is this logical?
 

my g/f is questioning the logic of my decision to buy the parkzone corsair to practice flying when no instructors are available to help with my pts mustang. my logic was that the foam corsair would be easier to fix if/when i crashed than the balsa pts mustang, but the stick time would be more relevant than simulator time. does this sound logical to anyone else, or am i just looking for an excuse to have more planes?

RE: is this logical?
 

This question has a 2-part answer...

A) You're just looking for an excuse to buy more planes

and

B) That's not illogical - women are! :D

Didn't your PTS come with a Simulator? If not, buy a cheap one (Get a controller for FMS which is free). A Sim will do you much better than a foamy

RE: is this logical?
 

Forget about reasoning with the girlfriend. It is just a recipe for extreme frustration. One way to diffuse her though (temporarily) is to question the "logic" of her many shoes, closet full of cloths that never get worn, multitude of shampoos and potions in the bathroom and other unusual things she likely has. She'll stop and think for just a second or two giving you enough time to run out and head to the flying field.

We all know you want more planes and I like your "justification" for it. Other new pilots take note; you might try using this one.

Have fun with the Corsair and the many, may more to come.

On a more serious note, keep in mind that the corsair is a fairly capable airplane. Make sure you apply what your instructor tells you to the Corsair as well.

RE: is this logical?
 

Yeah, chicks wouldn't understand logic if it hit them in the face. I would download the free FMS sim and buy the Corsair!:D
1

RE: is this logical?
 

There's no logic to acquiring more planes. I have to stop myself because I have plenty of planes to fly. Do I want more, yes. I always see the next model I'd like to have. I've seen the Parkzone Corsair fly. One of the guys in the neighborhood flys one at the park. It's pretty cool. Would you benefit from it? Probably. The T-28 is pretty cool also. Or even the Super Cub could have training benefits. But I will admit that I get the greatest joy flying the same plane over and over and over. You get a real good feel for a plane when you do that. So maybe a second plane is a good idea, whatever you do, get as much flying from whatever you have.

RE: is this logical?
 

No instructors in Nashville ? That can't be correct. Have you contacted the local clubs or asked at the local hobby shop ?

Get the Corsair if you want it, but your g/f is more or less right. That Corsair will be slightly more difficult to fly than the PTS Mustang. So total destruction without hope of repair is a real possibility.

Don't blow off your g/f's logic. They might think differently than us, but that doesn't mean they are always wrong. In fact, comparing a logical decision to your emotional response to that decision makes for an excellent parity check. Women seem to have that built in, where we often need to learn that over the course of our lives.

RE: is this logical?
 

Who needs logic (or an excuse) to buy more planes?

Buy her some flowers and go flying.
Dave Olson

RE: is this logical?
 

Wait for an instructor...the park zone won't be any easier to fly than the PTS.....if you want the park zone get it...girl friends come and go...find one that will buy you airplanes....and wait for or go find another instructor

RE: is this logical?
 

I was at my local airfield awhile back, and a guy was there with that same Corsair foamie. He was just learning how to fly, and had crashed it several times. He asked me if I wanted to fly it, so I did. His came with the Spektrum DX5 radio, which is an ok radio for that plane, but no computerized adjustments possible. Boy, I tell you, that plane came with the rates set to max, and it was a HANDFULL! Another pilot reset the rates to a more manageable level, and now the plane is MUCH more stable. The Corsair is a very responsive plane, as someone else posted, so beware.
Other than that, I say there is no such thing as too many planes!!!! As long as budget allows, go for it! At least parts for the Corsair are relatively inexpensive, and usually readily available.
Someone mentioned the T28, that would be a good choice, as would the T34. Both a little more stable than the Corsair, (Just MHO).

RE: is this logical?
 

Yeah, I ran into that problem with a Sig Something Extra that a guy had at the field. He bought it from someone else who was a very experienced and talented flyer. His rates were, to say the least, sensitive. The poor guy that bought the plane had no idea. For his very first flight with the thing, he managed to get it up and in the air, but was all over the place.

I asked him if he had trimmed the plane. His answer was "Trim it? Hell, I can't fly it!!!" So, I asked him if he needed help.. "YES, PLEASE" was his answer so I ran over and took the TX from him. WOW.. what a handful. But, I realized what was going on and took it high then trimmed it out as best I could, then asked him where the rates switch was, he didn't know.. (Futaba and I was used to Spektrum and Airtronics). So, I landed it. Wphew.

Once on the ground.. in one piece, I might add.. all due to my superior flying skills.. :D [X(] ) and put it on the bench.

We figured out what was the high-low rates switch.. yeah, it was in high rates.. so as a quick fix, I set it to low rates, then set the high rates to match the low rates just in case, then I used the end points to soften it up even more, then added about 30% expo.

I put it back up for him and it was instantly more manageable. Wphew!!! So, I climbed up high and gave it back to him. He flew it ok and managed to get a lot of enjoyment out of it that day.

I guess the point here is that even new planes need to be checked for proper throws, using the manual, measuring the throws to see if they are way out or within reason.. then fly it with someone that can take over or have that person fly it first to see if it is fitting for a novice to fly, and make adjustments so it is fit for a novice.

CGr.

RE: is this logical?
 

Sounds like the girlfriend in this case is the logical one. You can't fly the airplane you have, and you want to buy another one that is just as difficult. Not logical.
Invest the dough in learning, even if it means driving a ways to meet with an instructor. I love this hobby, but it is not an instant gratification activity. Invest the time and effort to learn, and you will be able to buy any airplane you want to and fly it safely.

RE: is this logical?
 

well, i've already bought the plane, and flown it a couple of times. there are instructors in nashville and i have hooked up with the local club. great bunch of guys, and they have been very helpful. i'm fairly comfortable flying the corsair, though the last landing ripped out the left main gear and stripped an aileron servo due to a stall about 4 feet off the deck. i did learn that i could have avoided that with better throttle management, thanks to another thread on here. i use the realflight g4 sim, but sometimes you just gotta go fly, you know? i like the corsair because it's really easy to sling in the car and go, no fussing with flight box and fuel or windexing the snot off afterwards.

RE: is this logical?
 

Sounds like "doing" is "learning". Sometimes you just have to do it. Just be careful, some instruction would help you though. The electrics can teach you a lot without the mess and complexity of a glow engine.

RE: is this logical?
 

Indeed it is not. :)

maerlma, swing by PAC RC in Smyrna (Head south on Murfreesboro Road, PAC is on the left, in the shopping center just past Team Chevrolet in Smyrna) and talk to Mike Dunphy. Tell him Gordon sent you down there looking for help finding an instructor.

There are SEVERAL of us (Mike included) who fly at 2-3 different locations around the area, and have instructed numerous students at each of them. In fact, during the flying season, Mike and I frequently set up a specific evening every week to go down to the Murfreesboro club (Middle Point RC - where we are both instructors) JUST to teach new students, at no charge of course.

Optionally, if you prefer, drop me a PM here with a phone number and name, and I'll be happy to give you a ring and see if we can set something up. :)

RE: is this logical?
 

I can tell you how to get into this hobby without wasting a bunch of money and time; but it is unlikely, given your post that you are going to listen to anybody, so enjoy doing it the hard way. Your girlfriend will choose to live with the sickness of this hobby or not. Good luck :eek: