An Oops story
 

Before I start, I am about three 10 minute lessons into glow aircraft training. I've flown the electric Hobbyzone Super Cub several times and a lot on simulators. Anyways, I've been having engine issues with my .40 trainer. Tonight I worked on it for about an hour and finally seemed to have it running right. So I took it out on the road to do some taxi testing. Now, just to explain, my house is on a dead end road and I have a couple acre lot in the middle of 1,400 acres of farm land. You can't see another house from mine. The road makes a nice runway with the exception of the 10' high corn stalks flanking each side of the road. I don't fly here because of the corn and I belong to a AMA club. Ok, so I start the engine and it sounds great, better than it ever has before. I decide to do a lean test and it purrs nicely. Well, now the dumb part. I set her down on the road, pulled out my antenna as a precaution, and I give it full throttle. She bolted down the road. Now, I still don't know why but instead of throtteling back and coasting to turn speed, like normal, I let it go and eased back on the elevator. Up she went. I flew up through the wide valley, heart pounding so hard my shirt was moving. I did a fly by and then out over the adjacent field. I then decided I better get this thing on the ground. I flew back over the other field and throttled full down. Uh Oh... She still sounded and moved like it was at a quarter throttle. I was on the road so approach was straight towards me. I could see right away she was too hot. I pulled back on the elevator and brought her back up, clipping the top of the corn. "Still climbing", I thought. In a slight fog, I completely forgot about using my trim to cut off a little throttle. I went back out over the field, throttled all the way down, and then lined up for approach. She was coming in very fast. I leveled the wings and went for broke. Now she was coming directly at me at a decent clip. About 25 yards in front of me I realized it was not going to sit down easily as she was still moving quickly. It passed me by at waist high. I turned and gave a little push on the elevator. SMACK. She hit on her nose gear and then rolled to a stop just off the road. I walked over and to my amazement, not a scratch. Very Lucky was I, said Yoda. Oh man, that was dumb but at the same time I felt pretty happy about not destroying my plane. Could have been bad though and I learned my lesson. I will call it an unofficial solo and save the flying for the club until I am ready, and the corn is picked.

RE: An Oops story
 

Sorry, can't call it a solo unless the plane has no damage.

Now that you have found out that you have no self-control, just leave the wing off for your "testing". Haven't seen one fly yet without a wing. Well, one time there was this one wing Bi-plane, but that's another story.:D

RE: An Oops story
 

Hey Bruce, If you read again, I wrote that she landed on her nose gear (wheel) and then rolled to a stop just off the road. Not a scratch, well, maybe the prop has a scratch because I am sure it hit about the same time the nose wheel did. Anyways, I don't wan't this to be my solo. I want my solo to be at the field with the guys watching and I do it right. I don't know why I took off but your probably right about the no self control. I have had my planes for over two months but due to conflicts in schedules I only have three flights so far. I may be getting a little anxious. Lesson learned and I got lucky but I also am a little happy how I handled the airplane. After all, this hobby is supposed to be fun right? I don't want to take everything to serious and can laugh at myself. My 2 year old laughs at me so I guess I can too. :)

RE: An Oops story
 

i'd say go on and enjoy, i wish i could step out my front door and fly.:D. i would have friends come over and fly with me, and best of all it's free

RE: An Oops story
 

That might be part of it too. Deep down inside I maybe just wanted to see of I could do it. My club is about an hour drive and it can be a hassle getting there as much as I would like. If you could see the road and the corn though you might not be to keen on the idea though. The runway is about 12' wide with a crown and very unforgiving due to the corn. I will probably get some more stick time before I try it again. I can easily replace the trainer if I crash but the difference here is my wife would witness it. :( Bad for me.

RE: An Oops story
 

she can work the video cam:D

RE: An Oops story
 

on a series note, keep up the lessons and some day you will be able to fly at home

RE: An Oops story
 

i wish i could fly at my house, i live in the bush, i have 9 acres, but only 3 are grass, but the grass is surrended by fully mature trees, i probably culd fly but it would be extreamely risky:D

RE: An Oops story
 

Showtime, it's a solo all the way. Congratulations! Having said that it's reasonable to assume at this point in time you may need more flight time with competent instructors. It's your call. I also assume you are aware of potential injury to innocent people, kids do play in corn fields.

RE: An Oops story
 

You want to talk about self control! If it was me, that corn would be gone by now. :D

RE: An Oops story
 

Blue_Sky, I understand your concern and yes I will be flying with my instructor before I try this again. Also understand that when I say I live in a remote area, I mean remote. My place is way more remote than the AMA site I fly at, which also has corn near it. Only one house is past mine on this dead end road and it is a mile up and owned by my 87 year old neighbor. The next nearest neighbor is a mile in the other direction and they don't have kids. Hitting anyone at my house would truley be like finding a needle in a hay stack. Like I said, I understand your concern but as a 35 year old father of a 2 year old, I have developed a good sense of what is ok and what is not.

The risk of hitting someone at the AMA site is much higher as houses are not that far away. Maybe that's why they make you get insurance. :)

RE: An Oops story
 

This story is a lot different but perhaps in a small way I can relate to the young Jimmy Franklin.

Jimmy Marshall Franklin (May 16, 1948 - July 10, 2005) was a famous aerobatic and air show pilot. He was born to Oliver Gene “Zip” and Valerie Franklin in Lovington, New Mexico. Franklin loved aviation from the start and he learned to fly sitting on his father’s lap, and one day while he was home alone at age 12, he snuck out and flew his first solo flight. Shortly after, he taught himself aerobatics and began his 38-year air show career at the age of 19.

Sometimes something inside you just says "go for it". Although young Jimmy took a helluva lot bigger risk. :)

RE: An Oops story
 

Showtime, your first post in this thread was very honest and I commend you because you knew you risked getting flamed. I do congratulate you for a solo, even though it evidently wasn't the prettiest landing in the world. And obviously in that moment of letting your airplane take off you had the inner confidence you'd get it down. And it goes without saying you are an adult and assume the responsibility of your actions.

My current favorite aspect of RC is practicing landings. I was away from the hobby for ten years and in my case it's not true about once you learn how to ride a bicycle you never forget... Actually I always sucked at flying! ;) But as I said my favorite times now are going to the field, by myself, and practicing landings.

Happy flying!

RE: An Oops story
 

Good going Showtime.

I'm glad everything worked out ok. Nothing worst than not being able to fly for awhile because of a stupid crash. I should know.

Make sure you let the guys at the field know about your adventures so they can laugh too.

RE: An Oops story
 

Hey Skeeter thanks. I was following your thread for a while. Don't tell me you crashed. I'll have to go check out your story now.

Blue_Sky, I too love landings. With my Cub I would just take off and then immediately try to land. I did it over and over and no doubt that helped me last night. I love scale flight in general. Scale airplanes & warbirds always interest me more than the aerobatic types.

RE: An Oops story
 

Nope, still here, flying and writing about it. Also i like your writing. Adding you feelings is what makes it enjoyable to read.

RE: An Oops story
 

Skeeter, you write very well. I don't know what you look like in person but in my mind I have images of you, Albert, Bubba, and your son. Even Mel and the glider guy. I can envision your field and the water. Very nice place to fly.

I wrote a book once for my personal enjoyment and I found descriptive writing to be very fun and interesting. You should cut and paste your musings onto a word processor and keep these memories for your children and their children. My father died when I was very young but he wrote many letters and stories of his experiences. They are priceless to me, even if others just find them trivial.

RE: An Oops story
 

That is a funny story.

Alot of "first things" i did i was forced to do. :D:D

RE: An Oops story
 

Thanks Showtime,

It's great to get feed back from my writings. Sometimes i think i am just writing to myself but then i get responses wanting more and see the hits i'm getting. I'm not sure what i'll do when i finish it and not sure how to finish it. I am definitely saving a copy for posterity. Your writing is also enjoyable to read, keep it up.