first time flying !
 

My girlfriends uncle gave me a Soarstar, with a radio set up and all that he and a couple of others had learned on ( has a good bit of epoxy on it) but the problem came that he lives 5 hours away, and where i live, the nearest flying field/school/instructor is 2 hours away. After reading RCU post/tips for a couple of months, i downloaded fms and learned how to fly with plane comin at you etc... I know it is advised not to fly your first flight alone, but I went today, and actually didnt do bad at all. I hand launched, and flew the plane around for a minute or two, and came down for a landing, and hit an ant pile. i didnt realize the motor was loose, so a took the ants off and threw her back into the air.. well this time after like 15 seconds of flight, the motor twisted loose, and chewed up the wing. I was just wondering if i should fly it as it, fix it (with a playing card), or do i need to buy a new wing (see attatched photo) :( . for my first flight i was proud of myself, and if not for all of your tips and advise it would not have happened.
Thanks a million, COREY

RE: first time flying !
 

Small damage is best repaired using clear packing tape. Most drug chains like Walgreens, RiteAide, etc. carry it and you can get large rolls at businesses that specialize in moving equipment, such as U-Haul. The post office has clear packing tape that is slightly thicker, but a lot stronger, for those repairs that need some structural integrity. Packing tape with fiberglass reinforced strands is great for the repairs that require substantial structural strength.

RE: first time flying !
 

i was also told that if it's a large piece you can stick part of a straightened paperclip into the wing to prevent shearing. obviously this would be done before taping.

RE: first time flying !
 

Toothpicks and Bamboo skewers work fine, too.

RE: first time flying !
 

Good advice all of the above - fix that puppy and get back in the air!

You'll find out real quick that fixing is part and parcel of the hobby. Fixing will lead you to building and then you'll really be hooked! :)

Enjoy.

BobbyG

RE: first time flying !
 

If you need to fill in a whole you can use light "SPAK" filla (that's what its called in Oz - hopefully same name in US) from Selleys. However, if really small damage just tape. For future missions tape (packing tape) the leading or trailing edge (depending on whether pull or push prop) so that when it happens next time the prop strikes tape no damage is done to the wing.

Sounds like you are going well.

RE: first time flying !
 

i fixed it with tape, thanks for the help. i worked on the sim alot this week, and put her in the air this morning... huge differece after getting stick time (about 15 hours) on FMS. i flew her for about 8 minutes, but i ran out of juice, and glided in( from about 150' up) it was an awesome experience. the weather was perfect, the plane performed great, and at the end of it all i had NO REPAIRS to do! can't wait untill i go back home sunday to fly her again. right now i'm at a lake playing with my 48" gas boat :))