flying solo - shakes
 

hi

I'm a beginning flyer from Flanders in Belgium,Europe.
Learning to fly from a grassfield at a local airfield
near my house.
So after visiting the club a couple of times I decided to get into RC glow
planes.
An instructor at the club was willing to give me lessons.
So i went several times and we flew together.
I've always been interested in RC and
also spend a lot of time on the FMS simulator at home
so progress was very good.
But now for some weeks my instructor wasn't showing up any more
and there I was everytime, all ready to go flying but spending my
afternoons waiting;
Until last week I was fed up and I decided to go flyiing by myself.
We were about to start on the landings, and now we don't have to anymore
cos I've done several on my own now and no crashes....
And I love it. The sight of the plane coming in, calmly gliding
towards the grass and then smoothly flairing so the plane eases on the
grass.

I've learned flying by passing the transmitter hand to hand with my
instructor,
and thus indeed flying with my thumbs and no buddy box, but now, being nervous about flying alone and having to make all the decisions
and moves myself ... i get the shakes, badly, very badly LOL so bad my
thumbs start shaking
and my plane is waving it's wings like it's waving good-bye..
I have to let go of the sticks to get my thumbs straight and still. LOL

So I'm going to switch over now to using a handrest so I can fly
with fingers and thumb and hopefully the shakes will fade away a bit.

Now after exacly one year i'm flying alone, but still have a lot to
learn.
I don't mind because now at least I can go to the field and fly whenever i
want without having to wait for the instructor.
I like doing landings but take-offs still seems to give me trouble
as I always seem scared not to get airborne before the end of the grass
or the plane moves to the left or right and i'm scared of flying into the
clubhouse or the carpark.
Anyway doing it enough on calm days will give me practise
so now I try to get to the club early so I can fly when there aren't a lot
of people and other planes around.

Just wanted to let all you guys (and girls) know
because I love reading on RCU and wanted to do something in return
for all the very usefull info that I found here.

RE: flying solo - shakes
 

ypres,

Nice post. It will help others to understand that the shakes are normal. The shakes can help make you a better pilot because if you listen to them they are telling you something and that is exactly what I see you doing. Trust me, I still get the shakes after I fly the first time after not flying for a little while, while doing the first flight on a new plane and a host of others. My shakes get worse with the more expense I have in the plane until I get used to it.

I don't mind telling others about them. Gives them a laugh and helps to settle me down.

That's good that you are holding it on the ground until you are sure it's ready to fly. Allot of students first reaction if it gets slightly out of shape on the ground is to give it up elevator and sometimes the plane is not really ready to fly so it stalls and now as an instructor I have to try to recover it.

I did not see what plane you are flying but if it has a nose wheel you can try moving the control rod for it closer to the center of the servo to help make it less sensitive.

RE: flying solo - shakes
 

thanks bubba
i'm flying a Vmar Discovery with OS46LA engine.
Robbe FX18 8channel TX

I love the plane
and will consider to change the sensitivity of the front wheel

RE: flying solo - shakes
 

Or you can move the connection further out on the nose wheel tiller arm. OR both. Just don't make any radical changes all at once because whatever you are doing is working to some extent at least. :)

RE: flying solo - shakes
 

I have been flying for 3 yrs moved to a spitfire for a second plane and I still get the shakes very badly, to the point where I have to land otherwise crash, because of my thumbs. But after 3 or 4 flights I'm much better, New planes will give almost anybody the shakes!
My corsair still sets in the basement because I don't think Im ready!!! 120 four stroke 72 inch WS

RE: flying solo - shakes
 

I'm shaking now just thinking about the maiden flight for my 4*60[:o]

RE: flying solo - shakes
 

I thought shaking was part of the fun. I've been doing it for years, especially with a new plane/student. ENJOY !!! RED

RE: flying solo - shakes
 

I think shaking is normal, but if it doesn't stop soon I'm going to open my eyes. [:@]

RE: flying solo - shakes
 

I started flying solo recently, and I can tell you that on my first solo my entire leg was moving... not shaking, but moving back and forth, it was funny....

I think that if ever I stop shaking from time to time, I will stop flying r/c planes...

Props on the solo!

RE: flying solo - shakes
 

Actually the only time I get the shakes is when I am doing a maiden flight or when I have a new student on the buddy box. I am always amazed by the new maneuvers they "invent" without even trying. I think the first couple of flights can be harder on the instructor than the student because they don't know what they almost did. WHEW!!!

RE: flying solo - shakes
 

The shakes go away -- to be replaced by a big hole in the pit of your stomach -- which goes away to be replaced by a state of nervous apprehension -- which goes away to be replaced by --- get it?

Have fun flying -- it's so relaxing!:eek:

RE: flying solo - shakes
 

HA! Do you think you're having a bad time because of shakes??

When i get nervous I start sneezing!!!

Try to land while sneezing twice per second [:@][&:]

FACT: It is impossible to keep your eyes open while sneezing

RE: flying solo - shakes
 

I used to tell new students and people comming out for the first time alone to wear long baggy pants so no one could see their knee's knocking. How many instructors do you see wearing shorts ? It's all part of the game and it just gets better. ENJOY !!!! RED

RE: flying solo - shakes
 

My knee's still shake a little every time I fly. This I think is a good thing. A while back I went flying and no shaking knee's.... I brought my trainer back out to the field and practiced basic maneuvers as when you get over confident you bring it home in a bag.
-Tom

RE: flying solo - shakes
 

A beta-blocker will help. My wife is a calm passenger in the mountains in the morning but a nervous wreck about dusk when the effects of the beta-blocker have worn off. Beta-blockers inhibit the adrenalin rush when danger is apparent.

Bill

RE: flying solo - shakes
 

thanks all you guys
i know it's not bad to be nervous but
steering a model airplane with gentle stick input
while your thumbs shake about an inch side to side
isn't simple. LOL@myself
Gonna try with a handrest now and i'll let you know if it goes better.

Was about to go flying now, but rain is coming down
so it'll be for later

RE: flying solo - shakes
 

Joesabido: yes, haha, I confirm: Impossible to keep eyes open when I sneeze! I hate it when I drive a car... to close eyes for a moment, but I do [:@]

I know one cure for shakes! Build your second plane to wait in your shelf. After that you go flying with the first one. You will be much more relaxed about crashes. You just want to test what this bird can do and what it can't until you get an excuse to take the next plane. [8D]

RE: flying solo - shakes
 

LOL
indeed it does make sence
now I'm just scared at crashing the trainer
but with a second ready
maybe i'd be more relaxed.....
LOL

RE: flying solo - shakes
 

I think i can agree with everyone here. I havn't flown for the entire winter and when the weather got better i had to bring up my new edge i just put together. My hands and arms were shaking so bad i coudn't get my glowplug driver on the motor without bracing myself.
Once the plane was in the air hands calmdown and my knee just starts twiching. After a couple of flights its nothing as im used to everything. Then when i get in for a landing im pure bliss instead of sweating like a pig. LOL

RE: flying solo - shakes
 

If you have a computer-tx, program some expodential into the controls, especially elev and ail. it will soften the effects of the nervous thurmbs syndrome. Yet if you need full fast ctrl you will get it abit further out on the throws, I think I started out my first soloed flights with -75% on all ctrls, on a Futaba 9CAF. Reallllyy smoothed out my landings.

I still get the jitters, I think its great, rattles loose the Ol Farts-itis, that can mysteriously creep up on us.

RE: flying solo - shakes
 

ow well
it will all smoothen out eventually

practise makes perfect
they say

greets

RE: flying solo - shakes
 

Beta blockers are wonderful for this syndrome. Many actors\actresses take beta blockers such as inderal/propanolol for stage fright. I never thought about it for the flying jitters.:D

RE: flying solo - shakes
 

i still get the shakes --ya know what calms me down? do a couple of loops works for me

RE: flying solo - shakes
 

I still get the shakes in strong winds, gets to be a pain when landing. The thing i hate most--the bottomless pit in your stomach when u do a roll and nail up elevator sending it in a dive.