Learning To Fly?
Discussion
I fancy getting into R/C aircraft and have little to no idea how to start. I found myself in our local model shop (specialising in R/C) contemplating a prop powered trainer type plane complete with 4 channel radio and everything - £160.
Now, the bloke in the shop seemed to think you can pretty much teach yourself with the help of a book and a wide open space. I find this difficult to believe. Even if I could get it into the air and circle around a bit (unlikely), I am pretty sure I'd spread my £160 across the local countryside when it came to trying to land it.
Do model flying clubs do lessons? I think someone talking you through it as you fly would be better than all the books and YouTube videos in the world. Or am I wrong?
How did you all get started? And was it an expensive or a relatively painless experience?
Cheers gang,
Darren.
Now, the bloke in the shop seemed to think you can pretty much teach yourself with the help of a book and a wide open space. I find this difficult to believe. Even if I could get it into the air and circle around a bit (unlikely), I am pretty sure I'd spread my £160 across the local countryside when it came to trying to land it.
Do model flying clubs do lessons? I think someone talking you through it as you fly would be better than all the books and YouTube videos in the world. Or am I wrong?
How did you all get started? And was it an expensive or a relatively painless experience?
Cheers gang,
Darren.
I'm pretty sure most flying clubs offer some form of tuition - and I think it's also recommended that these days, you get some form of public liability insurance.
Whatever, I do recommend lessons - don't do what I did, twice - after spending quite a bit of time in 'real' helicopters, and thinking I knew enough about how they fly...then spending loads on models and smashing them into a billion pieces, expensively, time after time...
If I do give model flying a go again, I will first buy simulator software, and then engage the help of an expert to stop me making a tit of myself yet again!
Whatever, I do recommend lessons - don't do what I did, twice - after spending quite a bit of time in 'real' helicopters, and thinking I knew enough about how they fly...then spending loads on models and smashing them into a billion pieces, expensively, time after time...
If I do give model flying a go again, I will first buy simulator software, and then engage the help of an expert to stop me making a tit of myself yet again!
Cheers both, it's all things to look into. Take it "FMS" is some sort of simulator? Is it good enough to prepare you for flying solo or just preparation for actual instruction?
I like the look of these ducted fan "jets" and that's what I eventually want I think. Are the propellor driven trainers relevant to these or is it a different discipline completely?
Sorry for daft questions, just trying to gather good information.
Thanks again.
I like the look of these ducted fan "jets" and that's what I eventually want I think. Are the propellor driven trainers relevant to these or is it a different discipline completely?
Sorry for daft questions, just trying to gather good information.
Thanks again.
Yeah FMS is rally useful, I used this following a 'minor' crash with my IC helicopter - it saved me loads. You basically plug your controller into your PC and mess about learning - Its very accurate, and they come with sepcific models and types heli/gliders/powered etc.
For aircraft, you can pick up a cheap trainer which will take a few knocks, and the trainers tend to be very slow and neutral, i.e. will want to return to level flight and allow you to make mistakes. Ducted fan (although cool looking) are generally a lot quicker than something prop driven and tend to end up in more pieces!
Flying is pretty easy with planes to be honest if you can tell your ar5e from your elbow *
Find a flying club near you, and if you go for a full (proprer) 4 channel trainer, there will usually be someone there with a 'trainer cable' that connects your transmitters together and they can take over if needed etc.
For aircraft, you can pick up a cheap trainer which will take a few knocks, and the trainers tend to be very slow and neutral, i.e. will want to return to level flight and allow you to make mistakes. Ducted fan (although cool looking) are generally a lot quicker than something prop driven and tend to end up in more pieces!
Flying is pretty easy with planes to be honest if you can tell your ar5e from your elbow *
Find a flying club near you, and if you go for a full (proprer) 4 channel trainer, there will usually be someone there with a 'trainer cable' that connects your transmitters together and they can take over if needed etc.
- The take-off and flying are easy (completing a landing all in one peice is the tricky bit).
FMS
You'll also need to locate and add in d3drm.dll into the FMS program directory if you're running Win7
Tx to USB adaptor cable
I fly with a Futaba T7C which you can pick up on E-bay for not a lot of cash, or you can get a brand-new Spectrum DX9 from Hobby King. My bro has JR radio stuff, which is also good. Stick to 2.4GHz though since it's more robust to interference.
You will need to choose whether to learn Mode 1 or Mode 2. Most people can't tell you accurately which mode they fly in, but will say "throttle on right/left" as appropriate. I think Mode 2 is more like flying a real aircraft and most real-world pilots will choose this. However finding someone to help you fly at a model aero club who uses the same mode can be a problem, in which case you're on your own again...
I'm (still) learning to fly with a Hobby-King Skyfun. It's fast enough to get into trouble and probably too fast to be a real trainer, but the challenge is rewarding and it's cheap and small. You might prefer to try something slower.
You'll also need to locate and add in d3drm.dll into the FMS program directory if you're running Win7
Tx to USB adaptor cable
I fly with a Futaba T7C which you can pick up on E-bay for not a lot of cash, or you can get a brand-new Spectrum DX9 from Hobby King. My bro has JR radio stuff, which is also good. Stick to 2.4GHz though since it's more robust to interference.
You will need to choose whether to learn Mode 1 or Mode 2. Most people can't tell you accurately which mode they fly in, but will say "throttle on right/left" as appropriate. I think Mode 2 is more like flying a real aircraft and most real-world pilots will choose this. However finding someone to help you fly at a model aero club who uses the same mode can be a problem, in which case you're on your own again...
I'm (still) learning to fly with a Hobby-King Skyfun. It's fast enough to get into trouble and probably too fast to be a real trainer, but the challenge is rewarding and it's cheap and small. You might prefer to try something slower.
Edited by AER on Saturday 22 March 06:51
All good stuff chaps, thank you. Keep it coming.
I'm trying to recall what the trainer I looked at was called, it was pretty big to be honest (or at least looked it to me) - About a 4' wingspan.
I think it was a "Wing King" or something equally cheesey sounding. What did appeal was that all the parts were readily available as spares
I'm trying to recall what the trainer I looked at was called, it was pretty big to be honest (or at least looked it to me) - About a 4' wingspan.
I think it was a "Wing King" or something equally cheesey sounding. What did appeal was that all the parts were readily available as spares
Planes are very easy to fly once you get past the trouble with your orientation (i.e. flying towards yourself), little tip I used was to always push towards the low point of the aircraft (i.e. nose down, pull down; low left wing, push left, etc.).
A good trainer plane is a Bixler from hobbyking or an multiplex easystar2. There are lots of different names for this model but they are all the same essentially. It's basically a powered glider and is very easy to fly.
A good radio would be a spektrum DX6i or equivalent. This will give you 6 channels (you won't need all of them to start with) and the ability to really fine tune your plane as you can adjust the sensitivity of the sticks. To go with the radio you will need to get a spektrum reciver (this bit goes in the plane and converts your control movements on the sticks to servo/throttle movements on the plane).
Simulators are excellent tools for getting used to the control and orientation and will save you lots of time and money; they are no replacement for actual flying though; get somebody with you on the first flight so that they can throw it while you are on the controls.
Ducted fans are great fun but require much more room and you really need to keep hold of them as they can get small pretty fast! i'd recommend a phase3 F16 as a first ducted fan but only after you have really mastered how to fly to avoid disappointment.
A good trainer plane is a Bixler from hobbyking or an multiplex easystar2. There are lots of different names for this model but they are all the same essentially. It's basically a powered glider and is very easy to fly.
A good radio would be a spektrum DX6i or equivalent. This will give you 6 channels (you won't need all of them to start with) and the ability to really fine tune your plane as you can adjust the sensitivity of the sticks. To go with the radio you will need to get a spektrum reciver (this bit goes in the plane and converts your control movements on the sticks to servo/throttle movements on the plane).
Simulators are excellent tools for getting used to the control and orientation and will save you lots of time and money; they are no replacement for actual flying though; get somebody with you on the first flight so that they can throw it while you are on the controls.
Ducted fans are great fun but require much more room and you really need to keep hold of them as they can get small pretty fast! i'd recommend a phase3 F16 as a first ducted fan but only after you have really mastered how to fly to avoid disappointment.
banx22 said:
...i'd recommend a phase3 F16 as a first ducted fan but only after you have really mastered how to fly to avoid disappointment.
Sorry, I may not have worded it well. I didn't mean learn with a ducted fan, I was wondering if learning on a prop Cessna type thing has much relevance when you move onto a DF. But you seem to have answered that question, cheers 
I always tell people to try one of these....
http://www.flyingwings.co.uk/index.php?route=produ...
Stable, slow enough to keep close by, batteries last ages- and are cheap. If you lose control, you simply let go, the surfaces return to a neutral position, and it glides. Once you have got the orientation back, you can carry on flying.
If you do crash it, they are incredibly immune to damage, and if the worst does happen, hot glue has it fixed in a matter of moments.
I wish i had one when i first started- i smashed a fair few quids worth of models up before i was totally confident.
Granted, they don't perhaps hold the appeal of a scale spitfire or similar, but as a learning tool, they really are superb.
http://www.flyingwings.co.uk/index.php?route=produ...
Stable, slow enough to keep close by, batteries last ages- and are cheap. If you lose control, you simply let go, the surfaces return to a neutral position, and it glides. Once you have got the orientation back, you can carry on flying.
If you do crash it, they are incredibly immune to damage, and if the worst does happen, hot glue has it fixed in a matter of moments.
I wish i had one when i first started- i smashed a fair few quids worth of models up before i was totally confident.
Granted, they don't perhaps hold the appeal of a scale spitfire or similar, but as a learning tool, they really are superb.
I'm learning to fly at the moment with a local club. They let me have a go on their trainers with a buddy box and I found a good deal on a nitro boomerang.
Just need some nice wind free days to take her out and practice landings.
Flying is easy when you're up there and it's still. I tried the boomerang on a gusty day and it was bloody hard work. I was mentally exhausted after about 10 mins.
If you have a light electric plane you will need very calm days.
Enjoy. It's great fun. Get a sim, if you have a mac only then get Aerofly rc from the App Store.
Get loads of practice on the sim to build up the reflexes and muscle memory
Just need some nice wind free days to take her out and practice landings.
Flying is easy when you're up there and it's still. I tried the boomerang on a gusty day and it was bloody hard work. I was mentally exhausted after about 10 mins.
If you have a light electric plane you will need very calm days.
Enjoy. It's great fun. Get a sim, if you have a mac only then get Aerofly rc from the App Store.
Get loads of practice on the sim to build up the reflexes and muscle memory
An update...
I'm now the excited owner of a trainer, one of these. It's all put together andpatiently impatiently waiting in the garage. It includes a second set of "sports" wings to move onto once you've mastered the training set up, plus the radio/battery/charger etc. I've set it up as best as I can to get the control surfaces lined up in their neutral positions and such like and that's as far as I can go on my own. Ideally I could do with someone who knows a bit to check it over before a flight but no hurry for that as yet.
Does anyone know a good club in the Swindon area, I've emailed a few as asked and not had any replies at all in a fortnight? I'd like to pop up on a flying day (without my plane) to get chatting and just watch over someone's shoulder with a view to joining. Currently, finding someone to speak to is proving challenge enough.
Any help is appreciated as always,
Darren.
I'm now the excited owner of a trainer, one of these. It's all put together and
Does anyone know a good club in the Swindon area, I've emailed a few as asked and not had any replies at all in a fortnight? I'd like to pop up on a flying day (without my plane) to get chatting and just watch over someone's shoulder with a view to joining. Currently, finding someone to speak to is proving challenge enough.
Any help is appreciated as always,
Darren.
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