Flying Sitting Down ?
 

I took notice That when I fly the simulator I am sitting on a easy chair or a swivel chair with arm rest. And my flying is better .
Is this something I want to try at the field ?

RE: Flying Sitting Down ?
 

Give it a try, you may really like it. I have problems standing for 10-15 minutes at once. I sit on an old steel shop stool to fly. It does not swivel but that would be nice.

RE: Flying Sitting Down ?
 

Serveral folks I've known used to fly sailplanes sitting in lawn chairs. Very relaxing until you find someone that tries it that flys with body language. One gent fell out of his chair and almost lost his plane.

RE: Flying Sitting Down ?
 

I've seen flying lawn mowers, flying witches, flying dog houses, but I've never seen a flying simulator.

I guess as long as it balances out ok, I'd go for it! And bring your swivel chair too.

Is this flying simulator gas or electric? :)

big dan

RE: Flying Sitting Down ?
 

I personally like to stand but I know people with bad backs, bad knees, etc. that fly from a chair all the time and they seem to do just fine.

RE: Flying Sitting Down ?
 

I saw a guy in a wheel chair flying a R/C Jet in a video. He crashed when he had a bad landing, but I believe he's still flying. He flew at Crashpro's field in California when they had a Jet Rally back in 2007.


Pete

RE: Flying Sitting Down ?
 

I have some neurological issues and weak legs so I am learning to fly from a chair as I re-enter the hobby. Getting pretty good at it but hard to do that body english. ;-)

Tom

RE: Flying Sitting Down ?
 

What ever works for you. It's just more to put away or take back as you walk your plane back to the pits. I don't recommend it for new heil pilots, if you loose control of it and it's headed for you, it makes it much harder to get out of the way[X(]

I highly recommend the use of the neck lanyard. I just make a rule not to have it clipped to the box until I'm ready for the plane to enter the runway area. In other words the lanyard is always around my neck. When a lanyard is hanging by the box, it's all too easy for it to snag on something and swipe the throttle sick to full power! Unless you have a good grip on your plane while it's armed or idling and that happens, the plane is going places [:o]

RE: Flying Sitting Down ?
 

Boy that sounds like a winner, Ill have to try that because I have back issue also.
wattmeter:D

RE: Flying Sitting Down ?
 

One of the guys at a local club uses this: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...HTM/deard01-20

He's got it tricked out for a place to hang his TX, and a heavy duty nylon tool bag with his field tools.  All we need to do is put his plane on the runway and pick it up when he is done.

RE: Flying Sitting Down ?
 

Sometimes we have to adapt to be able to enjoy the hobby.

One of our club members cannot walk more than a few steps at a time so he uses an electric scooter. He has help getting his plane started and to the edge of the runway. He sits on the scooter while flying. If he can't taxi the plane to the side of the runway after landing, he rides out, loops a string around the prop, and tows it back.

In addition to using a stool, I use a transmitter tray rather than a regular neck strap. The tray has hand rests on each side and I do not think I could fly without it. I'll never be able to fly without being on a trainer cord because of neurological problems. As long as the plane has altitude I'm ok because I have time to recover if I "lose it" but landings are a major problem for me. I can sometimes have multiple good ones in a row, then destroy the plane on the next attempt. I know HOW to land but my brain and fingers do not always communicate; and low altitude is a bad place fo that to happen. If I'm flying my own plane I will attempt to land it and whatever happens is on me. If I'm flying my brother's plane I ask him to take control when the timer beeps.

RE: Flying Sitting Down ?
 

I put up an EZ-up, unfold my most conferable lawn chair, and park my butt once I'm in the air. Ive never tried to take off or land while sitting, feel like that would make me look TOO lazy. For one, my left knee is sucks, and hurts if I stand on it for too long and second I also run big tanks and fly longer than most at the dry lake. (Is that a run-on sentence? I was strong in math/science, not English) :D

RE: Flying Sitting Down ?
 

5 back surgeries later I still fly standing. I can't stand very long so I fly 10 minute flights then get my butt back in a chair until the pain is gone then do it again. I have problems flying and sitting but I have given it a try. I do fly my electric sitting though. I can fly that one for about 25 minutes before my neck gives out. The neck has also been fused and it looks like more neck work in my future.
When I was in a wheel chair I still shot trap, my average went down a couple of targets but not a lot. I was still able to hunt ducks and did as well from the chair as I did standing. I can do a lot of things sitting but It just feels odd to me when I fly a model?? As long as I can I will keep standing when I fly but if I go back into a chair I will fly sitting, I can do it but not as well.

RE: Flying Sitting Down ?
 

one of instructors will "grab a chair" while buddy boxing new pilots

RE: Flying Sitting Down ?
 

I always fly sitting down.

John[8D]

RE: Flying Sitting Down ?
 

We used to fly sailplanes laying back on blankets.

As far as flying sitting down, the problem Isee is being unable to avoid an errant model. Every so often we hear a shout and someone puts one along the flightline behind the barricades.

RE: Flying Sitting Down ?
 

For example Cat has come a long way with excavation equipment . <div> A D 4 Dozer is climate controlled with a joy stick for tracks and a joy stick for the blade.</div><div> And operators produce twice the production. With less mistakes . </div>

RE: Flying Sitting Down ?
 

John, flying RC from a setting positions isn't a surprise, We have a number of guys that have a stool or a chair on the flight line. Flying Control line though an awesome feat. My hats off to you.Iwould have the lines wrapped around my neck in the first ten seconds in the air. The last time I flew a control line plane was when my son, now 45, was about 10. It was early spring in Michigan and we were taking advantage of a warm day. We actually got his Cox plastic up and just as the tank was running dry, Iwas so dizzy that I started wobbling around and fell flat on my back in a big puddle of water in between the snow banks. The control lines snagged a fence post the the plane wound around the post until there was no lines left. Seeing you flying CL from your chair is just awesome.

Don

RE: Flying Sitting Down ?
 

I knew that you flew RC from your chair, but CL is a surprise for me to see you practicing it.

My hat is off to you as well, John.[sm=thumbs_up.gif]

RE: Flying Sitting Down ?
 

The best pilot I have ever been around sits on a folding round top bar stool to fly. He takes off and lands and flies 100% of the time from a sitting position.

RE: Flying Sitting Down ?
 

I don't see a reason for not to do it.
However, I would not, because I don't remain steady while flying, I turn towards my plane.................and I stay alert to jump out of the way of any lost airplane.:)

RE: Flying Sitting Down ?
 

G'day John. Inspirational. I have a friend who also spends a lot of time in a wheel chair and he too flies from the sitting position. If I get a chance I will show your photos to him.

He has had a lot of trouble over the years with his flying and lately he has not been flying much but this might just be the little prod he needs to get back to it again.

A question if I may. What is the oldtimer doing the low pass? Looks a bit like a Playboy in the wing and pylon departments but has a simpler fuse.

Cheers

Mike in Oz

PS, I once tried to fly a small 049 powered control line model by holding the handle in my teeth. It actually worked and raised a few eyebrows.

RE: Flying Sitting Down ?
 

I tried it a few times, but never really felt comfortable flying while sitting down.


A friend tried it....somehow let the plane get behind him, and when he tilted his head waaayyy back, he got disoriented and crashed...
He was sitting in a lawn chair. I suppose if you had a swiveling type chair / seat, that could make quite a difference.

RE: Flying Sitting Down ?
 

I use a chair sometimes when I am flying and training a lot. But I have to stand to land. John's flying CL from a wheelchair reminded me of flying CL (.35 sized) while sitting on the ground without turning as a HS kid. Lots of figure 8's and wingovers.

RE: Flying Sitting Down ?
 

Campgem, Lnewqban, Mike 109 and High Plains thanks to all of you and others for the support. My return to controlline which I thought was over for me was enabled by that twenty foot concrete circle you see in this vidio. I purchased the materials and mud and the club provided the labor to do the job and it has been wonderful. I even got in two nice flights this morning.

http://www.youtube.com/user/JohnBuck...31/T3b8ndVIhII

Mike I would be honored if your friend would catch some inspiration from this and get back to flying.

The old timer you asked about is a Kerswap from plans and I flew it for years with an OS .20 and even with coke bottle floats but now it is flying with an MVVS .15 diesel.

Flying out of a wheelchair for many folks can be a big help. A wheelchair is much easier than a ordinary chair especially if you can use your feet a bit and use no foot boards, its easy to twist around with your feet which cannot be done with a fixed chair.

Probably the biggest problem when flying in a wheelchair for some reason folks tend to walk in front of you when you are flying and that can get dicy:D

If you have difficulty standing for any length of time, using a real wheelchair will definately improve your flying if you remove the foot boards.

When I was still active in three pole Q500 at Speedworld and the basin or whittier Narrows my support equipment consisted to two wheelchairs and the scooter in the picture. I would drag one wheelchair out to the starting line for the day which the flagman loved having it to use most of the time. Then I would use the other chair in the pits. For my heats I loaded the startline box on the floorboard and carried my quickee one handed riding out to the startline and changed into the other chair for the race and repeted this proscess for however many rounds there were.

John