Okay, dumb question. I've got a new (well, it was new yesterday, but it suddenly got real old...) Firebird XL electric. First time flying. I hand launched it, and it flew straight and flat at about 6 ft off the ground for maybe 40-50 feet, then suddenly climbed at about a 45 degree angle. I *think* the throttle was at full the whole time, but since it was my first time flying my hands were in a world of their own. Anyway, I didn't want the plane getting too far away from me, so I made a hard turn and it nose dived. This happened a bunch of times, until the wing bands broke and my flight was over.

I'm thinking of putting the plane away for a while and getting the RealFlight simulator. Anyone have any suggestions? I tried adjusting the pitch of the tail per the directions to lower the climb rate, but that didn't seem to do much. I suppose I should have pulled back on the throttle when it started to climb, no?

Thanks.

I suggest you to join a club and ask for experimented modelers to assist you in your first flights

what happened is you "stalled" the plane. the rate of climb got to great, the speed dropped, and then the turn just added to the difficulty the wings were having keeping the thing up.

the firebirds will climb at level flight in a straight line. but in a turn they will stall if climbing... you have to back off the throttle (so it levels off) then proceed with your turn. during your turn you can then add throttle to keep the nose up (I also found that they turn better when the throttle is on due to the extra air over the controls.)

if you get into that situation again stop turning (or turn the opposite of what you are banked to level the wings) and add power... then when its about level back off the throttle or it will pitch up and stall. (if you get good enough to can enter a "spiral dive" to gain speed then give it throttle all the way around for a loop) dont try to turn to tight with these or any "fancy moves" until you get used to them as they are not aerobatic machines.

later on you will be bored and wanting a "full" RC plane, then I suggest you seek out an instructor for advice and training.

Thanks, but my concern was why did it suddenly go from level flight to a steep climb? It was doing fine, straight and level, then suddenly started climbing? This was all into the wind, so maybe it was just reacting to a gust? Same thing happened multiple times.

this is a very light bird, very sensible to wind gusts. If you fly it in unstable air, you must always be on your transmiter for corrections

Your elevator control needed to be trimmed for level flight. Go to a club and get some help, its worth the effort.

Try an L-T 40, they work more better. he haw

i can only concur with precedent post, buy a "serious trainer"
LT40 is the ticket to success

Why are you recommending a plane that is more likely to be damaged for a first timer? The LT-40 has the propeller in front, doesn't it? I chose the Firebird because it's more damage-resistant, no?

But I don't recommend G2 for your airplane.

Try Cockpit Master Backyard Edition, it is more geared towards electrics.

I think if you try it for a while and go out on a calm day you can probably handle the Firebird.

However, if you try a club you won't be sorry. I tried it alone with a Merlin (and CM BE) and was successful after a while. However, I have had much more fun since joining a club.

Cheers

I think the main goal is learn to fly, not survive to crashes
planes like lt40 are excelent trainers, forgiving a lot, very stable and also a good plane to learn the first basics of aerobatic flight.
It's also a strong plane, all wood (so easy to repair)
when flown in a club with the assistance of an instructor, there will be no problems.
when flown alone a lt40 is a very dangerous plane who can kill a beginer.
It's important to learn the basics of SAFETY also
the first rule of RC flying is "don't start alone"

I know several people who have started out with 40 size trainers and proper instruction without ever having the first crash.
It would be almost certain failure to try to fly alone.
IN MY OPINION, even after you have mastered one of those feather light things, youd still have no buisiness trying to fly a real model aircraft without an instructor.
Also, IN MY OPINION, they do not in any respect fly like a real model aircraft, so, you could never expect to enjoy the hobby the way you can with a glow or gas model.
Please dont take offence, just one persons opinion.
Have fun at whatever you do!

No offense at all !! I was unaware that the foam electric planes are significantly different from the gas/glow balsa/whatever planes. I figured they were both similar weights and handling. So are you saying that the foam electrics are actually more difficult to learn on than the others because of their light weight?

I speak from experience with the Firebird XL....a proper trainer is MUCH easier to fly! I spent so much time trying to figure out what was going on with that silly foam thing that I became frustrated. The first flights with my Eagle II were a revelation!

Stop wasting time and money on your Firebird and start spending it at your local flying field. Even if you can't afford a trainer right now, I'd bet you can find an instructor with a trainer willing to give you an "orientation" flight or two for nothing.

Right on David!

That airplane has no elevator. Pitch can only be controlled somewhat with throttle. The 'V' tail ruddervators only function as rudder and only one side at a time only goes up so any rudder imput is also followed by pitchup.

This little airplane is flown like no conventional RC airplane and therefore makes a very poor trainer indeed. Do follow David Moens advise if you really intend to succeed.

Come out to my field and you can see what real planes are like . While you're there you can fly the club trainer with an instructor. I'm not trying to knock your Firebird but they don't fly like larger, glow powered planes. If you're serious about flying planes it would behoove you to take a trip out to a club and look around and ask questions. You won't be disappointed.

This is great advice, especially if you've already made contact with someone there.

One orientation flight with a gas trainer will tell you much of what you might want to know.

However, I find it frustrating to here people use the term "real airplane". After all, he already has the Firebird which implies he or someone already put out the cash for it.

If you go to Ezone at

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/forum...?s=&forumid=11

You'll get electric-oriented advice.

I have both park flyers and an LT-40, and they both have unique aspects (plus and minus) to flying them.

Good luck...

GB

I for one, do not mean to slam park-flyers as a genre, but I'm sorry the Firebird is a pathetic excuse for an airplane! I bought one, crashed it a few times, bought some parts for it, crashed it some more and finally shelved it. It had one flight that lasted more than 30 seconds. A complete waste of money. If I went insane and bought another one, I'd get one of the ones that at least had proper elevators and a rudder.

a very good park flyer is the small SIG RASCAL
I own one and like to make one flight when coming back from work on evening and that i have no time to go to the field.
a soccer place is more than enough.