Iknow it sounds like a dumb question but it came to my mind when Isaw a picture of a guywho started like 8 months after I started to fly, in that picture he is holding a gasser Extra 300... man Ihave been flaying for arround 3 years and I'm barelly planing on getting my third plane! I know it is pretty relative to tell how long it takes to learn to fly, but I'm sure that if Ican fly a giant scale plane, Ican't say that I actually know how to fly. like a buddy from my club says, "it doesn't make you a good pilot to make a lot of stunts, what do makes you a real good pilot, is to know what to do when those stunts go wrong".

you know what Imean?

Personally I am always exploring new things in the hobby so, while I've learned a great deal and possibly even gotten very proficient at some things over the years, in a sense I am a perpetual beginner at some aspect of flying. That keeps it from getting boring though.

I started flying RC in '73 and am still learning new things. I am not an expert. What do I fly? .40 to .90 size sport planes, semi scale, and a couple of trainers. A gasser Extra 300 no more makes you an expert than flying a Sig Kadet Senior once in a while makes me a rank beginner. Fly what you want (and can afford), not what others are flying.

Bruce

"Fly what you want (and can afford), not what others are flying."

Well said Bruce!

The fact is that each individual pilot's proficiency progresses at a different rate. A great deal of one's progress is determined by how much you demand of yourself and the amount of practice. Many students want to move up too fast as soon as they solo perhaps taking on too much airplane too quickly often ending up in trouble. Personally I am always trying to improve my skills and am presently learning to fly pattern (just a beginner flying the basic level) which requires a great deal of practice and discipline to fly well. Its all in the journey which is a great deal of the satisfaction and enjoyment of our hobby/sport. Comparing yourself to others is not always prudent. Quoting form the Dirty Harry movie " A mans got to know his limitations" and its a good idea to remain within them until your personal skill level improves.

if you have to ask you are.Basically you know your limits beter than anybody.It is never about the amount of planes one has it is about how you fly what you have that counts.windy weather cross wind take off and landings,dead sticks no problem.

well I guess you guys are correct, I like to take it slow with this hobby, maybe it is because I can't buy a plane every weekend!!! hahahahaaha

When you stop crashing? Just kidding. Even though everyone says I'm not a beginner, I feel I'll always be a beginner and will always be learning.

Pete

You're no longer a beginner when people ask you for help, then you are a novice flyer. You are no longer a novice when people stop flying to watch you fly, then you are a expert.

RC pilots only stop crashing when they are dead

Tuesday March 11, 2010, 9:22 am

I generally quit calling people beginners after they have soloed. After that I just tend to see people with different degrees of money, talent, skill, experience and proficiency.
As for the big gasser guy. Just remember that most of those gassers (if set up mild) are easier to fly than a 4-Star.

Cheers.

I've trained quite a few people to fly over the years so I've been asked this question quite a bit. It's really a tough one to quantify. Kind of like saying "what is soft". But, I have come up with a definition that I give most of my students, as well as others I see starting out, and I feel that it's a pretty good yardstick.

"When you quit thinking about having to do the basics. "

So, what exactly do I mean on that one?? Exactly what I say. Think about what happens when you are training. Just think about your ailerons being reversed. You move the stick one way and say to yourself, "oh crap, I meant to go the other way". So when you start moving the sticks without having to think which way is the right way to go.

Also, when you start recovering the plane from bad situations without having to think about it. Same thing.

These things usually happen without you even noticing it. Just one day it happens, you start flying without thinking. When this day comes differs for every pilot. Some hit in a few days to weeks, while others may take months or years.

There's some food for thought!!!

Ken

When you can do the opposite of what other's tell you not to such as, taking off and landing on thedownwind, like I do 100% of the time without crashing. When you can fly a full tank with any airplane inverted until it runs out of fuel and do an emergency landing. When you can do 5 to 10 maidens in 1 day like I have, you can say to yourself that you are no longer a BEGINNER.

Take your time and the rest will fall in place, no need to hurry...

When the bruising stops on the insides of you knees because your legs have stopped shaking that badly

When you get the admiration of old flyers
because you know how to land. Flight after
flight after flight. Never stop flying the Plane Period.

Bob

I kinda figure it's when you are truly in control of the airplane. That's not terribly proficient, more like a basic skill set. When the airplane is doing what you want it to do, even in wind, you're not a beginner anymore. That's when you can actually be trusted at the airfield and start bringing planes back home in the same condition that they left in.

when you can make critical decisions on your own.... for example a dead stick, flight control failure, etc... you dont panic or try to get some one else to take over. There are many different point of views.... in RC planes i dont consider my self a beginner, and know more than enough to actually give some good advice, but am still learning from the old timers, and i am far from being a master/expert

For me, the way to keep this hobby fresh is to always look for new ways to become a beginner.

I think Jester and Metallica have the best points. If you are practicing good throttle management, know how to use the rudder properly, and can fly at least a Sig Four-Star, Tiger 2, or similar plane comfortably, and can handle engine failures and stalls while remaining calm without having to think through your procedures, that indicates an intermediate skill level. It means that you have control of the plane; it's not controlling you.

NorfolkSouthern

When the oldtimers start sending the new guys to you . lol

When you are flying other peoples airplanes for them more than you fly your own.

LOL ...Guess i will always be a beginner! That happens the first fight of the day for me, everytime.

When others fly with you instead of sitting in chairs or running for cover...lol

I figure it this way.......the biggest difference between a beginner and the other guy is ego. Just my .01

Or, in my case, they stop flying so they can take cover.

I'm pretty sure I'm only an expert at crashing.........