Went on my own...
 

Well after no luck finding an instructor I finally said screw it.
2 months on the sim and a couple of days outside taxiing around I went for it.
My brother, buddy and wife were witness. My wife was taking pictures, but the air shots did not turn out, she is new using a LCD view finder.
After a dozen or so practice attempts taxiing, I refueled and went for it. The first 10 seconds were very scary as I went into a stall but was able to recover. The crowd burst into applause:D.
I gained altitude and just went into a pattern for five minutes. I was shaking like a leaf the whole time while I was wondering aloud how I was going to get it down, my buddie suggest a parachute attached to the plane. Just push a button when I'm done. I'm thinking this is a good idea at this point.
I then start practicing some landing approach's. These 4 attempts go pretty well so I decide to go for it.
Well... if you look in the first pic you will see a tree and a bush. I said to myself I should really cut those down when I mowed the field the other day.
My approach was perfect except for my depth perception. I hit the lower branch[:o]
On first inspection it seemed that all I did was break a prop. Since that was my only three bladed prop I packed it up.
On further inspection I found a bit more damage, nothing major. A couple drops of glue. All is fixed already.
I wish I could say all is well with the tree and the bush, They are now missing.[:@]
All in all I am very pleased with the results from my solo attempt. Had I taken that damn tree down like I thought I should have I believe my landing would have been good. The crowd agreed with this. Said I had a nice slow approach.
I ordered more props the other day, they should be here tomorrow and I'll give here another go.
:D:D:D:D:D

RE: Went on my own...
 

Thats not bad at all. It could have been much worse. Landings are fun, but for me today i forced them because i was nervous being my first time without an instructor there. But i did good. Repair work is beginning to finish (tore gear off, and that elad to gutting the anttenna)

RE: Went on my own...
 

RE: Went on my own...
 

Way to go! Good for you, keep it up.

RE: Went on my own...
 

My experience tells me that obstructions ( trees, fences, bushes, hills ect.) cause more stress than the actual flying. Way to go.

RE: Went on my own...
 

I'd say "good job"!!!! Am wondering, how many rubber bands are you using to hold the wing on? I used to have a Hangar 9 Arrow that used rubber bands to hold the wing on. I used to use 12 to 14 rubber bands because I was afraid of the wing flapping against the fuse.

Dave...

RE: Went on my own...
 

Thanks guy's.

Lucky, I used 10 rubberbands and it seemed to hold well.

I would say the biggest surprise I had was how fast the plane climbed. I can see how many people crash 5 seconds after takeoff. the real thing is much different than the sim.
I would say too others to get a instructor if you can find one.

RE: Went on my own...
 

yea on takeoff you don't want to give it too much elevator because that engine isn't powerful enough to pull you up at that point. Just be sure to give it elevator gradually and you'll be fine.

RE: Went on my own...
 

EXACTLY !!! That's what I thought to. The real thing is much harder then the sim. (plus, if your plane isn't setup perfect, you're doomed to fail)

anyway, I see you fly on a verry small field, and probably fly over the trees next to the field. Does that work well ? (Caus I'm having troubles finding a good field in my neigbourhood)

RE: Went on my own...
 

Skynyrd Man: Congratulations! Hey, that tree just would not get out of the way. How rude!! :D Sim time definitely helps out.

As someone else already said, take off with full throttle but easy on the elevator. Your climb should only be about 10 to 20 degrees up and gently climb out then make your turn while slowly climbing. Level off and reduce throttle to about half and then trim for straight and level. Do your trims on the straight part of the orbits, trim for "hands off" (more like fingers off) level flight at that throttle setting. Everything changes once you change the throttle, you have to re-trim. Remove the fingers from the stick in straight and level. If it does not stay exactly straight and level, just add a click or two of trim to get it that way.

Then burn fuel, old buddy! (I can say that.. I'm 58 years old). After about half a tank of oribts and figure 8's, go ahead and set up landing approaches at a high altitude until you are clear in your mind that you are ok.. past obstructions and down the center line. Lower the altitude and do it again a few times, then finally do a slow fly by with enough throttle to hold altitude as it approaches you, then cut the throttle when ready. Slow and steady. Your landings should look just like the approaches but at a lower altitude. One rule that my instructor kept saying is that if you should not see the bottom of the wing during the approach and landing, so adjust your approach slightly with elevator so the bottom is just out of view. It will drop slowly until you get to about a foot high then ease.... EASE the elevator for a flair and it will touch down nice and smooth.

One thing that I noticed is that on final, as it is still away from you, fly it as though it looks like it is coming directly toward you. The closer it gets, slightly adjust the position to put it over the center line. If you fly it on the final with it looking like it is away from you, or not coming toward you, it will definitely be further away than you thought. If it is, just add throttle (full throttle) and climb away and do another approach. Don't hesitate, if not sure, add throttle and go around.

On that landing, adjust engine speed a click or two to change the touch down point, keeping that fuselage real steady so you cannot see the bottom of the wings.

I'm sure you heard all this before, and someone will definintely have more to say about this, but once you get the idea, and once your heart rate settles down :D:D, you will be doing touch and go's like you always knew how.

Best of luck, Skynyrd Man. We are all very happy you are doing so well.

Dick.

RE: Went on my own...
 

Oh with regard to rubber bands, put the last two crossways from side to side. That will sort of act like a keeper to prevent the others from popping off. I have never had that happen, but someone recommended it to me and I thougth it never hurt. Use 10 to 12 #64 rubber bands.

RE: Went on my own...
 

Hi Skyman,

The story of your first flight are exactly like mine, only the difference is that I did not land. Rather....... No one landed it...... I hope you know what I am talking about. :D

Anyways, I dont see a picture of plane after landing.... Do you have one? OR all these are after landing? [img][/img]

RE: Went on my own...
 

Skynyrd Man: One more thing, perhaps no-one mentioned this to you, and it may be as obvious as the nose on your face, but it may be a good reminder for you.

Engine vibration does funny things. Now that you have had the thing in the air for the first time, take a little time to re-check everything. Check that the servo's are tight, the linkage is ok, make sure that any of the servo linkage clevis's have some sort of keeper, piece of tubing over the clevis to keep them closed and that the keeper has not slipped (they get oil on them from the engine and may slip back), that the aileron/rudder/elevator horns are tight, throttle linkage is nice and smooth without binds and that it is still secure, the engine is nice and secure in the mount, that sort of stuff. Also give a slight tug on the rudder, elevator, and ailerons to make sure that the hinges are nice and tight (that vibration has not caused a bad glue joint to get worse).

All this can be quickly checked and it all is no-brainer stuff, but could save your plane sometime in the future. Consider that the vibration from the first flight could possibly loosten nuts, engine bolts, cause keepers to slip, and so on. A quick check could possbly prevent any surprises on that second flight and subsequent flights. I check all before going up for the first time that day and upon landing, quick checks by pulling on linkage just as a habit, then when finished for the day, as I check everything as I am cleaning and removing the wing. Never hurts.

RE: Went on my own...
 

Congratulations- glad to see you not only flew but have solo'd. Well almost, gotta land on the ground to count I guess. That should happen next time. Once the plane breaks ground it is important to keep the climb shallow to allow airspeed to come up to a safe level, especially if the wind is gusting. Well done :)

RE: Went on my own...
 

Congrats Skynyrd Man, you have all ready learned one thing that the flight sims don't show you. There can be nothing else in the area except 1 tree or bush. If there is, then that is what the plane will head for the second you are not paying very close attention!! It happens so often with trees that some pilots swear that at the last second the tree jumped out in front of their plane!! This often results in the tree being cut down shortly after.[8D]

RE: Went on my own...
 

How could I forget the landing picture? Next time I'll stick it on the wheels.:D
Picture was very dark, I had to fix it that is why it looks funny.

Thanks for all the advice and encouragement everybody. I have a new addiction now:)
Don't know if I will try flying when the new props come today, it is suppose to get windy this afternoon. Perhaps I'll work on the Rapture, I neglected the poor thing all weekend.

Prophex, once I get the landings and takeoffs down I don't see a problem flying over the trees. It just makes the approach to the runway a little shorter than I would like at this point in my brief R/C hobby.

RE: Went on my own...
 

Take offs are optional, landings are manditory.

Glad it went well

RE: Went on my own...
 

Doesn't look hurt too bad. Don't rush out and fly in bad weather, not worth it. You'll just add to the repair time, not the flying time.

Good weather days-fly.
Bad weather days-build.

This will make all days enjoyable.

RE: Went on my own...
 

VERY NICE. You are still with us!! Nobody thought to tell you about ambulatory trees & paranormal obstructions. These nasty ba$tards move all on their own!!. You can be flying along minding your own business, when a nasty great tree or rock grows 20' in height & jumps sideways right into your plane. Watch out for those guys.

Congrats.

RE: Went on my own...
 

Skynyrd Man, I think you did great considering how tight that field looks! With all the trees around, I would have been a shakin in my shoes too.

Nice job!

Tom

RE: Went on my own...
 

Skynard man, Again, congrats. On the take offs, In real planes i have done this, but have yet to do it with models and wouldn't suggest you do it, but in cessnas and such you can go and stay near the ground and gain airspeed, and then yank the sticks back. they call them space shuttle take offs. Really fun in real planes, but havent tried it in RC anyone else tried it

RE: Went on my own...
 

Nevermind :D

RE: Went on my own...
 

newbtoRC- in real planes that leads to accelerated stalls and dead pilots. A STUPID maneuver that the FAA would pull your pilot license for. That type of maneuver is best left to highly trained airshow pilots who REALLY know what they are doing. In an RC plane at least you are not endangering a human life as a rule. If your friend that you fly real planes with is doing that, he is not your friend. He is trying to kill you!

RE: Went on my own...
 

Bruce, I explained it wrong. My bad. We were over 100 feet up already, but were more of a 45 degree climb out and then leveled out. It's hard to explain

RE: Went on my own...
 

That is a safer altitude to do that at, but I still would not recommend it. Once the pitch exceeds 30 degrees the FAA considers it an Aerobatic maneuver and a std category aircraft is not supposed to enter that regime. Believe me, 100 feet can go by in a hurry. If your friend has not already done so, have him get actual aerobatic training in an aerobatic airplane such as a Decathalon or something similar and then he can take you flying in it at truly safe altitudes with full knowledge of how to handle the plane. BTW- I used to fly competition aerobatics in a Pitts including competing at the US Nationals, so I do have a little knowledge here. Try to keep your lunch in after a 12 turn inverted flat spin, they're fun once you get used to them. I want you to enjoy your flying in a safe manner, OK:)