Hello to all the Beginners and expert and intermidiate RC Flyers out there, My son and I have been flying For about a Year now and would consider ourselfs not beginners but Amitures. As he says not begineers but fliers with some relative experience in flying. So When do we consider ourselves Expert fliers. So were curious how are the ranks judged? I'm sure this is going to be a fun post casue there are going to be alot of opions on what makes an Expert. Is an expert someone who flies his plane a number of consecutive times without crashing? Or maybe its ranked like an ace of world war II were a number of consecutive kills make the pilot an ace. In another words how do you get from level 1 to level 2 and so On. Or will this just be another one of those lame post that no one has any input on.[]

HMM, if it goes by number of kills I must be getting pretty close.

Expert is a relative term as you alluded and hard to define within our hobby IMO. Am I an expert? NO!! I am just fortunate to have been around for a while. I consider myself a veteran of the hobby. I'd be more of an Expert if I had a fatter wallet though or more time to be involved. It takes both it seems.

BTW - now accepting contributions to my wallet fund. PM for donation instructions.

Ok, I'll jump in on this one,

My 3 requirements to attain expert status,

1. The ability to maiden any plane at any time without fear.
2. To be an instructor, that is also a good teacher, being able to teach ground skills as well as flight skills.
3. Able to fly safely and without fear in front of crowds.

I hope everyone jumps in, this will be interesting.

Well, Hi linkadrip,

Honestly speaking, its a very good thread cos, I myself have been thinking about it that how you would enter into the rank of intermediate pilot from beginner and from intermediate pilot to an expert. I'm myself have been flying for little more than 1 and 1/2 years and my senior flying friend who is also a plane builder gives me all his planes to fly, I always land them nicely, without a crash, yes I did crash my plane due to engine failure all my planes crashed due to some problem, mechanical or electronical, not human error.

As I feel myself that I'm ready for a 3rd sport plane, fast which I love and 60 to 90 size one, prolly I'd go for 60 size. How one can be judged that he is a beginner, intermediate or an expert pilot. Naturally you must be a member of a club, and there would be some most senior flyers, instructors and trainers around, they should see you flying and your son, and let you do some maneuvers upon that they'd be able to decide in which category of pilot you fall, and ofcourse there are some sort of Tests like I think in USA, Test A or B, thats the only way one can be judged by others, self-judgement satisfies you, just like it does to me, but it won't make you assign yourself the category of pilot. Well, don't be discouraged, I wish you all the best, and I'm sure sooner you and your son are going to be called intermediate flyers My Best wishes to you both

Mody

I believe the Expert to be the guy that knows, he does`nt know it all, and is not afraid to ask.

Having never been a Bert. I think it's safe to say that I'll never be an ex-Bert.



I find it interesting that of those people that I have considerd to have superior knowledge and skill, none of them has ever considered themselves an expert. Yet I have met several who will bend any hear within range, spouting their knowledge and skills, yet will seldom prove them.

i think it is a total amount of opinion,[8D]

Well thanks everyone all answers are great i think. Definetly is intresting on what others think about this. And i'm sure there are alot that are curious about it. Gunfighter has some good points and also being judged buy an instructor and some sort of tests sounds intresting too. But theres no discouragment here at all i'm gonna fly and have fun that is what its all about.
I kinda started this post also cause i HAve a CMPro Lancair 60 that i'm building.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/product_gu...fm?kit_id=4375

Have been given the advise that i would have to be an EXPert to fly this plane. When it states that the Flying skill for this plane is Intermediate. Still gonna build it and fly it. most likely will use flaperons on landings just cause of the stuff i have read up on it about tip stalling at slower speeds and landing must be performed Hot.

So Becoming an Expert to fly the plane seems a bit harsh.IMO

I agree with you a 100% and it don`t take and Expert to have fun.

I Think it is up to your peers to give that label out. If they say you are then so be it. It just seems to me to odd to assign a label such as that to ones self. I have been flying since 1990. I have nearly 18 years in the hobby am I an expert?? I guess If YOU say so but for me, I feel comfortable building and flying nearly everything on the market excluding turbines. In that case I've never even approached the speeds that they reach. I.ve flown a Q500 with a really hot .46 on it, it wouldn't turn much below 80 with out snapping in to the ground. poor wing design i guess. I don't fly 3D and im not a master modeler. So how do I fit in?? well you can put me in what ever box you wish and on weekends I'll be at the field having fun.
I suggest you are in the same box

EX ... a has been and SPURT...a drip, LOL its a VERY old joke!

well maybe its someone who has made all the usual mistakes but never more than twice???[] and if there not willing to instruct????

I would ahve no fear if its not my plane

I think gunfighterII hit it right on the money.

Uh, ya kinda changing the rules mid-stream here.
First you ask what makes an "expert" and now you're relating that to "Expert flying skills". There is a difference here. A person who is an EXPERT with a trainer is not an EXPERT with a Jet or an EXPERT at 3D and not necessarily an EXPERT builder or an EXPERT with the ladies.

BTW - there are very-very few people who can rightfully claim to maiden ANY plane without being nervous.

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

LOL!!! Good one jetmech. You must work in aviation.

I think the amount of fear involved in a maiden has more to do with how deep someones wallet is than it does with how good a pilot they are. I know thats how I think.

i think its a state of mind, just like growing up to become mature is just a state of mind. those people who tell us what to fly and how to fly it, and also tell us we cant fly it because were not an expert are just ego maniacs who wishfully think they are better than everyone else.

also reminds me of high school, you have your jocks, you have your nerds, you have your Goths, you have your skaters, your preppys, your gangsters etc. thats the way the world is divided into different sterotypes,

in other words its hard to put a price on ones head.

Not sure what Goths are , But when I was in High School you had your A-1s and fortunate sons.

An expert is someone who is totally competent, nothing more, nothing less.

modern Goths-dark makeup, black clothes,heavy death metal music.
origonal Goths-fought with and against the Romans around the first centuryA.D.or so.
Expert-not the guy who struts around the field telling everyone what he/she thinks about your plane,usually it's the guy who has the nice hangar and fly's with confidence and when asked for help gives sound and proper advice when needed.

The original post asked Actually, if you have expertise in some subject, say, structural dynamics, or neurosurgery, people ask you to solve problems they can't solve. There are levels of expertise, and some specialists will consult other specialists.

So, 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.

That's my opinion, which (along with $6.60) will get you coffee.
Dave Olson