Two weeks ago I "landed" my Funtana in a tree while on final aproach to the runway. Granted it was getting kinda late in the day and I don't see all that well when the light starts to fade but I really thought the plane was about 200 yards closer then it was.

Last week I was flying my Kangke 60 size extra and for no reason at all it flipped over and corkscrewed itself into the ground from about 300 ft up. Later found that one of the pull-pull cables on the rudder had parted company from the servo.

Last night I was flying and a couple stopped by to watch. The man was kind of a nuisance but I was trying to be nice so I kept my yap shut instead of telling him to get lost (I can be a rude sumgun sometimes) like I probably should have. A couple of times he walked out in the runway area to get a better look I guess and my flying buddy had to ask him to move back by the vehicles. Well anyway, as I turned for final approach, I heard him talking and was just sure he had walked out into the runway again. I turned around to look (he wasn't, he was over by the vehicles) and when I turned back to my plane it was just in time to watch my Dragon Lady fly straight into the trunk of an oak tree. I guess I must have ruddered it over while I was turning around.

I have two 1/4 scale birds very near to completion right now but I think I am gonna take a break from the flying aspect of the hobby for a while. It's starting not to be fun any more, Ya know? None of these planes are beyond repair but over the summer I have torn up a half a dozen nice planes and I guess I need to look at what I am doing and maybe make some changes. The planes deserve better then I am giving them.

Is it just me or does everyone have this kinda luck?

It happens.

I murdered a favorite last month, when another club member brought his obnoxious and ill-mannered grandson to the field. The kid was all over everything, and kept grabbing my Somethin' Extra ailerons while I was putting the wings on.

Bottom line, I was so busy making sure the little turd didn't break something, that I forgot to hook the wings together. Guess what? You CAN "fly the wings off" of a model airplane...

This will pass. A break can be a good thing. Still need my r/c fix, though; so I have helicopters and nitro trucks too...

Steve

We have a gentleman at the field who has crashed 4 large scale birds in the last month. He has no clue why they crashed or he is in total denial. They were all his fault but he blames design, construction and distractions for his crashes but they were all his fault. I think he is hopeless and nobody bothers to help him anymore because he is so full of bull.

You on the other hand are admitting that you are responsible for your planes and that is a very good sign. Funtanas and lasers are very good planes but they can be quite a handfull. The Laser for example sounds like it power stalled from to much elevator and I'd bet the pull-pull separated when it hit the ground.

I recommend stepping back to an aerobatic trainer such as the World Models T-34 that is very stable, has a wide performance envelope and will allow you to build skills while getting your confidence back.

Practice precision aerobatics such as the IMAC basic pattern so you don't have the indecision of just punching holes in the sky and also practice using your left hand(rudder and throttle) because that makes you a better pilot than simulator style flying that only requires the right hand. Also practice side slipping and and flat turns that require coordinating both hands and pulling back the throttle on your down lines so as not to destroy those larger birds that are waiting to fly.

The best pilots at our field still fly trainers sometimes to get back to basics and the people that jump to advanced planes to soon end up getting discouraged and finding another hobby.

I agree with Basinbum. Get a trainer and go out and shoot touch and go's all night. That's a blast.

I can see that you need a plane that you feel really confident with. For me it was a GP Big Stick 40. That was my main plane for a long time. I flew the tar out of it, and still never worried about taking it home in one piece. I got over 900 flights on it.

You maybe don't like the looks of them, but I would highly recommend trying a SPAD. I've had more fun flying my PBF and my PQHOR (forerunner to the SPA3D) this year than one can imagine. What really helps is that I have under $25 in both planes. Both have hit the ground numerous times and are still going fine. These planes beg to be flown low and crazy. They gave me the confidence to try some 3D stuff that I never would have with my balsa planes. I know there's been huge SPAD wars here on RCU, and I am not trying to start another one. Fly the Snot out of some SPADS, then go back to your balsa stuff. It's great to go out and fly and then crash - and then laugh at yourself for crashing. Then restart, or at the most put on a new prop, and go fly again. It's great!

Well, I have a couple of trainers lying around and a new, not flown yet Sig Kadet Senior too but I think an out and out break just might be the thing for now. I was pretty tore up over the Extra. I called that one "Big Red" and tried all summer to like it. One issue after another with that plane. I finally had it flying like an extra and was really starting to enjoy it when it went in. I was doing a vertical spin using the rudder and elevators when it flopped over. I had the forethought to idle the engine after trying just about everything to save it. I can see myself going back to the basics with a trainer or the Funtana but I'm afraid a Spad or a Stick just isn't in my future. I can't bring myself to fly a plane that doesn't look like a plane. I know they fly well and I enjoy watching others fly 'em, just not my cup 'o tea if you get my drift.

There are a few guys in my club that have what I call performance anxiety. Their worst enemy is their own mind. Crashes become a self fulfilling prophesy.

I'm not saying you're to this point, but it sounds like you're heading that way. I would suggest taking a break for a while and getting back to the sticks with an airplane that you know you can handle and that you don'd mind losing. I also put hundreds of flights on a BigStick 40 way back when. You can't beat them for reliability.

The key is confidence. Work toward getting that back by taking comfortable steps. I also agree with trying some IMAC or sequence aerobatics. This, more than anything else, has honed my skills and created confidence.

I get your drift, Steve; and agree 500%.

Down here, we have an abomination called the "Airmadillo". From what I've seen of them, those spad things are classy compard to this apparition.

I have helped a couple of newbies with Airmadillos, simply because nobody else would and I took pity on the poor hopefuls, but had this almost uncontrollable urge to wear a bag over my head while holding the transmitter...

Steve

LoL, yeah I can see it now, hiding behind a tree with a bag over your head and a transmitter antenna poking out the other side. I started this hobby with a plane (& I use the term loosely) called a Durastick I think, Dura something anyway. Guy gave it to me along with the transmitter and all the goodies. That thing had the most - forsaken ugly orange wing and square pvc fuse...... Well, anyways, I stripped the servo's and stuff outta it and bought a Hanger 9 Easy 2. While today I think it looks like a trainer, at the time I thought it was the prettiest plane. I still have it and drag it out sometimes for a relaxing day. I always figured to put floats and lights on it and use it for "unique" flights. Night time flying and that kind of thing.

I just been having a bit of bad luck no doubt caused by to much going on at one time. I have been trying to squeeze in as much flying as possible in between work and the 100 other comitments we all have and guess I have been over doing it a bit trying to get as much flying in as possible before the days get to short. I was starting to get a handle on the imac manuevers and hoping to learn the basic sequence before it gets to late in the year. The whole reason I'm building the 1/4 scale extra is to try and compete a little next year. Nuttin serious, just a little fun stuff ya know?

FWIW, once you begin competing, this endeavor is no longer a hobby and moves into another phase.

Many will disagree with that notion. That's okay; but I base the opinion on the fact that I got into this hobby as a diversion/relief from my main leisure-time activity back then; competitive pistol shooting. That had become work, because to remain competitive required long hours of practice, week-ends away from home, etc.

Of course, you said it was "just for fun". If you can keep it at that level, then you'll be okay. But when you find yourself buying the latest whiz-bang widget you saw at a meet, in the hope of improving your flying/score, then you're bitten hard, and it is getting on the verge of becoming a compulsion. And unless you are a die-hard with competition in your bones, that (becoming a compulsion) will end up ruining it for you.

Some guys find a happy medium between competing and playing. I imagine I could, but after the pressure cooker of what I was in before, I have no desire to even find out.

Not trying to discourage you; just provide a little perspective.

Steve

Cstevec, I empathize with you. As yet the end of another flying season approaches I meet this one with bittersweet feelings. I dread the thought of not flying for several months but on the other hand this has been the absolute worst flying season for me with crashes. So I’m glad to know the carnage will stop. It’s been a combination of dumb luck and dumb thumbs. I’ve decided to get back to basics, by flying something low and slow to get my confidence back, and most importantly not taking a plane home in pieces every time. I also plan on getting a flight sim to refine the skills over winter.

Regarding the suggestion to fly a SPAD… Let me just say I have a QHOR and regard it as the most entertaining plane I’ve ever owned. Like Goinstraightup said “These planes beg to be flown low and crazy”. With that in mind I’ve crashed my QHOR many times by flying at the edge of my capabilities. However since I’ve busted up some pretty planes recently I had to chill on flying the QHOR because my psyche was getting battered from all the crashing even though it was expected they way I was flying that plastic wonder. Take it from me don’t add to the melee.

I know how you feel, but I subscribe to the notion that if you fall off of a horse you gotta get back on to keep the confidence up. Here is what I have had happen this summer:

1. Lost my Ultra Stick 60 on Memorial Day. (my fault) I loved this plane.
2. Damaged my trainer in a FUNFLY 1 month later. (my fault) It was my first fun fly, and I kept the plane in the air till the very end. However, I am repairing most of it now and will be ready with it in a week or two.
3. Bought an assembled Ultra Stick 60 to replace the one I crashed on Memorial Day. Got it at my LHS and know the guy who built it. He builds his planes very well, but this one had some parts of the spar that join the wing halves togehter that didn't get enough epoxy on them. The right wing split from the fuse and left part of the wing on the down side of a split S. It demolished the plane, stripped 2 servos, and broke the engine.
4. Bought a Funtana S40 and flew it about 20 flights. I am learning aerobatics and am having a great time. Yep, it went in on the 21st flight. (My fault)

Well here I am at the end of the Summer with only 1 plane left. I am still flying, yes I am disappointed, but just can't seem to stop. I have another Ultra Stick ready to build (after I replace the engine), a Something Extra 1/2 finished, a Magic Extra 300s ready to build, and am thinking of replacing the Funtana, or going with the UC3D.

I know it's tough to get through, but like my instructor has told me: "You really do not know how much you learn each time that you crash until you fly again."

I pile drove my Pizazz this spring. It was my first total write off crash in some time. Looking back, it was wonderful because I built and put all of the gear from the Pizazz in my PQHOR. I've been flying that all summer and having a total blast! I kicked butt with it at our fun fly which resulted with me answering questions about it all afternoon!

Try to keep with it!

I'll never forget one day flying when I was really new. I took out a .40 size champ and beat the tar out of it because I couldn't really handle it. First I flew it through a tree then from bad field repairs, the wing came off in flight. Anyway, the same day there was only one other guy at the field. He had been flying a while (I could tell). All he had was a beat up old midnight blue Kadet MKII. You know what? He flew the tar out of that thing. He was having a blast. Even though it was only a trainer, I marveled at how well he flew it and how much confidence he had with the plane. No doubt, he was laughing at me, but he sure was having a great time with that beat up Kadet!

A crash a week--- I remember when I had 3 in a day---hang in there. I remember when I dreamed of the day I could fly without the help of somebody. That was 13 years ago. Sometimes we worry about where we are going that we forget how far we have come.

Well, I took a week off from flying, fixed the Funtana, finished the 1/4 scale Extra, moped around the house for a while, survived Isabel, and got talked into going with a buddy of mine to try out his new 33% Ultimate. Took along my Funtana "just in case". I guess I survived the crisis 'cause I flew the @#$%@ outta that thing!

On that subject though, some guys have all the luck. My buddy was flying his Ultimate and he says to me " Steve, do me a favor and pull out my antenna." he had flown that thing a LONG WAY out and never even had a glitch with the antenna pushed in all the way. My luck I woulda been in the ground before it was a hundred yards away. He was so shook he landed and quit for the day.