Doh! First Flight, Plane + Tree
 

I got my first Trainer a few days ago, pre-built Hobbico Superstar with a .40, seems a lot of people here started with that.

Anyway, took it to the field, and after getting the engine broken-in, and 20 minutes of getting my nerves up to fly it, decied to go for it, it sped down the field, and with little elevator action, the plane shot into the air. (I shouldn't have tried my first flight on a windy day) Facing straight up, it started to fall back down, so I gave it full throttle, and it went flying up, and weathervained in the wind, it was then I realized it was too windy to do anything, especially land safely. I did however manage to keep control of it, for a few more seconds, (it was quite a bit faster than I anticipated) I gave it some more elevator and got it a bit higher to bring it around to at least TRY to bring it down, when a nice gust of wind flipped it upsidown and threw it into a 90' tall pine tree.

I was about 250 yards away, and coudln't see much, but I never saw it fall, but figured it must have. So my buddy and I walked over to the tree looked up and couldn't see the plane. So we spent the next 30 minutes looking for the darn thing, to no avail, we looked all over the field, in all the trees in all the bushes, everywhere, so we went to get the binoculars, and finally found it. Upsidown in the tallest pinetree on earth. This was on Friday, and the stupid thing is still up in the tree. So I've contracted a Tree Surgeon to climb up there and get it.

Lucky me however, I spent 10 minutes examining the plane through the binoculars, and I can see NO damage. Prop, monocote, wings, tailsection, engine, fuse, all in place :)

Next time I try to fly, I'm flying in 1 mile square field, with no trees and no wind. Thought I should share my first story with everyone! Hopefully over the course of the next few weeks I will get much better at this.

Forgot to add the pic :P
 

Here's the pic, it has shifted a bit since it initial upsidown position, but from what I can tell, its not going to fall. Hopefully..

Doh! First Flight, Plane + Tree
 

as you have been doing some reading, I am sure that you have read of the importance of getting an instructor....well GET ONE!!! You planes and wallet will thank you in a short time. I am sure there are clubs in your are with an instuctor.

Doh! First Flight, Plane + Tree
 

My dad and i got our first airplane stuck in a tree about 6 times. Most of the time was because i would go really high and do a 100 dive. The engine would quit and i'd try to land a dead stick. I hate it when the tallest tree around snatches your airplane. My dad borrowed some spikes for tree climbing and he had to climb about 50 feet to get it. Our plane never had any damage done to it. When my dad brought the plane down, it had a couple of dents in it. Who cares, they where little so we didn't even bother to fix them.

Airplane_boy

Doh! First Flight, Plane + Tree
 

Well from what I can tell it has no damage, unless its been blown out of the tree or something, augh the tree surgeon still hasn't had the time to come out, I guess I'll have to call another one, If I had some spikes, I'd climb the tree myself.

Grr!

Doh! First Flight, Plane + Tree
 

Feel very lucky you didn't hurt or kill someone,need to find a flying field with an instructor before you do,next time you may not be so lucky

Doh! First Flight, Plane + Tree
 

ditto what John said. And save your $$ by not flying into those nasty balsawreckum trees with the help of a GOOD instructor. Can't overemphasize that.........

Echo
 

Obviously everyone is going to bash you about getting an instructor.

However, since you tried it once without one you might try it a second time (since you described how you were going to do it).

Anyway, I just wanted to point out that you're unlikely to duplicate the "success" of your first flight the second time out because you'll be increasingly nervous.

So, expect to do worse your second time, not better.

Doh! First Flight, Plane + Tree
 

Yeah... I'm afraid as anything to take it back up..


Luckily though, my roomate has an old electric airplane, you know the Airstrike ones? Well we are going to go fly that around today so I can get used flying the plane before I ever even try to take mine up again.

I feel lucky as anything to be getting this thing back in one piece, and after sitting 90' upsidown in a tree for 3 days, the engine fired up on the second flip :) And the only damage was some torn monocote, I think im just going to patch it with some tape, because the hole is only a bit bigger than a quarter, and I don't feel like ripping all the covering off and doing it again, because I know that it is going to get crashed again.

Doh! First Flight, Plane + Tree
 

Using the Airstrike as a practice plane may not help as much as you think!


Your bet for minimizing the chances of crashing on your next flight is to get an instructor!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you don't get one could you alt least bring your camera to the field? I for one would love to see the before and after pictures :D

Ahhhhh!!!!
 

I know I should probably get an instructor, but what is an instructor going to do except tell me how a plane flies?? I've been to flight school and have 17 hours of logged flight time in a real plane, I know how they work.

The only way I'm going to learn to fly is to practice, and get a feel for it myself, everyone crashes, everyone learns. Not everyone had the advantages of an instructor around to teach them what they know today, and I'm just one of those weird people that only learns by doing it myself, not by watching others do it. I dunno, maybe if there is an experienced r/c flyer at the field, I'll ask him for some pointers, but I've done the sim, I've flown a real plane, I'll get the hang of it at somepoint.

Re: Ahhhhh!!!!
 

There's crashes that bend the landing gear and there's crashes that turn the plane into a pile of sticks.

A .40-sized trainer is more than capable of the latter. Also, the electric is probably not going to help much on several factors. Also, also, full-scale pilots often have a lot of trouble handling the third person perspective of an RC.

Having an instructor on a buddy box would probably go a long way to getting over those jitters. He (she) may never have to take over, or he may have to. In any case, he would probably keep your airplane from bashing into a million pieces before you get the hang of it.

IMHO, that's the reason to go with an instructor.

Re: Ahhhhh!!!!
 

I can tell by your lastest post that you are very new to this.

Let me try and clear up a few misconceptions

1. First off Flying Full scale and RC is DIFFERENT being able to fly does not automatically mean that you a qualified to fly RC

2. Everyone Crashes True statement, however most of us do everything possible to minimize the frequency of our mishaps!!

3. Using an instructor and Buddy box is hands on training with the instructor acting a the "safety net".

4. hopefully you will get the hang of "it" before you damage property or hurt someone.

Why don't you go to the Crash picture forum and read the Thread titled "He flies the Big Ones" I think you will be enlightened..

Hopefully this isn't a troll and you are really looking for advice...

Doh! First Flight, Plane + Tree
 

I don't think the instructor will only tell you how the plane flies, he'll probably have you on a buddy box, that was if you make a mistake, he'll take over and believe me, it does help a LOT. I just soloed a few weeks back and I couldn't have done it this easily if it wasn't for all the help that I got not to mention its so much more fun to fly with a group :).

Doh! First Flight, Plane + Tree
 

By buddy box you mean the "trainer" function right?

I'm sure you guys are right, I'm just impatient sometimes, maybe this something I should be patient with, the only problem is that the only Airplane club in the area meets so infrequently, it would be hard for me to schedule a session around work. I would at some point like to fly the plane you know :P I do appreciate the help though, and I should probably just shut up and listen to you guys.

Doh! First Flight, Plane + Tree
 

Yes Trainer function..


I crashed many (6-7) trainers before I got smart and went for help.

You might only need a little instruction.

Also having such minor damage on your first flight might have used up all your luck :D :D


I would hate to see you get discourage and take up another hobby once you get the hang of it this is great!!!

good luck and don't forget the camera

Buddy Box
 

In a buddy box configuration, another pilot stands next to you with a second radio connected by the buddy cord to yours.

By releasing a button, he transfers control from you to him.

Doh! First Flight, Plane + Tree
 

Dakker,

hopefully you got a chance to read the thread I mentioned.

I'm not trying to discourage you only pointing out the importance of an instructor..

Maybe you can find another near by club that meets more frequently.

Also check out the Local Hoby shop for info. Some clubs have formal begginer days. On this days usually the field is reserved for the use by instructors and students.

The plane you save might be your own

Re: Ahhhhh!!!!
 

With an Instructor, YOU will fly the plane... But when YOU get in trouble, HE will keep YOU from crashing.

Yes, we are


You're waiting for someone to get your plane down, imagine how long you'll be waiting while you repair it, or build another one.


So try getting in touch with someone NOW. Florida's got lots of retired fliers that will gladly meet you any time of day and help you out. Instructions are free.

Something else to consider is this... You live in a heavily populated area. Suppose you're flying your plane near a field that you're not aware of, you could shoot down a plane worth thousands of dollars and/or have yours shot down simply because you were too impatient to do it right. This is not a video game! You could do millions of dollars worth of damage and/or possibly kill someone.

FIND HELP!
You live in a heavily populated area

:)
 

Hahaha don't worry, it takes quite a bit to get me discouraged, especially with things that I'm really interested in. I've wanted a gas rc plane since as long as I can remember, and I one day hope to be flying some amazing planes doing amazing things. I'm sure being in the company of other rc'ers would help boost my confidence.

Yeah from looking at the electric plane, I only have rudder/elevator control, that does suck, and to further complicate things, the rudder control is on the right stick, which is where the aileron controls are on my plane, that will probably confuse me, but i figure flying around on a plastic airplane will at least get me accoustomed to the things I was not expecting, like for instance..

1. How fast these things really go, I was expecting( for some stupid reason) that since this was a trainer it would only go like 15mph.... bahaha was I wrong. How fast would this thing go with say no head wind anyone guess?

2. The amount of control you do have, from my pilot training experiences, slow turns, slow climbs, slow everything, the rc world while being much smaller is much faster paced, these things climb, bank, stall, get flipped over into trees, etc... much faster than a real plane.

3. How much wind can affect them.... Wasn't ready for that.. heh

And many other things I'm sure I will be learning soon. But it is great fun, and an excellent hobby. Hopefully I'll still be doing this when I'm married and much older, and not having to sell my stuff on ebay.

Re: :)
 

Lets See first having the rudder on the same stick is actually a good thing. Unlike a full size plane most RC planes can be turned with airlerons only. So having the rudder on the right is good thing.

Now to try an answer your questions.

1. Depending on engine and plane most trainners fly between 20-70Mph (with 20-50mph being average Hey some people cram large engines in)

2. When you get good at it you will have a very good amount of control. its a mater of practice.

3. Light flat bottom wing trainers are affected by wind as you have found out weight airfoil and type of plane affect handling in windy conditions. Again you will get better with practice.

The electric you mentioned is VERY different then the glow trainer you own mastering it while it can't hurt does not mean you will be able to handle the other.

Lastly the is just my opinion...

Flying a plane and controlling it are two completly different things.
When you can fly the plane in a controlled manner evey time then you have made progress. However sending it bouncing all over the sky in a semi-controlled manner and getting back on the ground with limited damage does NOT constitute proficiency. A instructor will dramactically reduce the time it takes your to aquire this level of proficiency..

Re: Re: :)
 

How come? Not saying I would want to turn with the rudder only, but does it not assist in turning when applied, I noticed in the sim all the rudder did was aim the plane in the direction i turned it but wouldn't actually make it go that way, instead it would fly caddy-cornered.

Doh! First Flight, Plane + Tree
 

Hi Dakker,while you are learning to do all those amazing things with out an instructor or proper flying field,I hope you don't learn a new hard lesson,it's called involuntary manslaughter.

Doh! First Flight, Plane + Tree
 

okay... i was flying on private property of a friend of mines.. 63 acres of grass and trees.. Not like I was flying in a kids park.

Re: Re: Re: :)
 

Some planes like my cub do need some rudder to make a good turn.

The reason I was told (many years ago) is because of the size and power to weight ratio of the models. Not sure if this is 100% accurate. But to make a turn with most planes you provide either left or right airleron and then add up elevator to maintain altitude then to get out of the turn release airleron or apply opposite.

Cooridinated (rudder and airleron) turns while not neccessary with trainers should be practiced since some planes will require it.

BTW Computer radios can provide a mix that couples rudder and airleron.