THis is great LOL, I knew this would be an intresting subject. I think i like this one. When would the original poster consider himself an expert? When people come to you, ask you to solve problems they can't solve, and you solve them. Sounds Good but Still there has to more to it.
This one is definetly one to go buy. expert lets break this word down to get a good idea what it takes to an "expert"
ex........a has been
spert....drip under pressure
watch out for anyone in this hobby that calls himself an expert yes i would definetly have to agree there casue no one is perfect and we all make mistakes. But all of the Opions are good in there own way it is very intresting to see, How others feel about this Label.

I once owned a 74 Vega GT made buy Chevy it was my first car i was 9 when my dad gave it to me and it was pretty worn out. Buy the time i was 16 i had completely rebuilt this car from top to bottom it didnt look like a Vega anymore more like a minuture camaro. I knew everything there was to know about the car its history and complete mechanical workings. there was nothing you couldnt ask me about this car that i ddint know. So in that sence i guess i was an expert On the Chevy Vegas of the early 70'S.

So i guess to become an expert RC aircraft flyer would be to vague. i would have to learn how to fly everything out there with confidence and precision skill in flying that particualr plane. I have never flown A CMP Lancair But i'm building the plane and will certainly be Nervous on its maiden flight casue of the time and effort i will have put into it construction, not to mention the Green paper i will have had to give out to make it a reality.

So Hmm how can anyone say you have to be an Expert to fly that plane, i have flown biplanes and of course trainers and helicopters but they dont count casue they dont fly like an airplane. Flown Low wing war planes such as the Spitfire and P-51, and it seems to me they all have ther own characteristics in flight and from what i have learned with each one is that the basics of flight apply to all of them. But you have to learn there characteristics. kinda like the old car that no one can start but you cause you know what its character is how many times to pump the gas and get it to turn over and fire up, there fore making you the expert on startig that car.lol

I have probably gone way to deep into the realm of what makes an expert.

having, involving, or displaying special skill or knowledge derived from training or experience

EXPERIENCE-direct observation of or participation in events as a basis of knowledge , the fact or state of having been affected by or gained knowledge through direct observation or participation. Or practical knowledge, skill, or practice derived from direct observation of or participation in events in a particular activity.

So does this mean i could watch some one who is experienced in flying of the lancair, fly the plane and gain experience from it.

LOve all the differnet opions on the subject WHAT MAKES AN EXPERT.

goths are like hard core rocker types who were all black etc, technicaly there not goths because they dont beleive in the goth religoin. or emo or whatever you want to call them i am realy not sure because i have yet to be put in a stereotype.

i think right there, in the description it says the only way to get any better is to try new things.

An interesting topic and it made me think.

No one knows everything or can do everything. An expert has expertise which is defined as .

A useful definition might be someone who knows more than you do about something.

There are some self proclaimed experts who are dangerous [ most clubs have at least one ] and some experts will be reluctant to be recognised as such.

One definition mentioned earlier in this thread related to giving any aircraft it's first flight in any conditions. I would consider someone to be more expert if they refused to do this.

Expert is defined as follows: An ex is a has been; a spurt is a drip under pressure.

Link,
Go for the Lancair, nobody should ever say you need to be an expert to fly anything. You have to be the judge of your confidence and ability's, not someone else.

How on earth did the Goth's get into this conversation, I have to agree that they are experts at being strange.[sm=bananahead.gif]

Mr Moderator,
At no time did I ever say in any conditions, a beginner should be able to distinguish when conditions are unfavorable.

An expert is a title given to somebody by the people not by the individual himself. Any expert will never claim the title just live upto it. I would say an expert is somebody who is admired for thier abilities and judgement.

You seem to have the word "amateur" confused with "beginner". { Amateur<Fr. lover<L. amator, to love.} We are all amateurs regardless of our expertese. Very few of us are doing it for profit which would make us professionals.

Although I agree with gunfighters three items, I'll add a fourth to his list.

4.) An expert is always learning.

http://www.troybuiltmodels.com/AwesomePilot.htm

I fly with a pilot who I consider an expert. He has been in this hobby for over 35 years.
He does remakes of planes from plans in an attempt to remove the originals "bad habits"
I have seen him maiden numerous planes including mine with excellent results. He is
a successful instructor, and when anyone needs an opinion or answer to a problem
or question he is the first person that is asked.

I never see him start his engine before doing a control check or battery test.
Every maiden is delayed until an extensive ground check is done and the
aircraft deemed airworthy (this includes a check by a second person to
ensure nothing is missed).

He is a nationally ranked pattern pilot who sits on the AMA aerobatics board
He will always give you excellent answers even if he has to consult another expert.

And I have seen him at the field for 6 hours with his plane assembled and ready
but never flown because he was helping people all day and didn't get a chance to fly.

The Troybuiltmodels link is worth a look.

Lots of good pointers.

The "Experts" in this hobby spend the most money, have the most crashes... and know everything about anything. And they are quick to tell you how to do things, and know what you are doing wrong.


[sm=lol.gif]




Luftwaffe Oberst
Radio Aero Modelers Club
AMA District II
Pulaski, NY

Not sure what makes an expert exactly, but I know that it takes a lot of time & effort. I don't really think I would want to be an expert at any one thing. I'd rather be better than average at a lot of different things. Might miss out on other things that I could enjoy if I spend all of my time becoming an expert at one thing. Example, pattern flying, (and I am not knocking pattern flyers) to be able to perform the patterns takes A LOT of practice. In that same amount of time that I would be practicing patterns, I could be seeing if I can do an inverted flyby 6 - 10 feet off the ground, or maybe trying a 3-d plane, or trying to figure out exactly how to get a plane to do a lomchevak (I can't spell that for sheet or pull the manuever off yet either). That's my 2 cents, or maybe 1/2 a cent since I'm not an expert writer.

well some clubs have pilot rankongs determined by performing manuvers,here is an example from my club.


Concord Skyhawk's
Flight Proficiency Program
The following section describes the five levels which
make up the Concord Skyhawk's Flight Proficiency Program.
Level I is mandatory for all flying members to fly without an
instructor. Levels II, III, IV, and V are optional.
Flight tests are given by the flight committee and
are limited to two attempts per level per day. Advancement
between levels is limited to no more than one level per day.
When a member feels he or she is ready to advance to the
next level, that member should notify someone on the flight
committee so that a flight test can be arranged. A flight committee
member or club officer and one Level I club member
must be present for a flight test to be official.
If a level II, III, IV, or V test is not passed on the first
attempt, only those maneuvers that were not successfully completed
need to be repeated. If any portion of a Level I test is
done improperly, however, the entire test must be repeated.
Level I:
This level requires only a minimum amount of skill.
Its purpose is to demonstrate to the club that you are aware
of safety guidelines and to confirm that you have the ability
to maintain control of your aircraft through a variety of flight
and non-flight situations. Upon successful completion of
this level, the club will award you a set of wings at the next
scheduled meeting.
Level II:
The second level requires intermediate skill. Completing
this level shows that you have mastered the basics of RC
flight and can perform simple aerobatics. Upon successful
completion of this level, the club will award you a set of silver
wings at the next scheduled meeting.
Level III:
This level is for the intermediate to advanced flier who
is able to perform moderate aerobatics and has developed a
good sense of flight coordination. Upon successful completion
of this level, the club will award you a secondary level,
silver set of wings at the next scheduled meeting.
Level IV:
The fourth level is for the advanced flier who is able
to perform moderate aerobatics with well-defined and properly
executed maneuvers. Upon successful completion of this
level, members receive a secondary level, gold set of wings
at the next scheduled meeting.
Level V:
The final level is for the expert flier who not only has
the ability to perform difficult aerobatics and execute complex
maneuvers, but can do so with a reasonable amount of expertise
and finesse. Upon successful completion of this level,
members receive a gold bar at the next scheduled meeting.

The following is a brief description of maneuvers for each level. When you attempt to
pass a level, a flight committee member will coach you through each maneuver. If your
plane is not capable of performing the maneuvers in Level I, a trainer aircraft and radio
can be used.
Level I
1) Demonstrate proper range checking techniques and preflight checks.
2) Start engine and taxi to designated runway.
3) Taxi and perform double figure 8.
) Take off, climb out, turn away from pit, attain a comfortable altitude, maintain level
flight.
5) Execute left and right 90 turns.
6) Execute rectangular landing pattern, abort final approach.
7) Climb to altitude, stall, and recover.
8) Perform 2 touch and goes.
9) Climb to altitude, perform deadstick (or idle) acceptable landing.
Level II
) Perform steps , , & of Level I.
2) 180 turn.
) One inside loop.
) Split "S".
5) Immelman.
6) Traffic pattern approach and landing.
Level III
(Maneuvers should be recognizable, but don't have to be perfect.)
) Perform steps , , & of Level I.
) consecutive rolls.
3) Inverted flight, straight and level.
) Stall turn.
5) Cuban "8".
6) Traffic pattern approach and landing.
Level IV
(Maneuvers should be well-defined, i.e. "almost pattern".)
) Perform steps , , & of Level I.
) consecutive rolls.
3) Inverted flight, 360 around field maintaining constant altitude.
) Knife-edge
5) Square loop.
6) Snap roll.
7) Traffic pattern approach and landing.
Level V
(Maneuvers should sometimes cause "Oh wows" to issue forth from other pilots.)
) Perform steps , , & of Level I.
) Double Immelman.
) Four point roll.
) One outside loop.
5) Vertical figure "8".
6) Top Hat.
7) Traffic pattern approach and landing.
notice there is no expert ranking but each is tougher than the one before.you should be able to hudge yourself and see where you stand.the rest is just practice with a plane cabable of the manuevers