Hi Everyone,
When the plane is coming toward you, how do you overcome that instinctive reaction of turning the wrong way? I've been mentally fighting this for a some time now. and seriously thinking of a flight sim to help. I was almost a G2 man, now swaying towards Aerofly Pro. Either one I'm sure would help my dyslectic behavior at the field.
Thanks guys
Al

an instructor should really help you at your flying field to master this 101 basic rule!

My tip on how to fight this is: focus on the wings and always move the aileron radio stick in the direction in which the wing-tip drops.

A sim will sure help a lot but at the field a little trick when flying to you I used to sortof turn around or sort of sidways and look at the plane over your shoulder and it comes natural.

Dauntae

get an RC car and practice up and down the road, i also try and fly from sitting in the plane, it may sound a bit Zen but i try and fly the plane from the plane perspective, sort of BE the plane.

aileron to the low wing when the plane is coming toward you. practice by facing with the plane and looking over your shoulder then your controls will be right but if that is not possible for whatever reason then aileron to the low wing .

Highlander

A very simple learning device that works every time with out a lot of thought. Just always try to prop up the low wing with the stick.

John

I teach (and sometimes even use) the "look over the shoulder" technique.

I use a combination of Woodsy and MinnFlyer. Even turning 45º makes a huge difference in getting the mind and thumbs together. I also try to become the plane. It does sound a little farsical, but it's true. A fellow named Byron Furgeson wrote a book on instinctive archery shooting called "Become the Arrow" and a lot of the same principles apply to RC flight. You should be flying a little ahead of your plane anyway, anticipating instead of reacting.

Above all else: practice, practice, practice.

Thanks gents,once we get some decent flying weather around here I'll try your recommendations.
Cheers Al

My favorite method is to turn your body and point the antenna in the direction you want the plane to fly. It's kinda like turning around and looking over your shoulder but you don't have to turn as far.

I think this is one of the best things a simulator can help you with, even if its the Free version of FMS. You might look into one...


When it's coming towards you, you move the stick towards the wing you want to raise. If your flying and the airplane is banking left, with the left wing down... (facing the airplane) you move the stick towards the wing that is down or right.

Nothing beats practice and before long you won't even have to think about it... it'll come as natural as wanting to give that guy the middle finger after he cuts you off on the interstate.

You guys have been a great help, thanks alot.
I really appreciate your support and the sharing of your ideas in all areas of this great hobby.
I better stop before I start to cry!!!
Cheers Al

"stick to the low wing" will become automatic

It really does come with a little practice. I used the "stick under the low wing" method to learn. I asked an experienced pilot once how it could ever become automatic. He asked me if I could drive my car with my hand on the bottom of the steering wheel. Of course I could, what a silly question. He pointed out that if your hand is on the bottom of the steering wheel, to turn right you have to move your hand to the left. We all do it everyday without thinking about it. Pretty soon, flying a plane becomes just as automatic. I promise!

Sorry, double post.

OOPS! Server was timing out on me, so I reposted a couple times. Third time was the charm, but they were all there!

I tend not to practice turning your back on the plane unless you just can't get the thing. It builds bad habbits. If you do that, don't do it long. Learn that when it is coming at you, move the stick to the low wing. It will be better in the long run for you. I had one guy that insisted on turning his back on the plane, and he never stopped.

As with any issue, there are many 'solutions'

I prefer to mentally place myself in the cockpit, this is the end result of the looking over the shoulder, pointing antenna technique MinnFLyer and others are aluding to.... eventually you lose the need to physically move.

IMHO, the 'prop the low wing' is a shortcut to a bad habit that you will have to overcome as your flying progresses. Eventually you'll be flying rolling circles etc, where shortcuts will get you in trouble. For example, what shortcut will you use for rudder while inverted? Coming at you? Going away? The 'elevator works backwards; shortcut to inverted is another shortcut that will bite you someday.

As always... JMHO, YMMV

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Jim_McIntyre [B] As with any issue, there are many 'solutions'
I prefer to mentally place myself in the cockpit, this is the end result of the looking over the shoulder, pointing antenna technique MinnFLyer and others are aluding to....
IMHO, the 'prop the low wing' is a shortcut to a bad habit that you will have to overcome as your flying progresses. Will bite you someday.


Indeed Jim, I to agree that virtually all learning devices can and will lead to 'bad habits' and will do just that if taken out of context to advanced manuvers such as the rolling circle you mention which is a manuver that my tired thumbs still do but also teach not only in aerobatic aircraft but trainers as well. However since this is the beginners forum and the context is the first few flights Learning devices are in fact a good thing. Both the back to the airplane as well as the stick to the low side or prop up the low side with the stick (this one does seem the simplest one to grasp for the intial flights) are far more effective than the rather vague and subjective 'visualize yourself in the cockpit'. The visualize thing is actually where all methods do arrive at however the initial 'devices' do arrive there just a bit sooner.

Learning devices have been very successfully used in all of aviation including full scale since the begining and indeed may not work when taken out of context.

All of the above is entirely 'just my opinion' of course.


John
Don,t forget now----Righty tighty*lefty loosey

I know this is somewhat off topic, and asked a million times before, but is what is the best bang for your buck, G2 or Aerofly?
Especially for someone like me just learning to fly.

Al

It's tough to think back that long ago but I haft to agree with all who use the method of moving the stick toward the down wing tip. This above all others help me during my first flights

I'm a relative newbie too, and was told to push the low wing up with the right stick as well. That was usefull for about 8 flights, and then almost in an instant, I didn't have to think about which way to move the sticks. I don't know how to 'splain it, but the brain has a remarkable way of making some tasks instinctive if you practice enough. My instructor actually would start up a conversation about something totally out of left field while we were buddy-boxing. He said he was trying to get me to stop thinking about flying so that I could fly.

Stick towards the drooping wing

also:-

Keep moving the stick a little and watch what the plane does. That is, make it twitch very slightly. Then, when you need to make an adjustment, when, say, landing, it won't come as a surprise which way to move the stick.

Does that make any sense the way I wrote it?

Incidentally that method also works great if you are reversing a trailer hitched to a car, or an articulated truck.

David C.

Different philosophies... Having been taught many "learning devices" (especially for guitar) ... I wish I hadn't.

I've taught/teach many subjects (swimming, guitar, electronics, software design, flying), I comprehend that people learn in differnt ways and have different goals. I've developed the philosophy that the correct method is always preferrable to short cuts. It may take a little longer but, later progress is not hampered by the much more cumbersome 'un-learning' process, particularly where 'motor skills' are involved.

Not trying to be argumentative here, I just feel that students ought to be well informed of the true cost of short cuts so they can make their own decision.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Jim_McIntyre
Different philosophies... Having been taught many "learning devices" (especially for guitar) ... I wish I hadn't.

I've taught/teach many subjects (swimming, guitar, electronics, software design, flying), I comprehend that people learn in differnt ways and have different goals. I've developed the philosophy that the correct method is always preferrable to short cuts. It may take a little longer but, later progress is not hampered by the much more cumbersome 'un-learning' process, particularly where 'motor skills' are involved.

Not trying to be argumentative here, I just feel that students ought to be well informed of the true cost of short cuts so they can make their own decision. [/QUOTE

I absolutely agree, which is why I reckon 'looking over your shoulder' to fly a model towards you might work, but is teaching the wrong thing and putting off the inevitable time when the orientation has got to be learned, and embedded in the reflexes.

Being a guitarist you will recognize 'finger memory', I'm sure.

When I try to form chord quickly without a guitar in my hands I find it difficult, (because I am thinking about it, I suppose) but when my fingers are on the guitar neck it happens without me thinking. (sometimes!!).

This reflex can only be learned with practice. The only way, in the end, to stop a model plummeting uncontrollably is to have corrected an undesirable movement (say, when a snap occurs without meaning to) before you realize it has happened.

The good news is that a simulator like G2 does teach the right things and is very effective at implanting these reflexes.

My 2c (p) worth!

David C.