddy cord for some reason. I'd be reluctant to ask anyone to do that, actually. For one, that's asking someone else to take on the responsibility of keeping my plane in one piece again. It also is asking for their time away from flying their OWN planes. I just don't want to impose on anyone that way. I guess I just feel as though their response should be, "Dude, you can take off and land no problem. No, get out there and just practice on your own." I can't say I'd blame them!

I don't know who your instructors are, but I would be willing to bet that they don't think that way. Almost every instructor I've ever met is willing to help a new pilot in anyway they can. When I teach somebody to fly I will still be buddy boxing them even after they have soloed and moved onto other planes. I can't even begin to count how many times I've buddy boxed a former student on the first flights on his second or third plane because they were too nervous. Trust me, if they didn't want to help they wouldn't be instructors. Go ahead and ask them, I think you just might be surprised by their answers.

Ken

I guess I need to start hitting up OTHER instructors at our club, too. I really just feel like I'm a total pain in the butt to my instructor. I feel like I already am constantly asking for his help on one thing or another! I just don't want to be a constant thorn in his side, that's all...

Trust me, you aren't being that way. Every new pilot acts exactly the same way. It's the only way you can learn, by asking questions. There isn't an instructor out there that doesn't want you to be a competant pilot. They will want you to be a good pilot, and they will do what is needed to do so that will happen. But there is no way in the world that you can know what they are willing to do or not do until you ask him. My advice to you would be to sit down with your instructor and talk to him about your situation. Explain to him exactly what you have posted here and tell him what your goals are. But you should at least give him a chance to help instead of just ruling it out because you think that you are bothering him.

I've been an instructor for 6 years now and I've seen lots of people like you that feel you are imposing on your instructor. You're not. As I said above, if it bothered me I wouldn't be an instructor. I am an instructor because I like seeing new people get into the hobby and I like helping them gain the skills they need to be a good pilot. I've got a feeling that your instructor would tell you pretty much the same thing. And if he's not willing to help you out then he really doesn't need to be an instructor in the first place.

Give him a chance

Ken

Well, low and behold. A simple email resulted in him saying he'd be happy to take me up on the buddy box more as much as I'd like. I'm definitely going to take him up on his offer. Hey, this way I get to experience the thrill of soloing all over again, too.

Great!!!!! I kind of had a feeling about that!!!! Hey, us instructors are teddy bears!!!! [:'(] [X(]



Ken

While I can't speak for other instructors, One of my biggest frustrations is seeing newly soloed pilots who obviousley need assistance, refusing help when it's offered. Or worse, paying lip service to their instructor's advice because they feel that they're above all that now that they've soloed.

By asking for help from your instructor shows maturity and an ego that's prepared to take a back seat while you're learning how to master your flying skills. Your instructor should be only too pleased to offer his help, after all it's always flattering to be asked to help someone advance their skills.

cheers

Thanks for the replies, guys... More than likely I'd eventually get to where I think my flying should be right now, but the buddy box will help me get there a lot more quickly, I'm sure. Again, I really need to get over this mental block I have. Anyway, you guys are great. Thanks for great replies to my first post here!