I just flew my new Cox Electra cub electric trainer this morning, its a two channel, elevation and rudder control. The first three hand tosses, the plane just nose dove into the ground about ten feet away from me. Each time I had to put the rudder back on. Battery fully charged and everything working right.

Ready to give up, I decided to give it one last strong hand launch. This time the plane dropped again, looked like it was going to hit the ground again, but leveled out about a foot from the ground and began to elevate. Once in the air, the plane flew great, and was very easy to control. This is the first beginner plane I've flown with a rudder, and I was very impressed. The other plane I own is a two engine electric. I flew it for a few minutes, than while attempting to land, crashed it, but just minor repairable damage.

My question is, there was absolutely no wind today. I'm wondering if with a slight wind, the plane would have been easier to hand lauch. Any one else have this type of experience with a hand launched electric trainer, or any advice I would appreciate it. The directions say only to fly in winds less than 10 mph. Thanks for any input.

Tiny bit of wind may have helped but it sounds like you needed more up elevator trim, needed to throw it a touch harder and needed to get your hand on the stick to control it faster, or is it a one channel with only rudder? Then you needed to throw it harder.

Maybe it is only a one channel, the left stick controls only the throttle, and the right stick controls the rudder. I just figured two control functions, two channels. I'm still learning. Before the last toss, I did manually give the tail some up elevation, but as hard as the plane hit the deck on the first three tosses, I didn't think this would help much, if at all. ( Maybe it did work ). Anyway I will launch it in a little more wind next time.

Thanks for the tips, now I just got to figure out how to land it without crashing.

Thats tough with no elevator. Easier to learn on a fully functional plane with 4 channels. You need to land with power so you have some control of speed. Add just a touch of power to get the nose to come up as the wheels touch, shut it down.

The other thing you can do is lock the throttle open and use the other stick to control the elevator.

It almost does seem that landing would be easier with a heavier, plane where you can control speed and power while you are coming down for a smooth landing. Its hit or miss with the planes I have. Sometimes I have to just let it soar down because it climbs so high. Then trying to land it into the wind is tough because I'm just trying to steer it into the wind with no power. MY planes are so light. The only time I'll have a smooth landing is when the battery is so weak and dying, that the plane is slowly descending, but still with some power. Then I can just steer it into the wind right onto the ground. Its tough to actually practice landing with a battery that is still strong, I usually end in a crash.

If its easier with a 4 - channel plane, would it be wise to try to teach yourself on one of those with no instruction, or even simulator time. I'm sure its not recommended, but it almost seems like it would be easier to fly, and land, once you get the controls down. Thanks.

I will be much easier and cheaper if you find a club and instructor to help you learn all the skills needed to fly. Besides that you will make lots of new friends!! Welcome to the addiction/hobby!

Unfortunately, the two planes you have aren't very indicative of radio control. They're both underpowered and have minimal control.

While a 4 channel glow trainer might be a bit easier to fly because of additional control, it will also be MUCH more difficult for the same reason. More controls to deal with = more confusion if you haven't done it.

You can't be more than 45 minutes from a club at the very most . And that's assuming there aren't any clubs closer to you than the ones I know of in east/central MA. I'm sure there's a club within 20 minutes of you though.

Did you check the AMA link someone gave you in another thread?

Oh, and you were correct in assuming two channels; throttle and rudder. The idea is to control altitude (elevation as you called it) with throttle. Trimming the elevator for a little "up" as you did before your third throw made all the difference. (It doesn't take much "trim" to make a big difference.)
Dennis-

I am only 30 minutes from a club that was recommended to me. I do plan on eventually attending a meeting, and getting instruction. Most likely before the summer ends. I'm having a great time with the two planes I have now, but I'm sure they will eventually get boring and I'll move on to bigger and better. How many lessons does a person on average usually attend before they can go solo? Thanks, Tim

It doesn't matter how many, when the instructor pulls the cord and gives it to you, you'll have butterflies!

Try not to throw it as hard.

From my experience, "average" is somewhere around 15 to 20 sessions. I've seen guys solo in 3 or 4, and I've seen guys "on the cord" for 40 or 50, and still not be close.
Dennis-