Well, here's my story...

I have been into R/C planes for about a year and a half and just had my second crash. The first crash was my four star 60. Not sure exactly what happend, but i got the plane repaired and it flies as good as ever.

The day that I crashed the 4* was the day that i maidened my Somethin' Extra that I built from a kit. I was nervous as heck to maiden the SSE as the 4* crashed on the first circuit of flying that day, but it went off without a hitch.

Yesterday, i took out my 4* and my new GP Cessna that had only 2 flights on it. I took out the 4*, it flew great as usual. Then i took out the Cessna...the take off was great, the plane was flying great for about 5 minutes when it happened...

I was doing a fairly low speed (about 1/2 throttle), low altitude pass when out of nowhere the plane rolled violently onto its back. I was flying pretty much hands off as i was merely making a pass over the runway. The plane rolled over faster than i could ever imagine (I'll write it off as some sort of radio interference, but the vertical stab could also have broken in flight - again I have no idea why it happened). I recovered the roll as the plane went into a dive and just didn't have enough altitude to pull out of the dive. The plane went in at about 30 deg. and is pretty much totaled.

To get to my point...I think I put too much emotion into this hobby and into my planes, too much to the point where flying makes me nervous cuz I don't know what will happen next. I'm afraid to fly the SSE because of all the work I put into it as it was a kit. I know the plane flies great, but I am afraid to lose it. I was devistated to see the Cessna go, I know it was an ARF, but it took quite a while to build, what makes it even worse was that the crash had nothing to do with my piloting.

Not to mention the money factor. Ya, the Cessna was "only" $200, but to me that seems like a ton of money only to get 2 1/2 flights out of. I don't understand how many people say..."oh well, I crashed another plane, just an excuse to get a new one"

Please explain to me how I should get over my intense emotion that comes with this hobby. I love flying, I love building planes, but sometimes my emotions get the best of me and sometimes I just won't go flying because of it!!! Does anybody else share the same feelings??

Dude, they all crash. Get over it or get out of the hobby. No offence. Good thing you don't do helis, you would have slit you wrist by now.

It's a toy.

If you have more time then money go to the spadtothebone.com
web site and build a simple airplane and fly the heck out of it.

2 stroke motors are hard to kill and standard servos are cheap.

Use it as your everday beater plane and keep a nicer balsa plane
for the good days.

If you don't want to go this route then get a older used plane
that is built a little stronger then the new breed of super light
weight 3d planes.

The SSE is a good strong plane, I had one.

A nice trainer is also relaxing to fly so maybe get a alpha 40
or 60 and ajust relax and fly.

Thats why I do Arfs (nice ones). I don't have any emotions in an arf, just my wallet.

What he said.


At a year and a half, you're about at that point I call the "quantum leap", where all at once and nothing first, it all seems to come together. At least it was that way for me; up to that point, every flight was like the fist one, nervous as hell, biting my nails (try that while holding your transmitter) afraid to fly my favorite plane because I didn't want to total it.

Then one day, everything was different; just went out and flew, felt comfortable, didn't worry (as much), and every day since then has been an absolute hoot. Even the crashes, you figure, oh, well, it's only money, I can build another one, or buy another one, or just convince yourself "I didn't like that plane anyway". Hang with it.

In the old days only too things were certain "death and taxes". When you start flying RC there are three things that are certain "death, taxes and you will crash".

That is for sure. There are only TWO kinds of planes, those that have crashed and those that soon will.

After 35 years of RC (25 CL and FF before that) I try to tell all that the one rule is: "Never fall in love with a RC model airplane because it will be pure heartbreak for certain." BTDT too many times.

*JCB* I cannot tell you HOW to not be emotional but just to NOT be. Throughout the years, I have gotten to the point several times that I thought I was finally beyond crashing. Then WHAM, the Gods speak and for a while I smash everything I have. In 2005 I lost FIVE nice airplanes after about five years without anything other than a few hard -- but controlled -- landings along the way. SHOT happens in this business. That's what make us all so big, mean and tough and others cannot compete with us RC Airplane boys. The meek go for cars and boats and the tame stuff.

My instructor told me when I started flying this simple phrase "If it flies, it's going to die" That was 27 years ago, and I've never been emotional about any of my crashes along the way, no matter what the plane was.

Ya gotta be philosophical about it. If you fly, you WILL crash. It's a fact. I just broke one of my sport planes, and about two weeks ago, put my 1/4 Fokker Dr.1 in HARD. I had a lot of time and effort in the Dr.1, and the crash was a result of "dumb thumbs". BUT, it looks like it's repairable. However, if not, I'll strip the gear and build another, better one. I've been in R/C about 25 years and crashed plenty, especially while flying competition fun fly. I'm not saying it's eay to pick up a beloved plane in a trash bag, but it happens and you gotta go on. If crashing gets you too emotionally wrapped up, you might want to try golf. You won't cry as hard when you lose a golf ball.

Dr.1

JCB,

No one can give you advice as to how you should feel about losing a plane (or 2 or 3). Maybe this is not the hobby for you. I learned to fly many years ago at Sepulveda Basin, before buddy cords and without an instructor. I can't count how many crashes I had. I had building experience, so repairs were not traumatic. But the idea of quitting the hobby just was never there. Eventually, I had more flying time and less repair time, and I've lived happily ever after, since that time.

Many of us in this hobby are simply "hooked" on flying and just plain don't know any better! Some crash $100 airplanes, others $1000 airplanes. It's all the same.

As in most things, there is a "cost/benefit" aspect to this pastime. If the cost (financial and emotional) is not worth it, hey, face up to it, it's not worth it. Pour your resources into another activity that feels better.

Of you DO crash, make sure it's a good one and in front of people. My best crash was a midair at a fly-in. Both planes full throttle. It was a balsa cloud!!! Wood flew everywhere! My plane was totalled and his was badly damaged. We had to tramp through ankle deep mud to retrieve the pieces.

It was a "no-faulter". My first flight of the event my wife and I drove 2 hours to attend. The only plane I'd brought (it put me out for the day). The other pilot and I shook hands on it at the flight line . A spectator told me he was glad his young child witnessed the crash, and the sportsmanship afterwards. He said he was glad there were such gentlemen in this sport. THAT made the drive and the crash worthwhile. Stop for a minute and think about what your crash taught you about flying, building, or anything else. Learn from it. There's some good in anything.

Dr.1

Dr1Driver

The way you describe it makes me wish I were there to see it.

Your story is further proof that a properly crashed airplane has no need for repair! Carry on!

nobody addressed "Pucker Factor", he seems to be suffering a bad case of it

I would suggest flying only the 4 Star for a while. It has already crashed so there should be less emotion there for starters and what you need if more flight time. You have only been in the hobby a year and a half and you have 3 planes already. Foucs on one plane, make sure you maintain it properly, and fly it. Sooner or later you should get over it.

I find that the more dings I get on a plane, the less attached I become to it and the better I fly.

I have thought it might be a good idea to bash the rudder into the door jamb on the way out to the field- We've all probably done that at one time or another - before the maiden. Kind of takes the sting out of the flight. <VBG>

Dave

YES!!!! Make it spectacular and be proud of it. Head to head mid air that powders 2 planes are hard to beat.

Practice, practice, practice. My wife used to send me to the field with a garbage bag!! She said it would be easier to bring the plane home that way. All planes have an expiration date, the more you fly the longer it becomes. Don't get discouraged, but if you jitters are as bad as you say they are, maybe you should hook up with an instructor for awhile.

I feel just the same, the problem is, that with RC you have the impression that the machine is under control and so will survive, forget it and take up FREE FLIGHT.
This is ideal, you know if it crashes it was not your fault, it was the wind or that particular balsa magnet tree. You will come home when the model is lost or broken.
There is no disappointment involved, you knew it was going to happen anyway. Free Flight is also character building.



old git ------ aka John L.

I'm not afraid of my flying capabitilies - i'm afraid of the unknown!! mostly electronic problems causing the plane to go nuts!

thanks for all the input guys, it really makes me feel better about the whole thing. I was actually talking to one of my friends today and explained to him what happened and he busted out laughing...my response entailed "hey man, that's not funny" he replied with "yea it is, get over it and laugh with me. it's always funny when you wreck something really good!" it put it all in perspective...

on top of that, my girl insists that a new plane is in the mail already, hopefully she's not yankin my chain...WAHOO!!

That is worth a quote!

You should be in good shape then. Todays radio equipment is very reliable. Buy good electronics, install it properly, do a range check and a good pre-flight, and then go for it. Have an experienced flyer whom you respect, check out your installation. You might pick up some pointers that may help you insure success. There is nothing wrong with asking questions. I am not saying that this is you problem, but I have seen lots of installations that would concern me. It is vitally important in making your flying trouble free. Sure, thing cans and do happen, but it should not be frequent enough to lose sleep over. Get bummed when it does, get over it ,and march on.

Mike

Then get to know that equipment. Read up on the theory, see how other people put it into practice, and compare your installations to what you've seen and learned. Maintain it, test it, and become comfortable with it.

I'm not afraid of my flying capabitilies

Maybe you should be. Even the most experienced pilot makes mistakes and has temporary brain farts. No one is the exception.

Dr.1

I have been flying almost 3 years and about 6 months to a year ago I started getting a lot more confidence in my flying ability and ability to setup airplanes. In my first 2 years of flying I totalled 2 planes and fixed landing gear on several planes dozens of times but now I am getting to a point where I have to do very limited repairs on my planes.

I know my planes are not invincible and that there can be mechanical failures or pilot errors but you will get to a point where crashes are fewer and farther between, it just takes a while to get there.

In fact of the three of us in our small club that are regular flyers we have gone well over a year without any major accidents. We actually went almost a whole year without any airplane damage and we fly every weekend.

All that to say, frequent crashes are not the norm. You will come to a point where they are rarer and rarer.

This is my 25th year of flying. The silver anniversary of dumba** attacks!! Last year I was flying my new Eindecker and decided to a split s to a landing. The split s part was good, the looked more like a lawn dart on landing. I just laughed. I sure had fun doing it and the guys at the field asked what I was laughing about. I said what else could I do. We all get discouraged at times, the best thing to do is just fly through it. If it ain't been fixed, it ain't been flown!