You can't just close a thread. They have a life of their own!

HELL hath no fury like a thread closed.

OK

I started this thread to have a question answered about a subject. I was contacted by a monitoring individual when I posted a different subject in the wrong area, which is understandable. I think my answer has been satisfied by a number of members who where focused on the original question.

When I take my time to re-open a thread because I have been notified by email that a response has been added, I expect it to be somewhere in the realm of the original question.

When the conversation or the postings go onto another subject, then that subject should be addressed in the areas that are available for that subject.

I have seen in many other posting that the originator of that posting has requested the monitor to close that thread. I hope he is monitoring this site as well.

The DiBo :disappoin

I understand what you are saying about how things get a little off the beaten path. Make sure you read my ealier post (#19). If I could close this for you I would.

I think many different factors come into play here. When you are learning to fly a model airplane, you have to learn about basic aerodynamics. Turning the aircraft requires (at minimum) the coordination of ailerons and elevator. If you have some basic knowledge of how airplanes fly, you might know this. If you don't, you probably won't learn it until it's too late!

Some individuals might be able to learn to fly without the help of an instructor, but I contend that most cannot. With the investment of time and money involved in getting started in this hobby, why would anyone want to take that kind of risk? If nothing else, invest in the "1 Week To Solo" video.

They are out there though. Like I said I ran into one last week. I'll pay him a visit and see how it wen. I do think that you could learn to fly from using Real Flight. You wouldn't learn how to start your engine, tune it, put you pin on the board or know any protocol but I bet you could get it done. I've seen kids solo after just a few tries that have RF. It's all about using the thumbs without thinking.

ONE THING TO BE MENTIONED, if you are not flying at a club field

At the very least, go out and see if you are near any club fields to make sure you are not going to interfere with anyone else's plane/heli.

Dennis,
Try Real Flight G2 lite, if you get it from Tower Hobbies the lite version will not cost as much as one trainer, If you don't like it sell it on EBAY. I believe you can solo on your first flight if you had like 5 to 6 hrs on RF, believe me you will like it so much you'll fly a lot more than that. I wish they would of had it when I started as I would have had to buy one less trainer as well. I use the full version now to fly 3D fun fly stuff, I can do a lot by trying and crashing and rebuilding my airplane by hitting the space bar, the learning curve for new in your face down in the dirt move is better tried on the sim... trust me. If you like the lite up grade to the full version and advance your flying abilities much quicker and cheaper than flying the real airplanes ONLY, I must say that what Billy said about the stuff at the field like tunning, learning to take turns, where and what your pin is can only be accomplished at the field. Keep this in mind, I have read flying a sim for one hr is the same as 1 day at the field. One last thing, please don't take what people say personally here at the post, cause most people here want the hobby to grow and only want you to be successful and stay in the hobby instead of getting frustrated and taking up knitting or basket weaving instead. LeeU

Dennis,
Were not trying to discurage you,some of us started flying back before the Sims came on the market.

Find or Barrow a Sim and try it.You won't get ridiculed and told what your doing wrong on a sim when your there by your self.You will learn from for mistakes and it wont cost you a thing.

Wouldnt you like to go to a near by club field where you would be unknown and get your plane up in the air and land sussesfully.Its better then crashing and watching them say I told you so.

Some of us have been there were just trying to save you some aggervation and imbarrisment.

The sim is a training tool and you cant turn it down.

NEDYOB

There must be an echo on this post. LeeU

OK first of all thank you all, I was not insulated or angered by some of the comments I just wanted us to try to stay in the area of what I started this thread for. It seems was so long ago I almost forget what I did start this for.. :sunsmiley

You all are really, as i have found in my own club, a wonderful bunch of men. We are always willing to help one another, I was not asking the question at the start of this thread to see if I personally could learn to fly RC by myself. I soloed long before they had, Buddy Boxes, ARFs, whatever . In fact my first RC was a Galloping Ghost system ( I am sure many of you old timers are smiling now. ) I am a fixed wing instructor in a club of 280 fliers. What I was trying to convey was, I had read in a few threads that a few individuals had advocated that they could do this ( learn to fly with no help or experience at all including Real Flight) which by the way I feel cuts the learning curve at least in half. I was trying to inform the new people to our sport not to go this route. Especially when instructors are available at sanctioned clubs for free. WHY TAKE A CHANCE. But thank you all for your kind words.
Yours in our Sport

The DiBo :thumbup:

I don't know about the rest of you, but I bought it hook line and sinker. LeeU

Hi Dennis,
Your right we are a great bunch of guys,and like LEEU I fell for it too.I hope what we said made a good impression on some of the new comers to this great hobby.

Also it goes to show that theres a lot of die hard
RealFlight G2 users out there.

NEDYOB

Hi Dennis,

Warning: The following is a long and potentially boring true story! Read at your own risk.

I bought my first plane in 1992. There were no RC clubs in my area (Mayaguez, Puerto Rico) and although I knew some local RC fliers, no one was willing to teach me how to fly.

So, I put together the Sturdy Birdy plane and read a few articles about model aerodynamics. I did my homework, I learned how control surfaces affect the plane and practiced for weeks with the radio and plane (engine off of course) on top of the dining table. I practiced until I was convinced I could take off and land "safely".

Then I carefully planned my first flight, brought the plane to a park, started the engine, and took off. I nervously flew for about 2 or 3 minutes. Circled around a couple of times over the park, and then tried a few landing approaches, at lower altitudes each time. I remember I was so nervous I couldn't feel my legs and the radio seemed to weight 100 pounds. I was so lucky to see the plane touch down for a "perfect" kangaroo landing

It took me 2 more weeks to build up enough courage to try to fly again. This time I felt even more nervous because I lost my confidence. Once again I landed in one piece. But that second flight convinced me that I had to do something drastic. A week later, I got Dave Brown's RC Flight Sim (Ver 3.00). I practiced for 6 weeks, 5 hrs/day. For the third flight, I felt so confident that I tried it during the weekend, when there were other guys flying. And I did two wonderful flights that day, I even did loops, rolls, and stall turns!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The other pilots were impressed and some of them could not believe I learned with a sim and without instructor, he he

I've always had good reflexes and hand-eye coordination (my father owned video game machines for years ) but learning without an instructor and/or a sim is almost impossible. I DEFINITELY DO NOT RECOMMEND DOING THAT

By the way, the plane survived past its 3rd birthday and more than 500 flights and gave it to a friend. I had my first crash after being flying for 4 years and started hot-dogging.

Now I practice in RF G2 (all the add-ons), the best RC sim.

- Juny

The Dirt Gods will be pleased

I'm new to all of this and I'm one of those who taught himself with FMS, so take my comments as you will

I think I have come into RC at a time when things are changing very quickly. I got a Slow Stick which any fool can throw together in an evening and take out to the nearest football field. I flies slowly enough to give a lot of reaction time and when it is trimmed out, it pretty much comes down unharmed if I cut the throttle and let go of the sticks.

While I found FMS to be fairly limited in terms of realism (same with CM, which I also messed with), it was good practice for orientation and flying towards myself.

As a result, I've been flying my SS successfully for the past 3 weeks. I know that crashes are inevitable, so I'm not trying to brag by any means!

All of this simply wasn't possible even a few years ago, and that's why I never got into planes until now.

Electrics and park/slowflyers are changing the hobby, for better or worse. I'm the last person who would argue that going at it alone is better than getting help--that's obviously not true. However, it's much more conceivable now than it was when I first wanted to get into the hobby.

Anyway, I'm not sure how all of this fits into the discussion, but I wanted to throw that out there. Again, I'd never recommend the way I did it over the traditional method, but the number of people who jump in without instruction is going to increase every year. Lots will crash and give up, but lots will be okay in the long run.

Tim

PS, I also would point out that I'm not naive enough to think that my skills would enable me to successfully fly a glow plane right now Baby steps...

I'd say you are closer than you think. I have seen the SS and it is indeed slow but the guy I saw was flying the teeth out of his (loops, inverted, etc.). I'd say he was ready for a nice 40 profile. He had to be bored with that SS. It's all about the thumbs after that just get a plane and fly it!

Dennis:

I haven't read everything else yet, but I am sure good advice followed.

Don't try it. I consider myself talented, crafty, etc. When I got my first plane (Hobbico Avistar) my friend who is an AMA member asked if he could help teach me. After watching him take it off and trim it for me, I realized that I would never have made it. I might have even hurt myself, someone else or damage someone's property.

If you want to teach yourself, go with a GWS Slow Stick or GWS Tiger Moth. I have the SS and I believe it would be a good trainer.

bugleboy

Hehe. Go for it. Just bring some duct tape to reattach your fingers. If your flying helis make sure you can run when it starts to drift towards your neck....