I hereby pledge to start learning to fly straight and not stick bang so much. Hence, I need some assistance from you guys.

I can execute or understand how to execute most of the maneuvers. But I do know that its most important to start from the very bottom again. Can anyone assist me in advising me as to what I should practise for a start? I guess the first thing i really need to learn is to fly straight. Some assistance please?

Hi tIANci,

I would recommend practicing flying the plane more and having the plane fly you less... in other words practice overall control and the once in control... get the flight line imprinted in all flying, even when you practice only portions of the schedule! This will prove invaluable once you move into competition flying...

Just my suggestion...

..... and most important - ALWAYS have fun doing it!!! .....

Regards
Danie

Go too: http://www.gbrcaa.org this is the GB aerobatic site have a look on the left and you will see a block in light blue with a "New to Arobatics" click and follow from there, should give you some guide lines.

I know that my main failing was not flying straight and level, always had one wing down, even though I was convinced I did not and it took a pal with a video to convince me, also flying a straight line in front of yourself, easy isn't it, get someone to stand approx 100M in front of you with a flag and let them indicate too you when you are not on line and crossing overhead at a constand distance from you, the poor chaps arm got so tiered he had to stop, then it was time for revenge. Seroiusly if you can get someone who also wants to start it can help greatly as you can share the load, and get your own back on each other.

Mike

Hi tIANci,

A great starting point is getting the model trimmed properly for pattern flying, your setup will be different to 3D style flying (if thats what you've been doing so far) so this is where you should start, heres another great link from over here on "Blighty" http://www.gbrcaa.org/acrobatfiles/Trim.pdf. Once you've got the model trimmed start working on your straight line stuff and add just a couple of manouvres to string together gradually increasing your manouvres to a full schedule.

As Danie say's, most important, have fun doing so.

Regards,

Andy.

The two most important things are learning to trim your plane, and the above articles are great for that, and second, learning to truly fly straight and level, parallel to the runway and at 150m in front of you. The best way to do this is to get a helper. Have him mark off 150m and walk out there and practice flying over his head. Keep doing this til you are sick of it, and then do it some more. I still do this every year when I haven't flown for a while, just to get back into the swing of things. Really makes a big different really understanding how your plane looks when it is truly level. Do a turnaround on each end and concentrate on coming back over the same line at the same altitude. Once you get these basics down, then adding maneuvers is much easier than chasing the plane around the sky..

Arch

Thanks for the advice guys. I can fly pretty well but its just that I have failed to learn to really fly properly, that's why I decided to fly F3A. I shall take what you guys have said into mind. Need to start with marking out the end points for the box, make sure I fly over a sucker of a friend who will be a target for the rest and not to forget, trim her out well. I have trimmed her out at the moment and am sure some fine tuning still needs to be done.

Of late I have been practising flying straight and executing turn arounds. Its really tiring but I guess it has t be done till I can really fly along the same line all the time.

Mike ... ooooo ... I like the link, very comprehensive and easy ... thanks a lot.

The learning part definitely isn't as much fun as other things, but it will pay off in the end. That really makes a difference of being an OK pilot and becoming really good. Keep it up. Once you get good at doing that..work on it inverted

Arch

Arch ... yeah inverted, was practising corrections also when the plane is inverted. A few years back when flying sport planes I can easily correct my manuever when inverted (loop, Cubans etc) but after a few years of stick I can see its effects. Next is also to learn flying inverted and using the rudder for turns etc. Its a long long road ... but I guess it will be worth it at the end.

Tianci,

Another important bit of advice if you are truly serious about F3A flying is to go to local events where F3A is flown and watch the seasoned veterans do it. Be very critical of the flying you witness....that is, watch carefully the lines, angles, radii, rolls etc. that the veterans execute. Ask questions to clarify things for you.

F3A is at the top of the heap in terms of complexity. Don't fall into the trap that just because you know how to fly, that you can execute the maneuvers these people can with the precision and accuracy these require. It takes a long time to get decent at the flying technique. And mastering the techniques may never come.

Most of all, lower your expectations and be kind to yourself about your progress

Matt Kebabjian

Tiank

Best trimming guide I have every found: http://www.flagstaffflyers.com/image...thTrimming.pdf by a very reputable source.

Mike

Awesome [sm=thumbs_up.gif][sm=thumbs_up.gif]