Frustrated
 

Well, just like to air my frustration. Hope you guys don't mind. I was suppose to take my first lesson today. I was to suppose to start my flying lesson sometime between 5-6 pm in the evening( well, thailand sky is still bright at this hour). Cleared my work and drive out of my office around 5.15 pm. Excited as this is my first lesson. However to my disappoinment, about 15 minutes before reaching the flying ground, It start to rain heavily and the sky had suddenly went dark. Call my instructor and was told that there will no flying. Well, obviously I'm disappointed.
But at least i can find some consolation here! I can get you guys to teach me the first basic lesson.
First, i don't want to feel like an idiot waiting for some helpers at the flying field to do all those basics for me. I think i need to learn the basic before i take to the sky.
Let's say that you are going to fly, What will you be bringing along with you. what to do first? What to assemble first? what to check first? And to be very frank, I still not sure on which direction to turn the propeller to start the engine!!Hahahaha!!! (Please don't laugh) I saw most of the guys at the flying field carrying a tool box with them. what should i have in the tool box??? I think this are all basics but i'm not ashame to say that I'm really not sure. And I'm not ashame to share all these with you guys 'cause this is the place where you guys have given me all the confident and encouragement.
I think I feel like an idiot already by writing this!!:(

RE: Frustrated
 

Good questions. First off sounds like you will need more stuff! Before you can start the engine you will need to have some way to get the the fuel from the bottle into the fuel tank in the plane. It can either be an electric pump or a hand crank pump. Now you need to provide power to the engine glow plug before it can be started. The best way to do this to have something called a power panel. It has an adjustable knob and a meter so you can see how much power is going into the glow plug. Next you need to be able to spin the motor over safely. I would suggest an electric starter for this. You can go cheap and use something called a chicken stick but new motors can be hard to get started without a starter. Since the fuel pump, power panel, starter, are all run off a 12 volt lead acid battery rated at least 7 amp hour. It also means you should get a field box. Mount the power panel on the outside and the battery inside. You can also carry your starter, spare props, tools, ect. in the field box. These items are considered the basic "stuff" you will need in order to even get the plane flying. You should get the items and then call your instructor. To go to the field without these basics will just result in zero flying time. The field box doesn't have to be expensive. You can buy a plastic tool box of a decent size that looks good. I bought mine for $10.00. I know you had other questions but your instructor can take over from here. :D

RE: Frustrated
 

The only pieces of field equipment that I use are:

2 charged-up self-contained Glow Starters (in case one doesn't work)
Hand Crank fuel pump
Fuel Bottle
Chicken Stick
Spare wing elastic bands
Spare props
Spanner and screwdriver for changing props

None of my engines are over the .46 size so I haven't needed an electric starter. All of the engines that I have had so far (mostly OS), they were very easy to start just by flicking over with the chicken stick. Most engines start by flicking anti-clockwise.
I remember when I got my first plane, I hadn't a clue how to start it either. All you need is for someone to show you how to do it once. You don't want to mess about trying to start it yourself because the engines start pretty suddenly and you gotta make sure your hands are well out of the way and that the plane is secured so it can't suddenly jump forwards towards you when it starts.

RE: Frustrated
 

Hi guys,
thanks alot. These had been a great help. At least I know some basic now. I believe i had most of the stuff already but just not so sure on the application. I think i understand better now.

RE: Frustrated
 

Ask a lot of questions here, you can't ask too many!;)

RE: Frustrated
 

electric starter most certainly can make life easier. Id ditto on the back up glow starters .ignition is often biggest problem. dont for get spare plugs! you can take too much to the field but a small bottle of ca glue is handy.trying to fix more than basic problems can be self defeating. carry spare of things you will be in go/no go status without(wheel collars servo screws etc