when to stop trying
 

I been trying to learn how to fly for about 6months totaled one trainer and messed up a winghave broke about 10 or 15 props.I have crashed 3 slow stick .I don't know what going on some days I do good and then the next day I can't get any thing right. I'm 66 year old and love to fly when I get the plane up and everything is going good .But I'm wondering how long should I keep trying .

RE: when to stop trying
 

Sorry to hear that. I am just a little older than you and I can relate to what you are going through. Are you using an instructor? If not, do that. Sounds like you are breaking the props on the landings, is that correct? Don't give up, one day every thing will click and you'll wonder why it didn't happen sooner. How are your crashes occuring. Are they near the field or do you let it get to far away? Good luck and stay with it.

RE: when to stop trying
 

Yes I'm useing an instrutor and yes all the brokenprops. are on landing.one question I have some friends that tell to just fly the slow stick and leave to trainer at home but i can't see that the slow stick real is the best to learn on maybe i'm wrong.

RE: when to stop trying
 

Have the instructor make you practice your landings up high. Get the feel of what the plane is going to do when it is slowing down. Don't be in a hurry to land. I see guys wanting to get the plane on the ground before it is ready. Do you have a simulator? You can download a free one from FMS. Helps with stick orientation. One question, You said most of the props are broken on landings, do you have ample prop clearance from the ground.

RE: when to stop trying
 

Goirish is right. I think the same as he does when he said just keep with it because one day it will just come to you. If you are having fun flying and learning you will love it once you get the hang of it better, and you will in time.

RE: when to stop trying
 

A different instructor may be called for too. Your guy may be as knowledgeable as can be, but sometimes teacher and student just don't get on the same wavelength. If you have had that many wrecks while on the buddy box, then something is definitely wrong with the instruction process. Either he isn't communicating or you aren't hearing him. If you ever get out to Fort Worth, I'd be happy to help you.

RE: when to stop trying
 

Amen to the queation about a simulator...I am about your age and hadn't really had a lot of experience (about 25 years ago I built a Falcon 56 and flew it a few times with a trainer). So I got a good simulator (Real Flight) and put in about 50 or 60 hours on the simulator before I even thought about a real plane....then got an EFlight Apprentice and flew it several times with a trainer and believe it or not never damaged it severely even learning to land. I think the simulator is a good tool. Today it is raining here and I will most likely fly the simulator some. I have been flying over a year and have several planes including a couple of low wings and a ducted fan jet and can fly them all....but I still enjoy the simulator.
Good luck...don't give up....everyone crashes...you can do it.

RE: when to stop trying
 

A big ditto to that. And definitely spend some time with a simulator. It's cheap lessons!

RE: when to stop trying
 

Never give up! This is just too much fun after you get it down. I agree that you should not be crashing with a instructor, and a simulator really makes a big difference. You don"t have to get the fanciest or the most expensive one out there. Depending on your radio, you can also get just the cord and it will plug into your computer and you will get used to the radio and a plane. The simulator is not the same as actually flying, but it really helps the hand/eye coordination and keeping the plane in controlled flight when it is coming back at you. I have seen people learning to fly and when the plane is coming at them they turn their back to the plane and look over their shoulder so they can keep everything straight. I did this also and it kept it straight in my mind and eventually I did not need to turn around for orientation. For what it is worth, I have seen people pick up a controller and fly almost perfect, others have taken a year to learn. The biggest thing is just not to give up... you can do it.
dan

RE: when to stop trying
 

Crashes are the price of admission. I wrecked more planes learning than I care to admit

as mentioned before get a flight sim and put in some time every day. half hour or so each day .. we are working with muscle memory and if you take a week off between sesions your reslults will be slowed


show up at the field with spare props. if the only thing you break on your trainer on a landing is the $4 prop it wasnt that bad of a landing.


before you know it you will be greasing them in and looking to move to a low wing trainer.

RE: when to stop trying
 

Having just taught my father last year at age 65. The one thing that I had the most problem with was getting him to stop thinking about everything and just fly the planes. He was always looking at his watch and the flagpole. Was worried about the engine cutting out, and trying to see the control linkages while he was flying, to see if there was a problem. There was never a problem with anything ever. I would always double check the planes before he flew to be sure everything was ok. And his tinkering on them while at the house brought up many potential problems. I would say that you can fly fine. Just are over thinking the actions that you need for a successful flight. Get yourself a plane set up correct and enjoy. When you get to the field remember that this is all for fun. One of the reasons that children can learn so fast is that they just do one thing at a time. When they fly that's all they do fly. They aren't thinking about the wind, engine, fuel, and if they will land safely. It took a while and a few good laughs at his expense. But I he is a predictable and safe pilot now. Maybe this will help.

RE: when to stop trying
 

Find a new instructor:eek: Now that could make thing a little uncomfortable if you and he are food friends. Don't give up your instructor should not be letting you have this many crashs. Have him furnish the planes and props and see when the crashes stop. I have been flying for 60 yr's and still give instruction, and would expect a person to try a different instructor if it were not working out.
Larry k


And yes I do have a RF G4.5 sim and love it;)

RE: when to stop trying
 

Hi luker737
I taught a couple about your age and it took them close to 18 months before they could make a good landing. Keep at it. It is a wonderful hobby.

RE: when to stop trying
 

I cant understand why the push toward the Slow Stick when the trainer hasnt been mastered. Granted Sticks are fun and can be docile if set up right but its still not a trainer. IMO. Maybe your friends are tired of the trainer but are forgetting that your the one that has to learn to fly the plane. Not them.

When the trainer was totalled, how did that go down?
How many instructors do you have?
And three Sticks crashed? Do you have an instructor thats become tired of his student and isnt instructing anymore or paying attention?
What do you have a good grasp on? Takes offs ok? Left and right patterns ok? Right and left figure eights? Loops?

Years ago when I was new to RC I thought that if I could do it anyone could. A few years later I became an instructor and have been privileged to help many people. I had a student in his 60's about 7 years ago that just wasnt getting it after about a year. The student also trained with two other instructors. The situation was similar to what you described. One weekend the gentleman would do great and we (instructors) would start thinking that he had turned the corner. Then the next weekend or maybe a couple weekends later it would be like he had forgot everything. It was very discouraging at times for him and us. The good part was we rarely had equipment issues. He knew how to build and tune engines, etc. It was just the flying part that he didnt have the capacity for anymore. I say anymore because I really think that had he been younger he would have soloed and got his wings. Sadly, I got voted to politely suggested that he stick to just building models or whatever because we ran out of ideas, tools, knowledge (we tried everything) to be able to help him.

Im not suggesting you give up, but it would be easier for us to discern what some other issues might be if you gave us a more detailed history.

RE: when to stop trying
 

Hang in there!
I had one Saito twin, that after 5 1/2 gallons of fuel turned into a real gem seamingly one weekend at the end of the season. I instantly thought of that engine reading your thread. Other pilots wondered how I didn't get frustrated over all the fuss. I perservered, and patience won.
In our club we have a fella that started at age 63. Every spring someone always takes him up on the buddy-box for his first few flights. He scratches his head at how quick these 12yr olds catch on, and kicks the heads off of dandilions all afternoon. As the wind dyes at the end of the day he fly's till dark. We love having him around as much as he likes his new hobby, and friends
6 months, and 1 trainer. Hardly enough yet to form an honest oppinion. Smile, it's only March, you have a hole summer ahead of you. Enjoy your new hobby!

-Snuts-

RE: when to stop trying
 

Wow people care! 5 post while I was composing mine.
-Snuts-

RE: when to stop trying
 

Let me say this about flying at an older age. I'm 71 and decided to take up RC flying after attending several RC airshows about a year and a half ago. About 14 years ago I had open heart surgery and as a result of that and/or all the meds they put me on I lost a lot of hand/eye coordination. I felt that the money spent on a Flight Sim., $200 for the RealFlight G4.5, would be money well spent and that would tell me if I could fly. Sure enough I could. I can't begin to tell you how many hours I spent on making touch & goes but it really helps. Now I'm able to fly several planes and getting better as time goes on. I still haven't spent that much time actually flying but as soon as the weather improves just a bit I'll be out there again.
Tom

RE: when to stop trying
 

Snuts, that's because you type SLOW!!!:D:D:D

TomBates-Are you flying now?

RE: when to stop trying
 

Do you mean for real or sim flying? I did make some flights in Nov before the weather got bad and I usually fly the sim about 1-2 hours per day in the afternoon.

RE: when to stop trying
 

Good for you on the real flights. You don't mean you get bad weather in NY [:o][X(]
Nice here today, lots of snow, sunshine, no wind and 38*. Went out this morning and got in a quick flight.

RE: when to stop trying
 

I'd get a cheap 2 meter glider and take it from there. These planes can be flown and landed with the trim levers. You can set the radio down in the middle of a flight and go make a sandwich......;)

Just don't build a Goldberg Gentle Lady kit unless you enjoy solving Chinese puzzles.

RE: when to stop trying
 

What kind of sandwich....:)

RE: when to stop trying
 

I am going to take a slightly different angle on this... To me there is no reason to ever let your flying skill determine when to quit. If you never learn to fly and you enjoy the building,hanging out at the field ...
What else matters? There really aren't any points or reasons to do anymore than have fun. That being said I hope you can learn to your desired goal. There are some great suggestions above...

I personally will probably keep building if I can't see the airplane any further away than the work bench..I will simply get someone I trust to fly it. Its all about enjoying ANY PART of the hobby..there are no real required parameters ...

RE: when to stop trying
 

Yeah, it's been a yukky winter this year. 2 of the neighbor kids just finished removing about 3' of snow from the roof. But like you, not bad here today. Sitting on 40 with some wind and passing snow showers. Getting better all the time now. I also have a Wilga that I want to try soon, along with an Apprentice. Neither of them has been airborne yet. Give me time and I'll be flying.

RE: when to stop trying
 

Keep at it as long as you want. So long as you can afford to keep repairing damage or replacing airplanes, you are still having fun and you aren't endangering anyone then nothing else really matters.

RE: when to stop trying
 

This is a Slow Stick.... It is an Excellent beginner plane. But it will Not teach you to land a "normal plane". mine normally lands in 6 ft It will teach you orientation. It is like a sim, it can be used as a tool to progress. but unlike a sim you put a brushless motor in it -take it outside and have a blast without costing much. Simulator time and buddy box is your key.

There's a guy that flies where I do, that has been flying for a couple of years and has never landed ANY plane. His son gets him in the air, lets him take over and when he's done takes over and lands. He still has a good time and NOBODY care's if he can land. One of these days he'll get it, but if not he's having fun anyway.-BW

RE: when to stop trying
 

Only 15 props in six months, shoot, I'm sure I did that in the first 2 weeks. lol. i used to buy them 5 at a time. Sometimes they only lasted 3 seconds. I would say to keep at it, get out as often as possible and one day it'll click. After 5 months I am getting pretty good, and rarely crash or break props, but still have a long way to go.

Eta, I'm 41 and enjoy playing video games, and I'll tell you That it took me what I thought was a long time to "master" or even get the hang of flying. Practise and more practise is needed to train your thumbs to do what is needed. It only looks easy.

RE: when to stop trying
 

Yeah, my bad. I was thinking of a regular big stik. I read stick and thats what I think of. But regardless, I still wouldnt recommend learning on that little slow stik either. Thats to play with, not to learn to fly with. At least not here anyway. The small stuff just gets knocked around in the wind to much and can make the learning process harder and longer. Come in on approach and the wind catches that little plane and flips it. Or the gear gets caught up in the grass. Bye-bye prop.

Im now wondering what the "trainer" was. Maybe a Park Zone T-28. JK

My hats off to luker737 for going it the hard way IMO. I now think 6 months isnt bad at all given what he's working with.

Sorry Im biased toward a more traditional 40 sized trainer. Ive been down the small electric route before with beginners.
Cheers.

RE: when to stop trying
 

If this hobby is something you truly love, definitely don't give it up. For me the rewards are far greater than the drawbacks. Six months is not bad in the grand scheme of things to become proficient in RC flying. It took me a year to comfortably take off and land the plane without damage, and many more years before I could do it w/o prop breakage etc (Learned to fly RC in 1983). I remember when I first started flying having 6 or more spare props in my flight box, now I do not have any, they are in the work bench at home..

Keep it up.

Steve

RE: when to stop trying
 

Never stop trying. yes I went from a trainer to the ultra stick 40 and it is easier to land and to take off. Much faster in the air but floats on landings. Keep trying I was on a buddy box for 6 months. Good luck

RE: when to stop trying
 

I want to thank everyone for there replies I think i'm going to keep trying but i think I'm going back to my 40 trainer glow .I can fly it once i get it up just getting it down is the problem that when trouble starts . I have a simulater that i fly about every day and i can land all the plane on it. so maybe I'll try a differant insturtor.

RE: when to stop trying
 

Just remember, don't be in a hurry to get in on the ground. Let it float above the runway until it starts to settle in. Then you can say "by GOD I did it";););)

RE: when to stop trying
 

Hey there... Back in the late 60's Early 70's... I picked up this crazy hobby, I pretty much taught myself to fly ( 8 - 10 planes later)
The first thing you need to do is get an instructor... hopefully with a BUDDY BOX system. One thing that will help you with orientation when the plane is coming towards you .... ALWAYS remember to "point the stick towards the wing that is down" This way you dont have to think " left or right" IT WORKS !!! Have fun... I know lots of guys who have quit and sold everything they RC they own.... ONLY to come back a few years down the road and fly again..

NEVER STOP TRYING !

Later...

RE: when to stop trying
 

"when to stop trying"

Never "Winners never quit and quitters never win"

RE: when to stop trying
 

Find another instructor.

RE: when to stop trying
 

Foodstick, I totally agree with your post.  I love to build.  And I know my planes dont look so good.  Sure had fun building em tho.   And they do actually fly.  
Its all about having a good time.  Why quit? 

RE: when to stop trying
 

Lots of people go through this, I pretty much taught myself to fly with a slow stick at the schoolyard, it help a LOT with thumb finger orientation..couldnt afford a sim 10 years ago and never got FMS to work with the disc and my radio...so,,I went through several planes myself..a good one thats smaller to learn on is the Ace whizard with an .049, maybe a .07 thunder tiger, just run it out of fuel (small tank) and deadstick it in,,set the prop so that when its on compression it is horizontal...Rog

RE: when to stop trying
 

This have been happening for years...small planes like .40 trainers or electric foamies are not ideal for seniors, as they are too fast/twichy or too light for outdoor conditions.

With one or two of this you will have no problems learning to fly:

http://www.hobby-lobby.com/srtele_arf_6882_prd1.htm


Good luck, Enrique

RE: when to stop trying
 

No, I'm gonna have to disagree with that whole line of thinking....if the guy has a radio. serovs, and a .40-.46 engine all he needs is another $70 trainer....you want him to get a whole new plane/battery/charger, set up thats gonna run into $ thousands by the time he's done, and then gonna have to buy a trailer to put it in!!!!And a slow stick is not twitchy ....its slow....I personally got back into it with a pico stick, yeah its light, and yeah you gotta get some batts but if you shop around nowadays that stuff is pretty cheap....Rog

RE: when to stop trying
 

im 17 and instructing a friend that is well into his 70's. i hope one day he will be able to takeoff and land on his own, weither that will happen it doesnt matter, he has a great time hanging around the field telling stories about his free flight models from when he was a kid. i enjoy listening to his stories and talking with him while i teach him. His wife has alzheimers and if i can help him in anyway i will. i can tell it is really affecting him, he really loves his wife. if i can take his mind off of everything for a few min's, i will spend a hour of my time to do so.

stop flying when you arnt having fun, my friend is really enjoying himself when he gets out to the field and thats whats important, if i have to buddybox forever i wouldnt mind.
if one day he said im not into it anymore i would be fine with that too because i could understand the fustration of trying and failing more than actually flying. i trashed my first model at least 10 times (gws estarter) and bought a gws slowstick to replace it. thats when it clicked, my first flight w/ the slowstick made all the sense in the world, put the biggest smile on my face for the rest of the week, i was so happy it worked because that was really the last chance i was going to give for flying. now 15+ models later im having a blast, but i realize how close i came to quitting.

stick with it, once it becomes a chore drop it, as simple as that. if you arnt having fun whats the point of anything?
life is to short to not have fun.

my advice is take the slowstick, fly it as slow as you can (about jogging speed) and fly it ten feet or less above the ground, if you get in trouble just cut throttle and let it hit the ground. it wont have enough speed/mass to damage anything, then pick it up and try again.
just make sure its a big field with nothing to avoid. also dont fly it above 8-10 mph winds uintil you get the hang of it