First Crash
 

I guess that we all knew it wood happen, and yesterday was the day.
Taking the advise of what i am hearing, i took the training wheels off and flipped the switch on the Sportman S+ over to experienced mode. Whole different world up there when you are actually flying on your own.
After 3 or 4 minutes without training wheels, figured that i would take advantage of my new found freedom and do a barrel roll. Bad idea, and i just wasnt ready.
I pulled back on the stick to give a little nose up, and when i went aileron left, i think i was still on the elevator. Was not 3 mistakes high, was flat out not rrady, and i panicked.
This plane is amazingly fast when headed straight for the ground. I hit the oh crap button, but in my wittless frenzy, i hit it twice. Haha
Absolute verticle 3/4 throttle nose plant.
Not much damage done, except to my pride and my nerves.
Repair, assess, adjust, and back into the air.
The rest of the day went great in experienced mode. Not super smoothe or great control, but that will come with time, and it will be easier when not rattled i am sure.
Landing was different without self leveling, but it actually went pretty well.
Can't wait to get out again, but i think a couple more sessions of ovals and 8s are in order until i am comfortable and in complete control.

Crashes are inevitable when you're learning on your own. You can make things easier on yourself by getting an experienced pilot to show you how to do the maneuvers correctly, but at least you're flying a plane that can take a bump. Glad to see you're progressing.

Thank you for the support.
My schedule is weird and a little unpredictable, so i am on my own for now, but with my new found humility :-) i think i will be fine
I am impressed at how little damage was done. A little gorilla glue and packing tape (?) and she will be as good as new.

Get your takeoffs and landings down pat at the field, and practice stunts on the simulator if you have one.

I flew for years with no real improvement, and then I started trying to learn to hover on my simulator. I really am not a 3d guy but I learned so much more throttle and rudder control its amazing. Also the one huge benefit of practicing hovering on a simulator is that trying to get and stay in a hover is just CONSTANT crash avoidance and recovery.. it really helps when you get in trouble flying at the field.

Keep after it and have fun ;)

I'll offer a tip too. The next thing to work on after taking off and landing is recovery from all positions. It seems so simple, but if you'll practice how to get back to straight and level flight from every weird position you can imagine it will save your plane a lot of times as you're learning aerobatics. It's all about having a plan for the contingencies. Here are the main ones to work on.

1. Nose up- push the elevator to return to level flight
2. Nose down- pull the elevator to return to level flight
3. Knife edge- Roll out and don't touch the elevator until you are sure you are upright
4. Inverted- Roll out and pull the elevator afterwards to return to level flight
5. Inverted and diving- Push the elevator until the nose is up a bit, then roll out
6. Nose up stall (plane is falling even though you are pulling on the elevator)- Push the elevator and and apply power, then pull up
7. Disoriented- Whether you lost it in the sun, tried a maneuver that went horribly awry, got too far away from yourself, or just zigged when you shoulda zagged, you'll at some point find yourself not sure which way the plane is pointed. To figure it out quickly, apply a small amount of up elevator. That will tell you if you are upright or inverted. correct if necessary. If the plane is a dot that isn't going left or right, apply left rudder. If the plane goes left, it is flying away from you so you need to turn around. If the plane goes right, it is flying toward you.

Lots of good input
I think my game plan for the next outing will be ovals, 8s, and touch and go's until i am actually in control with the basics.
Then the things that Jester suggested.

When its really calm and nobody else is flying I love to do touch and goes from both directions.. back and forth.
Once you get comfortable with landings it can become the most satisfying part of flying.

I tore out a little piece of foam where the battery cover tag fits in. Opposite side of the latch. About an inch square and 3/8 deep. I am thinking a little gorilla glue and some packing tape?
I know that there are 100 threads on this, but i am an over thinker.

Get yourself a bottle of foam safe CA and some kicker. Gorilla glue is the best for structural repairs like breaking your wing in half, but CA will let you do field repairs on simple things like that battery compartment and get back into the air.

Here's what you needed to know before that first roll attempt: http://www.rcflightschool.com/Sport_...ort_E30-35.pdf

At least you didn't fly into a tree top like I did with my first plane. Tore the whole front end of the fuselage and tail right off. Had to gut the airframe of the engine and radio and throw it in the garbage. I had a few close calls where I was in a nose dive straight for the ground but somehow managed to recover.

There will be other crashes we've all had them. Hang in there