somegeek

My Feedback: (2)

Okay, so I have a few years to wait...



...to get him on a simulator. Turns four months on Friday. Looking forward to when I can fly with him.

How young have folks out there successfully started their kids on trainer boxes? Any parental tips for young fliers?

somegeek

KI8FR

Mine was 8 and it worked out good but you have to keep it interesting. You cant stand and talk to club members and let them get board. but it you can keep them focus and not get mad at them for what they do. you will do fine. I have seen people get mad at there kids and wifes for doing something that was not bad but they made it out to be the end of the world. Just take you time. Make if fun. and never get mad at them for what they do or do not do. They will get it in time. with kids it takes longer but if you and you kid has fun. You did all you need to do.

Paul

rwright142

I have a 3 1/2 yr old grand daughter who flies my NexStar sim. It's been a few months since she has so I need to get her back on it. Her attention span has improved quite a bit so maybe she'll fly longer than a minute hahaha

I'm also curious to find out the youngest that has actually flown solo. The club I used to belong to had a 12 yr old who flew a Corsair solo and very well too. A couple of years ago I got the older 2 grandsons a cheap electric foam plane (~$30 ea). It was 2 channel and they did OK with them. One of the boys was 5 and the other was 8.

vicman

My Feedback: (10)

My son flew on an old Dave Brown sim starting around 14mo. It was his favorite toy, unfortunately he eventually broke the Tx not being careful...what was I expecting?
He went to the field with me every weekend, sometimes sitting on my shoulders while I flew, it was great.
On the day he was 18 mo one of my clubmates gave him the sticks on his HOB .20 trainer...he flew two perfect circuits and loudly announced "I crash now!!" One small flaw in training on sims.
He hung with it till he was about 5 then started to run with his buddies, and well, ol dad and his noisy airplanes are not quite as exciting as they are.
Now he is almost 9. We have always had some rockets and cars around, he seems to like them more than anything but has recently liked flying my Club 40 racing plane. I don't know if it's cause it's a racer or what. I'm not about to question it, I'm simply happy to have him come out with me.

Just enjoy the time you get with them. Spend time in the shop letting them sand blocks of wood, hacksaw foam, cut old magazines with scissors, glue anything they want and paint it when they get it done. We have two rules, wear glasses when you cut stuff, and no being destructive. They can take stuff apart that I know will never go back togeather again but it is in an effort to learn something...if only to know how stuff comes apart. No just smashing the snot out of something for the heck of it.
My son and daughter both love to do all those things. It is my happiest moments to hear them chattering and making noise with their tools and ask how to do something, then to see the satisfaction on their face when it's finished. That glue, paint, and wood will be the best money you spend.

Sorry to run on.

MinnFlyer

My Feedback: (4)

What the heck were you thinking???

You shoulda got him a 2.6GHZ system!

MasterAlex

Saw a 4yr old "rippin it" at the XFC this past summer...

Talk about a humbling experience. Ahh, youth.

BTW, somegeek - great picture!

-MA

fozjared

go to youtube.com and search justin chi.. you will be extremely impressed at what this kid can do with a heli at age 3, he is 5 now and touring the globe giving demonstrations but solo'd on a heli at 3 years old!

vicman

My Feedback: (10)

Ya gotta wonder how many whirrlie birds gave their life for his education! He is something else.

I also like your pic somegeek

MasterAlex

Yep, that's the guy (are you a "guy" at age 5... ) I saw at the XFC. Amazing.

-MA

vicman

My Feedback: (10)

As long as you still have that little thing that falls off the girl ones when they swat them at birth! [sm=bananahead.gif]

MasterAlex

Too funny Vicman!![sm=lol.gif]

TakingFlight96

Well, I'm 11 almost 12 and have had countless hours of sim training - G3.5, got my own plane (Hobbico Nexstar), got training to look forward in the spring, and a great dad who knows a lot and is always happy to help me.



-- TakingFlight96

somegeek

My Feedback: (2)

That's great, TakingFlight96! Sounds like you're off to a great start. Good luck on your training and then... your solo!

somegeek

sscherin

My Feedback: (1)

My daughter love to fly the blimp on G3.5
She'll be 7 in June..
I got her a EasyStar last year..
We fly with the buddy box.. She does OK but I'm constantly taking control to save it
Just relax and have fun.. don't stress out when they dive for the ground

AMA is only $1 a year until they are 18.. Get the little guy a card!

somegeek

My Feedback: (2)

Awesome - didn't know this.

somegeek

Gringo Flyer

My Feedback: (18)

My son is turning 5 in a couple of months and I am building him a big trainer as his Birthday present to learn on. I am going to add a smoke system and candy drop to keep it interesting. I cant wait to teach him.

MasterAlex

That is too cool, Gringo! [8D]

Smoke on a trainer ought to keep his attention for a bit.

-MA

sscherin

My Feedback: (1)

SomeGeek..

You might want to waterproof that TX.. The little ones tend to chew and drool on everything they get their hands on.