beginner questions
 

So I did some mock tackoffs on my lawn this past weekend with my trainer. It seems that it needs a ton of runway to get up enough speed and that the grass needs to be very short. It is using a .25 engine. Is that what others have experienced with their trainers? Also, how do I know when I have enough speed to get it up in the air? Just experience? Also, should the front wheel on my trainer be able to turn at all? It *was* able to but it made controlling it on the grass very hard. Thanks.

beginner questions
 

Okay, lets back up just a bit here. What aircraft is you trainer? A .25 engine is way small for most of the trainers I am familiar with. Give a few more details and we'll see if we can sort this out. :D

beginner questions
 

The smaller 25 size trainers of course are going to be more sensitive to the runway surface than a conventional sized 40 trainer as well as the size and type wheels. As far as steering goes you never said which trainer you have, not all 25 sized ships have a steerable nose wheel and airplanes do not steer and respond quite like an RC car for example depending on the surface.

I trust you are going to get help (instructor) for your first flights and not on your lawn arn,t you?

John

beginner questions
 

All excellent questions and all the answers to them will come quickly with experience.

Once your instructor speaks to you about the initial considerations with flying it will all become clear!

Good luck, and have fun.

:)

-David C.

beginner questions
 

I'm not even sure on the exact type of trainer because I got it off of Ebay. It is made by Pilot and the .25 engine is the recommended engine size. I think it is a 25S or something. Sorry for the lack of details.
Yes, I am learning on my own...and yes...I know that most of you say this is completely stupid. I've flown electric planes on my own before and I'm very good with RealFlight...and yes, I know this isn't the real thing. I understand the risks...and I fly in my parent's 10 acre lot out in the country so I'm only risking my plane which is fine with me.
I've just never taken off from the grass before so I'm looking for suggestions and hints. Thanks.

beginner questions
 

pls go to the nearest club and get some help.

10 acre is a big place for electrics but not for glow engine aircraft. you definitely need more space ( a proper flying field) and you need to avoid any accidents that can happen with your aircraft to nearby property or people.

beginner questions
 

I really do appreciate all of your replies and posts to my questions. But why does everybody just post back "go get a instructor"? This is a place to ask beginner questions is it not? I don't mean to sound rude or anything but why can't u just answer my questions or not post back? My parents have 10 acres in the country...which is just their lot...with nobody else or places around...that isn't dangerous! This isn't the city or anywhere near the city! It's up in Canada...the nearest town is 10 miles away.

beginner questions
 

I think you'll find that you haven't had a direct answer because its very difficult to do so in a situation where personal skill is involved.

I mean, for example, you asked 'how do you know when its going fast enough to take off?' That is almost impossible to answer in the written word.

It should be going this speed :- (< >)

(that is, 32.56767 mph)

(approximately)

Did that help?

:)

However, they are all excellent questions that will be answered the moment you actually try it. You will 'feel' that a speed is enough to take off when you see it, after a bit of experience.

As with any skill, its almost impossible to correspond with somebody and get solutions.

Don't let that put you off though! It's a great hobby, full of people who are willing to help in any way possible.

If you need to find out where your local club is, try the AMA website, or, this one is a good start:-

http://www.hobbypeople.net/rcsource/link/plane012.htm

-David C.

beginner questions
 

Yeah...I guess you are right. What about the runway question though? Do trainers typically need a lot shorter grass or anything like that? Or should freshly cut grass be fine? Thanks again. :)

beginner questions
 

One of the main advantages trainers have to ease-of-flying comes from their lower wing loading.

That is, they have large wing areas for the total weight of the plane.

This makes them much more forgiving with regard to the speed needed to make it fly. Trainers therefore need less speed to take off and land.

That's a definite advantage when taking off from grass, as you can get away from the bumps and drag of grass sooner if you can achieve flying speed sooner.

Lots to learn, and that never goes away in this hobby (I'm glad to say!) but also lots to be satisfied and have fun with on the way.

-David C.

beginner questions
 

Small planes have small wheels.

Small wheels get bogged down in grass, so the shorter the grass, the better. A dirt or paved runway would be beyyer yet.

But, if you are stuck with grass, do the same thing full scale planes do... once you get speed, apply up elevator to get the nosewheel out of the grass, but be ready to decrease the amount of backstick once she breaks ground or it will be a very short flight.

With a 25 size plane, you can also consider a hand launch.

One final word of warning. There IS a club in Farmington. Make sure that you are at least 5 miles away from their field. If you shoot one of them down, it's your fault. If they shoot YOU down, it's still YOUR fault. If one of the members lives down the street from where you're flying and turns on his Tx in his basement and shoots you down, it's YOUR fault. Flying in a town that has a club, but choosing not to join is a lose / lose proposition.

beginner questions
 

For flying off of grass, get yourself some 2.75" or 3" foam wheels. They will look funny on a smaller .25 plane, but they will make all the difference getting off of grass. I learned on a .25 sized plane, and it made a world of difference.

What .25 engine is it, and what prop are you using? I'm going to guess your prop is a 9x6. Going to a 9x5 or 9x4 will give you more torque to get going in the grass.

Knowing when the plane is at flying speed takes experience. If you have someone who can fly it with you, watch how slow it comes in to land, and figure you need to be going a bit faster than the landing speed. Beyond that, get going as fast as you can, and the plane will more or less fly itself off of the ground. You'll want to hold up elevator on the take off run to get the nosewheel out of the grass as soon as you can, but you need to let off the elevator as the plane leaves the ground to avoid pulling up too sharply and stalling. Go for a takeoff that looks like the full scale planes do it, long, flat, and fast.

beginner questions
 

On my first flight my instructor took off (actually it was the airplanes maiden flight and we just took the buddy box out there for kicks)

After he made one pattern around he gave me control and never took it away and let me land after a few approaches. I never felt like I wasn't in control.

The only problem is now he wants me to solo and I do real well I think when he says like "take-off" well I take-off - then he'll say "fly the pattern" I fly the pattern and then he'll say "do figure 8's" so I do figure 8's and then he'll say "land" and I'll land.

I'm worried when I'm up there for the first time without him giving me the flight to follow I'll get lost.

beginner questions
 

I think the reason that a lot of these guys have told you "go get an instructor" is because they care whether or not you succeed or fail. They are just trying to save you a lot of time, money and frustration. I am not saying that you cant learn on your own, but your little electrics and Real Flight (while a very good learning tool) are not the same. Not trying to get in your business, but since most of these guys have WAY more experience than you do, maybe you might think about taking a little friendly advice before you accidentally get in trouble. I know if I was flying at a sanctioned field, and a guy like you flying somewhere out on his own turned his transmitter on and shot me down causing a loss of my aircraft, you would be getting a visit from me if I found you. You might be wise to follow the above advice and check how far your "10 acre lot" is from the established flying field before you get something stirred up that you dont want. Like was stated above, if you are within 5 miles, either you or them are going to have problems sooner or later. :)

beginner questions
 

He wasn't getting 'pissy' was he? I didn't read it that way anyway.

Were you Hocpoc?

-DC

beginner questions
 

Nah, he wasnt. I went back and re-read what he wrote, and edited my post accordingly. I edited that right after I posted it, I guess you were just faster than I was. Sorry about jumping the gun there!! :o

beginner questions
 

They don't call me 'quick on the draw' for nuthin'.

In fact they don't call me that at all, really.

-David C.

beginner questions
 

Nope I wasn't getting mad. Just frustrated that everytime a person asks a question that is maybe a little too simple for all of the experts or somehow related to how a person should fly a plane we beginners always get the response "get a instructor". Oh well...thanx for the replies anyway. :)

By the way...the 10 acre lot that I was talking about is a lot in the middle of many empty lots up in NorthWestern Ontario...**4 hrs ** from the nearest city. The only thing that I would be endangering would maybe be the bald eagles that sit down by the river...maybe we would crash in mid air or something if I ever got it off the ground. :) That is about as dangerous as it would be. Or I could crash my ugly trainer that I got off ebay. Thanks for the concern though. :)

beginner questions
 

I bet you'll find the trainer as exciting as you want for the first flights. One of the great things about this hobby of ours is that there are so many challenges, at whatever stage you have reached.

Also, you won't find any so-called expert worth listening to who looks down at your first attempts at flying. He will know that the ground is just as hard for his 1/3 scale aerobatic model as it is for your trainer.

;)

David C.

beginner questions
 

Borzak, you said Sounds like the next step for you is to cut the cord and fly, but have your instructor just stand next to you. No buddy cord, but the instructor can help talk you though things and make suggestions until you are more comfortable.

beginner questions
 

I taught myself to fly with a Zagi electric, I recently bought an Alpha Trainer. It took a couple days to get brave enough to fly it, but it was easy to fly compared to the Zagi. The landings and take offs were no problem at all. I wasn't sure how much speed I needed to take off so I just gave it a little up elevator my first time and when it was ready it took off. Seemed pretty simple.

beginner questions
 

Hi "hocpoc!" You mentioned you've flown slow flyers, had some "sim" time, so I assume you can drive an r/c model around. So, let's get your .25 off the ground. First off please heed Montague's advice and install larger wheels, and go to a 9x4 or 9x5 prop. I recommend a Master Airscrew prop, they seem to have more "bite." But dull the prop edges as they are razor sharp, and hard on the fingers! The larger wheels, especially the nose wheel will handle the drag from the grass better, and afford better steering, if you have it on this plane. Keep the grass mowed short. These things should aid getting you airborne, but you'll find this trainer a lot faster than what you're used to, so be prepared once airborne, to slow it down to where it maintains altiltude at a slow speed. Stay at around 50 to 75% power. This will allow you to mentally stay "in front" of the plane. Stay high and up wind of the strip, just in case. You can always glide back. 10 acres, even with a bunch of clear terrain around it can dwindle with a fast airplane, and getting it back to the strip should always be foremost in your mind. It's your airplane and you have to fly it, so go for it. Good luck and let us know how you make out.