Whats Average Training Time for Newbies?
 

Hey All
Just wondering here how long is the average time in learing to fly without buddy box? I'm there but just can't get the landings consistant everytime. The youngsters seem to come and off on their own in about six to eight weeks. I'm approaching twelve weeks. Am I just showing my "hard to teach a old dog stuff? <wonders>

RE: Whats Average Training Time for Newbies?
 

There is no "average time". And trying to rank yourself by one is only going to get you depressed about your training, which will just set you back. You'll get it when you get it. That's about as simple as I can put it. I've had pilots that were off the buddy box in 3 days (two weekends) and I've got one that is going on his second year now, still on the buddy box. Just hang in there and keep practicing, you'll get it when you get it. Don't worry about anybody else.

Ken

RE: Whats Average Training Time for Newbies?
 

I have mild CP so took many months. My teenaged son, the video game freak with the magic thumbs, soloed in a day.

Variable but keep at it and it will happen. Great feeling when you go completely independant.

Tom

RE: Whats Average Training Time for Newbies?
 

My trainer say that you get it when you get it but seeing kids basically leaf frog into being solo is disturbing to me. Guess I'm just paranoid because I am a woman and just don't want to be labeled well she is just a girl. :(

RE: Whats Average Training Time for Newbies?
 

I might add a old woman. :)

RE: Whats Average Training Time for Newbies?
 

Hello:

There is no simple answer to that question, here are some of the factors.

1. For very good biological reasons, young people are better at learning new things. In our mid-twenties, our brains are "re-wired" which makes learning new things much harder. The "ace" at my club is also the youngest.
2. The flying time available. The site where I fly is very close to the sea and is badly effected by wind, sometimes for weeks at a time it's not possible to fly.
3. The ability of the instructor.
4. The ease of flying the particular plane which the student has.
5. The standards which the club has for people being proficient.
6. Possible bad experiences along the way. I was doing some routine repairs to my trainer when I stuck a hobby knife into my hand. It meant a visit to the emergency depart of a major hospital. That put me off flying for a couple of weeks.

Don't give yourself a hard time because it's taking longer than think it should.

Bye, Ian

RE: Whats Average Training Time for Newbies?
 

Hi Boudacia,

It took me several months to get disconnected from the buddy box, although I had a great instructor.
I was 47.

The fun is in flying, and you are flying.
The buddy box is just insurance for your investment, and it should not be reason for embarrasement.

Just relax and learn at your pace.
Focus on how the wing of your model plays with the air; that is what flies, the rest just follows it.
Try to enjoy your practices; if you are happy, you learn faster.

This reading may help with those landings:

http://masportaviator.com/2004/01/17...ng-techniques/

Best,

RE: Whats Average Training Time for Newbies?
 

I have to agree to what was said above...you will get it on your own time. Do not let anything get you down or distract you from your goal. Even if it takes months. You should ask yourself whether you are having fun or not...if you are then you have already achieved what this hobby sets out to do.

People differ so there is no average. I spend a lot of time on a simulator and had one 5 min flight (no landing or take offs) on a friends Super Air. Then I soloed the next flight on my Ultra Stick. It just differs and depends.

RE: Whats Average Training Time for Newbies?
 

Hang in there, alot of us didn't start flying until late in life, I was 63. I was one of those that had / have a long and frustrating learning curve, started flying in Dec. 2007 and following many crashes and some seriouse depression problems, quit in Sept 08. Started back in Nov 09 with a new club and a very good trainer. He put me on a buddy box for about three weeks and I got some confidence. I have crashed 4 or 5 times since but all have been repairable. No crashes for about 2 months now. Don't give up if you like RC flying, just take your time.

If you don't mind me asking, how did you get involved in RC flying?

Gary

RE: Whats Average Training Time for Newbies?
 

Just hang in there, It is still fun no matter how long it takes.

RE: Whats Average Training Time for Newbies?
 

Hi!
I started in 1975 when I was twenty one.
Joined a club and got help flying my plane (Powered by an OS MAX .25) and flew solo and landed after the second flight.
Have been teaching others to fly during my 35 years in this wonderful hobby and can say that youngsters learn much more quickly than adults. Some of my more "mature"students have had a difficult task learning at all...

RE: Whats Average Training Time for Newbies?
 

What difference does it really make how long it takes? I find that young folks say and do things because they are immature and think they know everything. After all, in my younger days I was the same way. I knew it all [X(] [X(]

When I started flying I did not need a buddy box, we just traded the radio back and forth when I got into trouble. I could land real good for a beginner, but my takeoffs stunk badly! Well, I do pretty well now and have found that some of the guys say for the length of time I have been flying they are amazed so I am well pleased, but I never really put any unrealistic expectations on myself. I just took my time and kept myself determined to do it and I did!

I have been flying since last May/June time frame. Since then I have seen guys come and go and they could have learned to fly had they just stuck to it with determination and did their research. Sometimes it can be a simple a matter as how the plane is set up. Make sure your plane is properly set up! I could not repeat this enough.

I fly my Alpha 40 trainer (46Evo), Pulse XT 40 (with 55AX -My favorite weekend plane of all I have), a 60 size Stick (91FX), a no name plane, a Twist 40 V2 (55ax), and both Great Planes Revolvers (91FX and GMS 76) and so far I have only had to do a few repair jobs and the worse crash was due to a mechanical failure.

I am having a blast and really enjoying myself. There are those days though that just don't seem to work for me and I struggle so I just fly my "easier-to-fly" planes and save my sportier/faster planes for those days when I am tip-top. To me this is wisdom of knowing your limitations and you end up having a good plane to bring back to the field next time. Almost every time I have seen someone take a plane up when they really knew inside not to, it resulted in a crashed plane.

Keep going, do not let anyone discourage you, and you will do great and have many happy flights. This is one fantastic hobby/sport. [8D] [8D]

RE: Whats Average Training Time for Newbies?
 

It's no secret, the students age has a lot to do with it. Just a couple years back I was training a 12 year old and a 60 year old at the same time. I told the 60 year old to not get upset when the 12 year old soloed right away. The kid was ready to solo on day one but I made him wait until day two. The 60 year old took about two months to solo but then the rest of the year to get to the point of beginner. Now it's been two years and the kid is out of the hobby but the 62 year old is learning stunt flying, not just hacking around but nice smooth stunt flying. He can land a plane way better then I do pretty much every time.
Kids have no fear, they were born with a joy stick in there hands, it's not there money in that plane either, mom and dad shelled out for it and if it hits the ground mom and dad will buy a new one, that counts for a lot too.
Don't go by any time frame or you will set yourself up for depression, just stick with it, it will come to you if you just relax and enjoy the hobby.;)

RE: Whats Average Training Time for Newbies?
 

Fantastic words to go by, it's like daylight just doesn't happen all at once. every one has a different time frame.

RE: Whats Average Training Time for Newbies?
 

LOL. That is great with need more women in this hobby. I soloed 2.5 years ago after 2 months or so on a buddy box. Was 44y/o than. This guy who started a year after me who is probably in his mid 30's is doing 3D stuff alreaady so it is up to the individual. All I know if you put the time into it you well get very good. Keep it up.

RE: Whats Average Training Time for Newbies?
 

LOL and Ouch. What kind of rutine repair caused you to stick yourself with a hobby knife?

RE: Whats Average Training Time for Newbies?
 

Im not really new to rc. Really new to planes and I play video games a lot. I tried to fly my super cub solo while also being the first time I have flown any rc vehicle. It didnt go so well. So think of the buddy box as an awesome opportunity. I enjoy teaching myself because when I do get to a good level I can say I did it myself. The downside is that I am going to make mistakes that other people have already made.

RE: Whats Average Training Time for Newbies?
 

well, i thought I was a hot shot. Where did it get me or the heli I should say? It's in the bottom of a lake. Stay away from water if you did not buy a boat.

I replaced the little heli with a better beginner. Soon I'll want bigger so it can go out in mild winds. These little things only work outside with dead calm winds (no wind period). Great to chase the cat and dog with inside though
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RE: Whats Average Training Time for Newbies?
 

A friend of mine has CP: so bad in upper and lower limbs he can't assemble a plane or get out of a low chair or climb two steps independently....yet he was EASILY the best aerobatic pilot in our club till he moved away.

"I can't do that" is not a phrase I used a lot around him.

Not sure how long it took him to solo.


mt

Speakin' of whom: Where are ya, Alain? That beautiful Corsair is gathering dust in my shop!

RE: Whats Average Training Time for Newbies?
 

I have muscular dystrophy that limits the mobility in my hands manely my left. i cant run the throttle or rudder i just mix rudder with ailerons and have my dad run the throttle. i just didn't give up on it and it came overtime. don't worry about others just go fly and have fun.

RE: Whats Average Training Time for Newbies?
 

It has been my observation that both younger and older age groups have specific different advantages, but the main difference I have noted in newbies getting from Start to Solo is that it's all about Focus and Endurance. I trained a friend's 8 year-old who had a lot of other activiites and only came out once a month or so. It took him two years to get the hang of it and not very well at that. Conversely, I trained a 60-something who was just obsessed with getting through training; counting flights and minutes and focused training on "weak points," and counted how many gallons of fuel he burned per weekend. HE soloed his second weekend and after three weeks, I had nothing left to teach him.

I learned slowly. I had a job and lifestyle that kept me from coming out more than once every three weeks or so, and it took me most of a season to feel comfortable flying alone.

Not to date myself, but I think flight simulators (although they are no substitute for the real thing) allow trainees to practice the basic reflexes and solo quicker. I learned to fly before trainer cords existed and that made training slower, too, 'cause pass-the-box instructors couldn't let you take as many risks as we can with cords.


mt

RE: Whats Average Training Time for Newbies?
 

Doesn't matter. Nobody has it all figured out.

RE: Whats Average Training Time for Newbies?
 

I'm very new to this and i'm getting into heli's but about that simulator stuff. No way, well I should speak for myself at least. Hands worked for me. Like I said my first heli yesterday is in the bottom of the lake. See hands on, will a simulator tell you to stay away from the lake?http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/js/f...used_smile.gifMy second heli is more of a beginner no rotor. I'm loving it but only goes outside when there is no and I mean no wind.

I see it already, A nitro heli is on it's way! Probably not till the end of summer. I must try back to the intermediate heli I turned into a fishing lure again. That rotor screw me up. then bigger and once I have that rotor down my hobby shop has some used heli's for about $450.00 but I will hire an instructor for that. I know you guys talking planes, that might be next year who knows. My nitro car is jealous, it's been sitting ever since these heli's came home with me.
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RE: Whats Average Training Time for Newbies?
 

First of all remember THIS IS A HOBBY :D
This is something we do to relax, enjoy life and relieve stress from our everyday lives.
Everyone takes different times and like others before me have said "there is no average time" before you get to solo.
Age does help with how fast you learn but it also involves other things like perseverance and patience.
If you crash let me tell you, we all, I mean ALL, have crashed before and it is just a part of life.
And most important remember and it's just a hobby and we are suppose to enjoy it

 Happy Landings

RE: Whats Average Training Time for Newbies?
 

FYI, if you contact Radio South I know he still has single stick radios. A few years back I flew with an old pattern champ and he was still using a couple of them, one of them was brand new. This could be the answer so you have complete control of your plane.;)

RE: Whats Average Training Time for Newbies?
 

Buy a sim, practice an hour a night and you will solo next week

Regards
sbdwag

RE: Whats Average Training Time for Newbies?
 

Kinda like Patty Wagstaff?

RE: Whats Average Training Time for Newbies?
 

I started just over a year ago, at age 55. Didn't use a buddy box, but had a good trainer right beside me for a couple of months. I think the best thing he did was point me at a goodfirst airplane- a HobbyZone Super Cub. (I'm sure there are plentyofother planes with similar characteristics.) Having a plane that:
1. Doesn't do a whole lot, and does it slowly enough for a newbie to keep up,
2. Lands just about at walking speed, and
3. Can take a lot of abuse.
did wonders for my confidence.
Moving on up, I found that a small electric flat foamy was a great plane to learn basic aerobatics. Again, very slow, will do anything, but will do it slow enough to let the learner react. A real confidence builder.
I found that a lot of the time I could figure out what needed to be done if there was only time to think about it for a few seconds. The slow but capable planes made that possible. Over time the reactions became instinctive, and I was able to move on to faster and more impressive planes. But I still use the slower ones because I still have a long way to go!

Chris

RE: Whats Average Training Time for Newbies?
 

I don't believe in the time factor. It's all in confidence in yourself (imo). This is my third year learning and for me the moment came when I took a inexpensive trainer to the field. That plane suprised me at how much fun I was having. After 4 great flights I put my other trainer in the air and on landing I set it down right in a tree. No damage but the confidence factor is still high and I'm still flying. Don't beat yourself up over it, just have fun.:D

RE: Whats Average Training Time for Newbies?
 

I second that!! Sims are priceless.

RE: Whats Average Training Time for Newbies?
 

Lots of good stuff here. If I may just add one thing.

Learning how to use a computer can seem extremely complicated if you look at everything involved as a whole. Break the many different operations down, figure out and learn one at a time, and things become much simpler?

With that in mind, maybe try to become purpose oriented with your flying? Have a purpose in mind when taking off - and focus on that purpose. Left turn. Right turn. Left turn coming at you, left turn going away from you. Conquer each maneuver one at a time, while reviewing those previously learned constantly. Maybe split each flight with 1/2 new and 1/2 review material? When broken down to individual maneuvers, it may be seen you don't have to hook many of them up end to end to complete a flight?

Another piece may be flying frequency. Once a week while learning may not be enough? Once a month, and it'll take forever.

Focus on what you're trying to accomplish, just remember to have some fun while doing that. Don't be shy about doing a loop (at altitude, but otherwise without notice) when your instructer's attention seems to be fading. That'll bring things back into focus.... FWIW

RE: Whats Average Training Time for Newbies?
 

Wow I see me in you. It was taking forever for me so I bought the Real Flight Simulator and that helped me a lot. Also my instructor took vacation and left me with a subs. This one is more aggresive and fearless, that helped a lot too. He told me I will be ready for solo in 2-3 hrs. At last after 3 months.:eek:

RE: Whats Average Training Time for Newbies?
 

Lots of good points in this one. Let me add my $0.02 worth as well. Frequency, it's been mentioned but you need to hear it again. Fly at least one day per week. Simulators, worth their weight in gold. They don't help a lot with peripheral issues, but help a great deal with orientation when the model is coming toward you. Here's some new thoughts to this forum; fatigue. Learning to fly R/C is one of the most mentally fatiguing things we can do. Limit your lessons to three flight per day. Any more than that and you will start making mental errors and adding to your frustrations. The last point is one that is heavily trained in the airline industry and that is the Stabilized Approach Concept. It means at some point well out on final approach, the model should be on centerline and not angling toward the runway, on a proper glide path and not being drug in or dived at the runway and lastly on proper speed. If you would imagine a "billboard sized" window 300 - 400 ft. on final and always try to fly through that window it will help a bunch. Learning to land a model is a two step process, the first being a stable approach and when this is mastered, then learning how to flare out for the actual touchdown. When I am teaching students, we concentrate on flying a stabilized approach followed by a go-around until the student can consistently fly an approach to the flare point. Only then do we continue through the flare to a touchdown. The last point is a freebie and that is learning to do a proper go-around. If the whole thing has curdled and you've lost the stabilized approach, do a go-around. The ability to execute a good go-around and to do it anytime things aren't right is a valuable safety tool. Never try to salvage a landing from a poor approach. Good luck!

RE: Whats Average Training Time for Newbies?
 

Awesome! That brings up a HUGE point. All instructors are not the same! If you aren't going anywhere, and there's another available, try them!

RE: Whats Average Training Time for Newbies?
 

Amen on the sim buy it fly the hell out of it every chance you get ,and the second piece of advice is don't get too heavily invested in your first plane
monetary value of the plane can be a really big stumbling block to soloing due to the pucker factor of having the plane low and slow on landing approach
buy a fairly cheap trainer fly the livin snot out of it ,learn to fly it and land it confidently then go buy something that you really like.
99% of the trick to soloing is developing the confidence to attempt it and the willingness to take your plane home in a garbage bag if you botch it up.
It will happen when it happens ,for me it took exactly what I just told you plus going to the field when no one else was around so I wouldn't feel nerved up or stupid if I crashed
I put the plane up and just concentrated the whole flight on my approaches one after another until I got it right and touched it down and repeated the process several more times on different days.

RE: Whats Average Training Time for Newbies?
 

Hi All
  Thank you all soo much for your great responses! I can tell you I am not giving up with my flying. I'm here to stay for a very long time. Just more frustrated with how the youngsters just walk in and have all this ability. Not sure who said it but it is true how the youngsters come in and fly up a storm in no time but are basically gone in a very short time. They have such a very short attention span before they need the next thrill and move on to find it. My thrill is here to stay! I have always wanted to do this but when I was younger my time was always spent playing sports plus no money. Today my sports days are over other then golf. You can also factor in older with my own money! :)
Again this is such a great community and I thank you all!
~Boudacia

RE: Whats Average Training Time for Newbies?
 

"Instructor?" "Buddy Box?"
I've never done R/C airplanes,bought an EDF 4-ch MiG-15, threw it togetherand flew it out of the box the first time. I got her off the ground,up to about 150' and turned her with aileron then elevator, and it was at this point I fell victim to "Pilot Reversal Displacement Syndrome" where everything is OPPOSITE of what it SHOULD be and absolutely lost it. I could NOT place myself in the bloody cockpit. Throttle forward full instead of down, nose straight down instead ofUP. It was then I realized I was going to be an authentic MiG-Killer out of wartime.Straight into the ground full bore. Plastic andfoam shrapnel exploded. It was beautiful. These jets are fast! Thank God I was ALONE for my first MiG Kill! Four more and I'm an ACE! Is it wrong? No.

I'm thinking SIMulator time before I fly the next one. If (when) I crack up the next one, maybe I'll look into a slower bird.. But this is a war of attrition and I look forward to the carnage. This could be bad. God help us.
Got free "FMS" simulator program with the Chinese MiG kit installed and running fine. Still, the brain is fighting this whole OPPOSITE world of R/C..If I could fly these jets ala RPV with through-camera viewing for "in the cockpit" control, well.....one problem solved, but others started no doubt.

RE: Whats Average Training Time for Newbies?
 

G'day Learning to fly RC planes takes as long as it takes. I started in 1989 at the age of 40 and my 12 year old son started the same time. This was before buddy boxes and our teacher was not that great. After three months (and a couple of planes) my son was flying solo. I did manage to fly solo after about 4 months but only with glider type models. My first solo was with a Dynaflite Butterfly powered by an OS FS26. It was an extremely gentle plane to fly and could more or less land its self. By this stage my son was flying fast low wing models and doing absolute greaser landings.

I did not really get to fly well for about 10 years and even now after nearly 20 years I do not consider my self an expert. The plane that made me independent was and is the Sig Kadet Senior - the kit version. I built my first one nearly 20 years ago and it is still flying (though it has had two new fuselages and some wing repairs over time). The Kadet can fly its self. To land it, you point it at the strip, reduce the power and it just floats in to land with you modulating the elevator. At the present time I have four Kadet Seniors. All have four stroke motors from 56 to 72 size. The favourite is the one covered in Solatex and powered by a Laser 70. Second favourite is the oldest and it is powered by a Saito 56. Nothing else is as relaxing to fly. Take off is a non event, flying is so easy I even taught a local radio crew on air and landing is easy to as I have said. Building does take some time but the kit and the instructions are excellent and you can easily build spare parts from the excellent plan. You can build the whole plane from the plan if you want to.

I recommend the Kadet to all my students who are "more advantaged in years". With a small four stroke it is economical and will fly for ages on quite small amounts of fuel too.

RE: Whats Average Training Time for Newbies?
 

A-#1 advice. There were no instructors within a reasonable distance form where I live so I was on my own. I bought Realflight when I purchased my trainer and I must have done 1000 touch and goes. I practiced for several weeks before I attempted my first flight. My first flight was solo and successful so I am a firm believer in sims. While they never are a substitute for real world situations, they do get your timing down and help you hand eye coordination.

RE: Whats Average Training Time for Newbies?
 

G'day

I recently taught a bloke to fly. He lives about 1000 miles from me so we did it by email. And it worked.

He bought a (Parkzone I think) Super Cub and went out and had a first flight that was short and spectacular and resulted in the usual damaged model. He repaired it and tried again. Same result. After a couple more similar times he started listening to my advice.

1. Buy some fibre reinforced packing tape and split it into thin strips and use it to reinforce the leading and trailing edges and put some length ways down the fuse top, bottom and sides.

2. Buy some sort of electric powered foam glider. The Multiplex Easystar is great but the standard engine is not. A cheap upgrade to brushless and LiPo really helps. My friend used the Parkzone Radian and he is still flying it after many prangs and many repairs.

3. To get your orientation right in an emergency, try this - point the radio in the direction the plane is flying. Sounds strange but it really works for most people. So if the plane is coming at you, point the plane behind you (to one side) and look over your shoulder at the plane. I don't know why this works, but it does.

4. If you are pointing the radio at the plane and it is coming towards you - use the aileron (or rudder for a three channel plane) to point the stick at the low wing. This will bring the plane back to level.

The whole trick is to get into the air and get some "stick time" and a powered glider will help you do this quickly. Set it up so that the rudder is operated by the stick that would normally be the aileron stick (right stick for Mode 2) so that when you get a plane with ailerons, you don't have to learn to turn all over again.

Finally - Have Fun.