My first deadstick!
 

Today, my second day of solo flight, on my third solo flight overall, my glow plug failed and I had a dead stick landing. It was about 75 feet above the runway heading in the opposite direction of my final approach. I circled the plane around and landed on the runway edge. All in once piece. I was happy to say the least!

RE: My first deadstick!
 

Let us know when you stop shaking :D

RE: My first deadstick!
 

Wow! Third solo flight and you get stuck with a deadstick landing ????!?!??!? That's just ROTTEN LUCK [:@]
..... it's also the reason why they should make underwear in shades of brown :D

But it sounds like you handled it like a champ so CONGRATULATIONS !!!!!!!!!!!!!! No broken plane, No foul ! You must have had a really good instructor who drilled some good emergency procedures into your head or you're just a natural at flying. I'm so new to this that I can't imagine what that situation will be like and I hope it's more than a little while until I have to find out. I also hope I handle it as well as you did ;)

RE: My first deadstick!
 

First couple of deadstick landings are always heart stoppers. Just remember that the wing keeps the plane in the air, not the engine. The engine only gives you forward speed, which you can get by putting the nose down. Only problem with an engine failure is you only get one chance to land, like a glider.

RE: My first deadstick!
 

Remain calm. Keep the nose down. Airspeed = life.

Kudos on bringing her in on your first deadstick. They occur, sometimes frequently if you misdiagnose or can't find the culprit right away, and it's good to keep that in mind as you fly.

RE: My first deadstick!
 

Good job on keeping your head together and getting it down in one piece. I've found that deadsticks are usually "non-events" as long as you worry about getting the plane down safely and not always worrying about getting back to the runway!!! ;)

Ken

RE: My first deadstick!
 

Yup. Deadsticks are something that I practice. I go high, then cut the engine to idle and then pick a spot and bring it in for an approach. Once sure of the landing spot, I throttle up and do it again, but this time from a different spot.

If you practice some of the emergency procedures, do frequent touch and go's, the jitters with deadsticks become a thing of the past.. and just a part of flying RC. I usually dedicate one flight per flying day to practice of emergency procedures. Then I go ahead and have fun.... not that deadstick landings are not fun... [sm=bananahead.gif] :D

RE: My first deadstick!
 

Be very aware of your airplane's glide ratio. Just yesterday we had a very skilled pattern pilot practicing for our competition this weekend deadstick and damage his airplane. He was very high and turned towards the field way too early, overshooting the field. His airplane glided much further than he thought it would. If you've ever seen our field you know that you don't want to overshoot; we are on a hill surrounded by trees. I was calling for him and saw it coming the second he turned back so quickly. Not that I'm better than him (I'm not), I think I just had more presence of mind in the situation because it wasn't my airplane.

RE: My first deadstick!
 

Yeah, the first couple deadsticks are scary, but now if I get one it ain't no big deal. Mine are from either running it dry or long slow nose dives from a very high altitude.

RE: My first deadstick!
 

As has been said by others before - my deadsticks are usually my best landings. I think it is because I concentrate that much more.

I don't deadstick as much as I used to, but they usually result in some old timer correctly yelling "Leave the $%#@ needle valves alone. You youngsters are always messing with your needle valves!!" Or something like that....

Congratulations on handling yours like a pro.

RE: My first deadstick!
 

During training classes, if I feel that a student is doing well enough; I have them practise several engine-on deadsticks.

Then at random, while they are flying the plane on the buddy box, when they get to a good altitude, and in a safe location, I'll drop the trim and throttle, then flip the trainer button off momentarily to kill the engine for a real full deadstick.

They barely notice it happening...

I then say " it looks like you have a deadstick... ", what are you going to do.

If they hesitate too much, I then start indicating what they should do, giving them a string of slow directives until the plane is down.

Usually they are relatively calm through the event because of the directions, but the experience of having done it at least once, is a great confidence booster.

I have yet to loose a trainer this way.