First Flight Blues
 

My first flight with a trainer lasted 30 seconds with the trainer "lawn darting" into the ground. Thank goodness for epoxy. What advice can you give me, after I repair the trainer, to get started? The trainer has throttle, ailerons, rudder and elevator. I got into trouble with the ailerons when the plane went upside down as I was trying to gain altitude and panicked trying to give "up" elevator when the plane was upside down when I really was giving "down" elevator and that's why it "lawn darted". Can I disconnect the ailerons and still fly the plane until I figure out the transmitter?

Tally Ho,

Dave<br type="_moz" />

RE: First Flight Blues
 

With a trainer designed for ailerons you aren't going to have enough dihedral in the wings to fly it rudder only, you need to leave the ailerons connected and learn to fly it that way. I know you may have read this many times here on RCU, but the best advice I can give is to find an instructor to teach you to fly. The instructor is going to set you up on a buddy box so that you won't crash your plane while you learn to fly. While there are some that are "born natural" pilots and can learn to fly on their own without an instructor, they are indeed the minority. I would wager taht 99 out of 100 need to have an instructor.

According to the AMA website there are 2 clubs within 20 miles of you. Contact them and I'm sure they will be more than happy to help you learn to fly.

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="word-spacing: 0px; font: medium 'Times New Roman'; text-transform: none; color: rgb(0,0,0); text-indent: 0px; white-space: normal; letter-spacing: normal; border-collapse: separate; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-family: Arial, Tahoma; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px"><table id="ctl00_ContentPlaceHolder1_dgClubs" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="4" align="center" border="0" style="width: 700px; color: rgb(51,51,51); font-family: Verdana; border-collapse: collapse"> <tbody> <tr style="font-weight: bold; color: white; background-color: rgb(93,123,157)"> <td><span style="color: #ffffff">Name</span></td> <td><span style="color: #ffffff">Number</span></td> <td><span style="color: #ffffff">Members</span></td> <td><span style="color: #ffffff">Contact</span></td> <td><span style="color: #ffffff">Contact Address</span></td> <td>District</td> <td>Intro Pilots</td> </tr> <tr style="color: rgb(51,51,51); background-color: rgb(247,246,243)"> <td>MUROC MODEL MASTERS<span class="Apple-converted-space"></span>
Flying Site Details
<span id="ctl00_ContentPlaceHolder1_dgClubs_ctl02_lblDis tance" style="font-weight: bold; color: blue">14.67 miles</span></td> <td style="white-space: nowrap">1737</td> <td style="white-space: nowrap">27</td> <td style="white-space: nowrap">CHARLES THREEWIT</td> <td style="white-space: nowrap">3809 COCINA LN<span class="Apple-converted-space"></span>
PALMDALE CA 93551-2678<span class="Apple-converted-space"></span>
Phone: 661/722-8737<span class="Apple-converted-space"></span>
Visit Website
</td> <td style="white-space: nowrap">10</td> <td style="white-space: nowrap">No</td> </tr> <tr style="color: rgb(40,71,117); background-color: white"> <td>ANTELOPE VALLEY TAILWINDS INC<span class="Apple-converted-space"></span>
Flying Site Details
<span id="ctl00_ContentPlaceHolder1_dgClubs_ctl03_lblDis tance" style="font-weight: bold; color: blue">17.42 miles</span></td> <td style="white-space: nowrap">114</td> <td style="white-space: nowrap">67</td> <td style="white-space: nowrap">ANTHONY FRACKOWIAK
Email Contact</td> <td style="white-space: nowrap">1032 HASTINGS AVE<span class="Apple-converted-space"></span>
ROSAMOND CA 93560-6642<span class="Apple-converted-space"></span>
Phone: 661.256.1147<span class="Apple-converted-space"></span>
Visit Website
</td> <td style="white-space: nowrap">10</td> <td style="white-space: nowrap">No</td> </tr> </tbody></table></span></span>

Ken

RE: First Flight Blues
 

Find an instructor...you'll learn quicker, have more fun, and will be alot cheaper than trying to learn on your own.....plus you're chances of staying in the hobby go up about 75% with an instructor showing you how......good luck

RE: First Flight Blues
 

Agreed. A lot simpler to have instructor take you up about 100 ft, then turn plane over to you.

First few flights, flying a plane feels like trying to pat your head and rub your tummy at the same time while dancing an Irish jig. Preserve your plane with a buddy box until it gets easier.

Tom

RE: First Flight Blues
 

Dave,
Take the advice listed in the previous posts. A RC flight simulator for your computer also helps ALOT!

rrragman

RE: First Flight Blues
 

Thanks for all the advice. In my "ute" I was rather head strong and wouldn't listen to others. As I've aged (with a lot of mistakes on the way) I've learned to listen to the more experienced. I will find an instructor, look into a simulator for the computer that will hook up with my transmitter. I don't want to fix the trainer a second, third, fourth, etc. time. Thanks again, fellas.

Tally Ho

Dave

RE: First Flight Blues
 

Make sure when you move the stick right the right aileron goes UP. Very common for beginners to reverse them, and even for experienced pilots to mess it up on occasion. Always check during the pre-flight.

Now that you've rebuilt it and added weight, possibly unevenly balanced, and the wings and empennage are possibly out of square, it is imperative to have an experienced pilot get it airborne and trimmed out for you. No amount of simulator time will replace that.

I did not, crashed repeatedly, and as a result gave up R/C for 18 years. Don't make my mistake.