RE: Best 3 Tips for Beginners first flight?
 

sorry bout that Dan...

RE: Best 3 Tips for Beginners first flight?
 

THis is a very fun post. I like it, keep it goin

RE: Best 3 Tips for Beginners first flight?
 

1.) Assemble the plane
2.) Kneel next to plane and clasp hands together and pray to the airplane gods for a succesful flight.
3.) Shake fist at airplane gods because you now have to go out with a medium sandwich baggie because the biggest piece that is out there will easily fit into it.

Just funna with ya Dan :D

RE: Best 3 Tips for Beginners first flight?
 

Start the engine

Turn turn the model over (carefully)

Kiss it goodbye

RE: Best 3 Tips for Beginners first flight?
 

I just got back from the flying field and wondered if there were any new tips in here.

I took my cub and lil red there for another workout so I concentrated on the best 3 tips a beginner could really have.

Well, I came up with 3 new tips for the day!

And they worked very well...............

[link]http://www.bigdanspicks.com/ohno.html[/link]

RE: Best 3 Tips for Beginners first flight?
 

My experience going solo on my own was really easy, far from the horror stories told here. OK, I had some experience with free flight planes and control line, but no RC instructor whatsoever. I had a Kyosho Calmato trainer with an OS 46AX, assembled and setup myself ( on dual rates, low rates only on the beginning ). Yes I spent some time on FMS freeware simulator, then on Aerofly Deluxe ( really excellent sim BTW ). OK, it was more than some... ;-) Last few days before the maiden I was practicing complete flights with proper takeoff, real flight timer, proper height and distance and LOTS of landings, also touch and go's. I decided to go for the real thing when I was able to repeatedly land perfectly and had no crashes or near misses in whole day of sim flying.

On the maiden I went to a local club field, with my wife as a supporter. The engine was already broken in and tuned ( hi/low needle, throttle cut etc. ). I remembered to get enough altitude, fly rather high, half throttle, do not let the plane neither to close nor too far, do not fly in my direction neither overhead. I made a test landing approach attempt after some 4-5 minutes, first one a little too fast. After another minute I made a real landing approach, a little too high so I landed more towards the end of the runway and cut the throttle as the idle was at some 3k rpm. It was still some 20-30 m from the end of the field.

I would still advice against taking that approach, unless someone:
- has access to a remote and safe field
- has good knowledge of aerodynamics, flight theory ( to know how the planes fly and what are the do's and dont's of flight )
- has good experience operating glow engines,
- has been doing another type of ( fast ) RC or controlled flight
- spends PLENTY of time on a simulator, flying it EXACTLY like the real thing - to get the good habits imprinted on one's mind.

In my case I have already flown few hundred flights on my Calmato and never crashed it, not even a rough landing ( that is no plane parts were broken or bent on the plane ), only had one or two broken props ( but it has little prop clearance ).

But I would still recommend not to try alone, especially if guidance is available. In my case one of the reasons for going on my own was that every instructor in my local clubs flies Mode 1 while I wanted to fly Mode 2 as more resembling real plane and also more fitting to my strong right-handedness.

Just my 5 eurocents,

Smok

RE: Best 3 Tips for Beginners first flight?
 

I flew my parkzone J-3 Cub as my first plane ever without any help from anyone however i did only fly it over my wheat field and also spent a lot of time walking in my wheat field looking for it. When it got my 1st glow plane i got an instructor and i also used the G3 lots to. If you have access to a field with a crop growing in it it works really well as a cushion and prevents damage unless you nose dive it. Just make sure the farmer is ok with you walking in his field otherwise you and your plane may get shot down.:D:D:)[>:]

Flyboy76

RE: Best 3 Tips for Beginners first flight?
 

Bummer, hate to see that happen.

RE: Best 3 Tips for Beginners first flight?
 

@ Smok,

at which club do you fly?

RE: Best 3 Tips for Beginners first flight?
 

Clearly this has been tongue-in-cheek for the most part, however, for those of you that responded in a serious manner you seem to have forgotten the most important thing...landing.

It is not very difficult for a beginner to throttle up...pull back on the elevator and go flying. Many beginners can probably keep the plane in the air for a fair amount of time and maintain control. Thats where it ends (no pun intended).

1. Cut the throttle to 1/2 or 1/4 on the downwind leg
2. Cut the throttle totally as you make the turn into the WIND
3. Flair slightly...before touchdown

RE: Best 3 Tips for Beginners first flight?
 

This is a very interesting post, as it sort of applies to my situation. I live in a rural area of Nevada where the nearest flying club is a drive of many hours. I really want to learn to fly though. I have quite a bit of time flying 'simulated RC' on my PC, none yet with an actual RC transmitter as the controller unfortunately, but I do understand and can handle the reversed controls when the aircraft is flying toward me, and am able to land repeatedly without 'crashing' the plane in the sim. For my first 'real' aircraft, I chose a polyhedral, rudder/elevator only, 2 meter sailplane. I am taking my time to make sure the plane is square and properly balanced. I understand the process of 'tossing' the plane for some trim flights first before actually launching with the hi-start. The kit and radio equipment I chose were all inexpensive so that if (when) I crash the plane, I wont lose too much investment if anything is not repairable. I have a couple different sites from which I can fly, all of them open with no trees (very easy to find out here) and away from powerlines. I plan on taking things easy and hopefully, I will come out ok.

RE: Best 3 Tips for Beginners first flight?
 

gtmattz

You have chosen a good way to go. You should have good success. 3 suggestions.

Go a little more nose heavy on the CG than the plans say for extra pitch stability. Nose heavy makes a plane seek its "trim speed" more aggressively. Basically the weight being forward of the lift causes a nose down tendency. So a nose up force must be produced to balance it in flight. This comes from the tail pushing down. Now a given elevator deflection sets the speed for a steady glide. Holding more up is slower and more down is faster. This is "trim speed." More nose heavy makes a plane do a better job of holding the glide speed you command.

Trim the plane out by hand launching. Get it all adjusted to fly straight and steady on its own. Then in the air be patient. Use just enough rudder to bank the wings about 20 degrees for turning. Steeper turns disrupt the airspeed and lead to pitch oscillations. steeper turns require more skill with the elevator control. With the setup I described above, and if you keep the banks shallow you won't need to mess with the elevator very much or any if you are real smooth and patient with rudder commands. Let it take many seconds to develop or stop a turn, and let the turns be large in diameter.

I assume you have a large clear area for landing. It is more important to land in a stable glide right side up and into the wind, then it is to land on the target - even if you are going to fly into the bushes.

I'd like to hear how well you do. Good luck.

Multiflyer

RE: Best 3 Tips for Beginners first flight?
 

1. Get a flight simulator and use it alot.
2. Get a foam electric trainer or easy to fly type and learn real time with it. This will also teach you how to trim out the plane a simulator wont do that .
3. Then try the glow .
PS. I know even some seasoned pilots that dont like to do they maidens on thier own because of the uncertainty of the trims. http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXGZV5&P=0

RE: Best 3 Tips for Beginners first flight?
 

Oh, come on, guys. I took the PZ Cub out on my first flight and flew it, maneuvered it, and landed it 4 perfect times. That was at a 5 soccerfield school with an asphalt square of blacktop for landing. The Cub is SOO easy to fly and can do loops from about a 15 degree dive. With some upgrades, the Cub can go ballistic!

Anyway, my point here is that it's not that hard to learn, especially if you have over 100 hours on flight simulators.

RE: Best 3 Tips for Beginners first flight?
 

Having very recently taught myself to fly (gasp!!) I would say the three things are practice at least 100 hrs on a sim before even attempting to fly. Finess everything especially at take-off and landing. And altitude is your friend. I have a dozen or so successful flight under my belt in the last couple of weeks that I have taught myself. I have had problems to work through but that is just part of learning. And yes I am still using the same plane as I did on day one.
It's not that hard. I thought by the way people were talking on the forums that it was some secrect black art that can only be taught, but I find it fairly simple. You just have think about what you want the plane to do and which way to move the sticks to do it.

RE: Best 3 Tips for Beginners first flight?
 

Hey I was for the most part also self tought ! I was on a trainer cord for 2 short flights and that was it. I was on my own after that. I also know that there are some guys that just have the nack and many that dont . Do you know who can or cant ! Or sould I say some just take longer than others. Also this is a kid maybe limited funds so better to assume one way and not the other. If money isnt a factor go for it just dont hurt anyone LOL. Put the learning curve in your favor . And do it how ever you can afford.

RE: Best 3 Tips for Beginners first flight?
 

Go For It - :)

#1 Run

#2 Hide

#3 Don't tell anyone where you're at!

RE: Best 3 Tips for Beginners first flight?
 

Nice thread. I've only been flying for about 2 months and 100% self taught. No crashes (knock on wood) and I still have all of my fingers.

1) Hold onto the wing very tightly while attempting to connect the aileron servo wire to the receiver during windy conditions. [X(] They have a tendency to fly by themselves.

2) Several hundred take-off and landings on a simulator.

3) Don't be afraid to "go around" as often as you can until you're comfortable with landing. You can't stay up forever, but there is no reason to land on the first attempt unless you're dead-stick. And if you're dead-stick on your first flight, your plane is probably just dead.

RE: Best 3 Tips for Beginners first flight?
 

Since nobody else is helping you out here (by the way - they are all correct)

Here are my tips

1 - Point it into the wind
2 - be gentle on the controls
3 - lower your expectaitons on what success looks like.

I this scenario success is being able to fly that plane again with less then a few hours of work to get it back together.

RE: Best 3 Tips for Beginners first flight?
 

Uhm... You guys know this thread is about a year and a half old... right? I seriously dobt the originator is still checking it for updates.

RE: Best 3 Tips for Beginners first flight?
 

Actually, the originator hasn't even looged on since August, 2006. Who keeps digging these relics up?:D

RE: Best 3 Tips for Beginners first flight?
 

He's out looking for his plane..... :D

Newbies may get some good advise out of it though.

RE: Best 3 Tips for Beginners first flight?
 

1) make sure that your engine is running good in all possitions.
2) make sure the battery is charged.
3) Triple check everythign including the CG.
4) Do not expect to land it on the first try. Do a couple of trys before you commit.
5) Remember the wind direction for take off and landing.

RE: Best 3 Tips for Beginners first flight?
 

That's 5. This is supposed to be 3.:D

RE: Best 3 Tips for Beginners first flight?
 

This thread is amussing but will be little help to an actual new wa-na -be flyer.To LALALAND if you are a pilot of RC planes,how long did it take you to learn how to fly and land???? LALALAND may well be a fitting name. To the true new flyer
making your first flight on your own,I can guarentee will be very interesting and very short.If you had the benifit of an instructor or experienced flyer the first thing they check out is control movement.Do you have a proper charge on your radio an receiver battery.Is your motor broke in enough to even stay running during your flight.Then they will fly the plane to trim it out and get it to fly properly. ( if the plane is not trimed you would have to over-come what ever control was out of wack.)
When you are flying a properly trimed plane and it is doing something you don't want it to do you will know it is because of what you are doing and not the plane.I myself tried to learn how to fly with out help.I built and crashed a lot of planes and never did make it on my own.I finally did get togeather with experienced flyers and they taught me how to fly and land.Landing is the hard part of flying,taking off is the easy part.Even a real airplane pilot ( not RC PILOT ) will have the same outcome as anyone else first starting out.Without someone helping him it will be a 100 % guarenteed crash.For the new flyer who happens to read these threads,try your best to find someone in your area who already knows how.Most guys ,and Gals who fly planes would probbly be more than happy to help teach you. Good luck to all and happy and SAFE flying----Its a great sport-------------