I hate to ask this question, because I dont want anyone to think im in a big hurry here. I'm just trying to figure out what to expect. I've had a few flights, over the last 2 months. I personally dont think I'm even close to being ready yet, mostly because I get pretty nervous when I get a transmitter in my hand. I just didnt know if it was average for 3 months, 6 months, a year, or what. Im sure some people solo after a few weeks, but its hard to get flight time here, due to the wind. I know there are variables involved, such as pilot skill, flight sim training, things like that. Just looking for a few numbers, just to see how long others take.

trey

vwtrey,
It's almost impossible to really come up with an "average" time it takes to solo. I've had students that were able to solo in 6 training sessions and then I've had students that took almost 2 flying seasons to solo. It's different for every student on how long it's going to take. It can also matter how much you can get to the field. If you can get to the field only once or twice every couple of weeks then it's going to take you a lot longer to solo. Whereas if you can go 2-4 times every week your training time will be less. Part of learning to fly is developing muscle memory and just like training for sports you have to train regularly for that training to be effective. I've had students that come out every couple of weeks or so and they have problems because the first flight or two each day is spent just "knocking the rust off" their skills.

If you really were to put my feet to the fire and make me come up with ball park figure I would say to give yourself 1-2 months as a ballpark

Hope this helps

Ken

I am in a similar situation. I've had total of 9 flights over period of 1 1/2 months due to the bad weather, availibility of instructors etc.. I think after these flights, I can execute OK turns. However, I think if I can fly for about a week every day with 3-4 flights each day, I can solo.....

Well, there are certainly a lot of factors but in my opinion it's directly proportional to stick time. If you get to fly one flight a week and that's it, then it's going to take a long time. If you get to fly 8 times a day for 2 weeks straight, you may very well solo in 2 weeks.

In my case, the simulator helped the learning curve a ton because I flew hundreds & hundreds of flights on it before I ever went up with an instructor. I only had to learn the rules & safety aspects as well as wind correction and landings as well as some of the real world stuff. Essentially I was able to start training towards the end of the training program because the stick movements were automatic at that point.

If you want to speed up the process and you aren't able to get more stick time at the field, then my advice would be to buy a good flight sim.

Good luck

I'm not an instructor, in fact I'm not even an experienced flyer, but I can say without question, that the ability to solo has as many time facets as people learning how to fly. How long does it take to learn to talk, drive a car, swim? It's all based on the person and outside influences. I would say the most important aspect is drive. How much do you want to solo? After twenty or thirty years of farting around trying to learn in my own and crashing more planes then I needed to, I finally got on the stick, joined the AMA, joined a club with good instructors, and solo'ed a few weeks after some intensive training sessions. Its really up to you. The main thing is remember, you're doing this to have fun. Safety is paramount but remember, have fun.

Bruce

Like Ken said, the time frame varies greatly and just should not be rushed. I know that is not your intent either. Frequent training sessions and multiple flights per day help a lot too. It imbeds habits and doesn't give you a chance to forget things. When I took full scale flying lessons, I saved money until I was able to fly at least 4 times/week. This really sped up the learning process and works with RC planes too. Stick with it and you'll get there.

Nothing wrong with being in a big hurry--being able to fly safely on your own is huge. I totally agree with Bruce that the number of flights to solo can be significantly reduced if you cram the flights closer together. Not always easy, I know.

Like a lot of things you learn, improvements come in spurts. You may feel far from soloing now, but may "catch on" in another two or three sessions. BTW, the nerves won't go away when you solo. They slowly fade after awhile, but come right back when you bring out a new plane. It's part of flying.

Yep, it just happens one day. After a solo you still have to think about what you are doing in the air. You have to remind yourself about stick reversal and such, and then one day you'll just start doing it automatically.

Ken

3 years and 11 months before I solo'd! In the UK I still have to pass the 'A' test (basic competency) but can at least fly without a buddy lead. The reality is that I have probably been at this level of skill for at least a year or so but the weather has been so poor that I haven't been able to string together enough regular flying sessions to give either myself or my instructor the confidence needed (he admits that he hangs onto students a bit, this is fine from my perspective but might not suit the younger guns).

The flip side for me is that the BMFA 'B' test (which does a whole load of technical stuff, rolls, stall turns etc) is much closer to my grasp. So, don't rush it, get there when you are ready ... or in the words of Yoda "Try not. Do, or do not, There is no try" (love that quote and so relevant to r/c plane flying!)

Regards,
Andy

I would have to highly recommend the sim(G3) i know it's not cheap but in my view it's well worth it & it will help you get to your solo goal sooner than without, now as for your nerves, sorry to say they are there to stay its apart of the buzz of flying...the nerves for me always seem to kick in on a maiden & first flight of the day.



Happy Flying and best of luck
Paul

Hi all,

I want to share some of my experiences in this forum. Im a learner, still learning, but I have been flying solo for 2 months, I started flying in january 2006. Solo is really hard, I did my solo after 10 to 15 flights with an experienced pilot standing next to me, landing had been a problem but it improved, I learned on high wing 40 size trainer, then I flew back my P51 Mustang PTS which responds more quick than any other plane. While I was flying my trainer, nobody let me fly it by myself, not even take off, once all were having chit chat and busy, then I flipped my prop, started the engine, did my first solo, take off was rough, and it was very much upto 90 degree angle, then suddenly I controlled the plane, brought it to its normal flying position and tried to do circuit, after that i was told strictly do not do that again, what I felt that first solo, though my heart was pounding, but it gave me a lot of confidence, cos there was nobody to keep talking from my back, do this, do that, though its always good with senior pilot or an instructor, im not suggesting that fly without instructor, fly and do at least 15 to 20 flights with instructor, then u feel yourself yes, u can do it, perseverance, determination, and confidence are the keys to do this hobby. I crashed my mustang though, it was my wife's so loving gift to me, but my determination got more strong, yes, I can fly it and I would fly, it was some fault of receiver, as after a sharp left drag plane didnt respond and took a nose dive it happened while it took off nicely after having done 2 successful solo flights and landing, things do happen its a part of hobby, but what I suggest its your inside's will power which drives u to get confidence alongwith SAFETY ALWAYS, and u get going. I dont know about others experience, and I haven't stopped flying on simulator as for the past 2 months, Im waiting for the crystal which is not available in little limited market, hopefully in june, im gonna get this crystal for my new electron 6 hitec's dual conversion receiver, and gonna fly my trainer again. I would continue to fly with trainer, and hopefully next year I would go for my 2nd plane. I hope I didnt make anybody bored in here .

All the best to you Trey, and all, and have safe flying without crash,

Mody

VW,

I suppose it's natural for students to be concerned about the time required to solo. But, like others have said....there isn't a set number of hours or flights. It may depend on how seriously your instructor takes your skill. That is, the more seriously he takes your abilities, the longer it will take you to "solo".

I think most instructors will tell you that they've had students who soloed after a few sessions (simulators are a great advantage) and other students that require a good deal longer to get "signed-off". I had a student that required a year of once-a-week sessions.

Along these lines, it ought to be mentioned that students who loose interest or enthusiasm for the hobby ought to discuss it with their instructor. The last thing one ought to do is waste the instuctor's time and their's by half heartedly going through the motions...not wanting to hurt or offend their instructor's feelings. At any rate, most instructors do what they do for the good of the sport and their students....so they are due some respect for the time they spend on the buddy box.

Back to the thread's topic: I generally don't place as much emphasis on time logged as on the amount of fuel expended. For instance....if a student is able to maintain an average of one flying session (4 or 5 dual instruction flights) per week they ought to be fairly skilled after three (and some odd) gallons of fuel burned by their .40 size trainer.

"Fairly" skilled means safe, competent and able to perform basic manuvers and consistantly make "smooth" landings. In other words, demonstrate they have the skills that put other club pilots at ease when shareing the flightline.

BTW, not usally mentioned in such threads, but important is the age of the student pilot. Young people learn fast. For whatever reason, senior students require a bit more time. It's a consideration that has a strong bearing on the length of time required to "certify".

Thanks for the replies everyone.

It seems as though there is a wide spectrum of time for this, and I figured there would be. Right now, I'm taking my time, and trying to to overload myself on learning this. I want to make sure I am learning everything correctly, and retaining it. I also really enjoy watching others fly, and I will stand there, acting like I am controlling their plane, and mimic their movements. I dont know if that really helps or not, but at least it makes me look odd. I am almost 27 years old, so I still have a young brain, for the most part.

Thanks again!

trey

Anytime you are thinking about flying and the things it takes to make a plane do what you want it to do, you are learning and training your responses. If I could just teach my fingers to hit the correct keys on this computer it would help me> Oops, see did it again. [:@]

VW,

It will also depend greatly on your definition (or your instructors) of solo requirements. I know that if RCKen was my instructor and his requirements I may still be in training. I learned on a NextStar and "solo'd" in two months. However, the requirement at our club was to basically to show you could control the plane. Takeoff in a straight line with a gradual ascent. Perform LH and RH turns without losing or gaining altitude. "Reasonable" figure 8's and greased landings. I have not yet tried inverted flight on my trainer, but rather am doing this on SPAD's and now my Twist. (I want to keep the trainer intact for my son).

Take your time and enjoy. There is no race to the finish line, in fact there is no finish line. Being able to solo is just the first of many milestones in learning R/C.

Rob

My brother and I solo on the 1st flight if you will. We taught ourselfs how to fly. We learned using the Multiplex EasyStar. What a great training airplane. Althought we climbed many a trees, we finnally really got fairly good after about a month of weekend flying. We still stick our tongues out every now and then when the plane is in a turn coming towards us. Good Luck!
chopper man

I soloed my second time flying. Of course I had grown up racing R/C Boats and driving cars all my life, but still moving into a 3D territory was something new. The first flight I did 8-9 laps around a quater mile track and when I had to come in to land a gust of wind blew the plane over and I had no way of correcting since I only had rudder and elevators. After that flight I soloed because I installed an Aileron servo and now I had control of roll. Been lots of fun ever since!

My total instruction consisted of a zoom up a hi-start for sailplanes. I've been flying free flight and u-control for many, many years but this was my first venture into RC. I asked one of the pilots at the field how it was supposed to work. He took my TX as I stretched out the hi-start and let it go when he said to do so. About halfway up the hi-start he handed me the TX and said "That's all there is to it". I soloed on my first trip to the slope soaring site because I had to. Having been modeling for some years I stumbled around the sky and came in for a pretty decent landing. Never saw my "instructor" again. Went back on a week day when no others were around and flew a couple of flights, caught a thermal and had to chase the thing for a mile becaue I didn't know how to get it back, but it was still in one piece. Then I decided that power was the answer. I'm still an intermediate pilot and usually spend some time on the buddy box and it's been thirty years since my ? solo. I found the biggest problem is time on the sticks. When I don't fly for a few weeks it's like starting all over again.

trey... It's what most said above.... Don't worry about the time it takes.. Instead always
try to come away from a training session with something new to add to your learning
process.. If you feel to nervious, step back for a bit, breathing real good.. Then try
again... Sometimes people try to do what others have done, and it can slow your progress,
take it at your speed, enjoy it.. And what I think is more important, Get in as many flights
as you can and then some... A good instructor and sources of info is key, then it's stick time,
be it at the field training, watching and talking with others or on a flt. sim... JMO.....
Have fun and be safe is the main thing.......

I pacticed on the G3 for 5 months almost every night before my first flight and the guy said I did so well that he took up his 70 inch war bird and handed me the.controller, I must say the Sim took a lot of presure off me. I have yet to solo but it wont be long.

Happy Flying, Dave Trimmer

It varies a lot with everyone. I think age can be a factor in some cases too. I know of an older guy who took almost 3 years to solo. Take me and my dad for instance, we both started flying at the same time with no prior experience, I was 15 and he was 52. We went out once a week and got 1, maybe 2 flights in a piece. I soloed by the end of the month, and he still hasn't soloed after a year. He's going to be waiting a bit too, because he just had a midair. I personally think my dad flew into the other guy, but they were both out of the pattern and at fault. Another thing that helped me solo so fast was the simulator. It's really IMO the first thing you should invest in. It's even helping me practice 3D and more advanced things now, so you can never really outgrow it. Not to mention it's more fun than most video games I own.

I'll agree with pudding on this about the age. I am 45 y/o. It took me 4 months flying 4-5 times a week with 4-5 flights each time. My 12 y/o son solo'd in about 1 month flying each time I did the last of those 4 months. Now he is way ahead of me in all aspects of flying

My first flight was my fist solo. I'm 16, so I guess I can catch on to things a lot easier. It just kinda clicked with me.

I, also, went the route of the simulator (G2). I practiced on the simulator while building my LT40. Took it out to the field, the instructor made one flight to trim it, then he "buddy boxed" me, but never had to take over, and then we unhooked and I made a flight on my own. That simulator is the best $200 I've ever spent, except for the engagement I bought back in 1961. Glen

I think it has less to do with age and more to do with how many hours spent playing video games