Teaching Yourself. Learning to fly a model without an instructor.

I can see that if you're into multi engine, a Hal in the rudder channel could be really useful, if an engine goes out.

I thought this thread could do with a bump back onto "latest posts" .... This is a great thread & I'd like to see more if anyone feels like chipping in a bit?

Polyphilla.

Yes, you never stop learning and stick time is all.It builds the confidence you become a more relaxed flyer,and things when relaxed become easier.Its interesting,I loved my Seagull Harmon Rocket,and never at any time found it anything other than a superb easy to fly low winger.Last night I was looking up Harmon Rocket and found one that the gut flew on its maiden.It was all over the place and you could hear him panicking ,it spiralled down and you newq it was a write off.Just shows if your a novice it can be hard and GET SOME EXPERT HELP FIRSTIt becomes such a joy when youve been taught to fly properly.Setting the throws according to the instruction book on a new model is very important,I didnt on the Nemesis and to start with it was a handfull,

Stick time, there's the thing Stephen, I hadn't flown for three weeks, broke my Funcub yesterday!

i have had to teach myself to fly again after a 40 year lay off.
last thing i flew was single channel.

there is never anyone at the local club to teach me.

blooper wrote: i have had to teach myself to fly again after a 40 year lay off.
last thing i flew was single channel.

there is never anyone at the local club to teach me.

But you don't really fly single channel do you? They're slightly steerable free flight models so they more or less fly themselves.
With 3 or 4 channel proportional control it's very easy for any beginner to get disorientated and panic.
I think you've touched on a good point here though. If you must teach yourelf, the choice of model is critical.
You need something with loads of dihedral and preferably a high wing.
Models like this are inherently stable, so if you get into trouble you can often simply take your hands off the sticks and let the model correct itself.

The only problem here though is that the model has to be trimmed out first & this is where you need an experienced flyer.

Pol.

when i started back up in jan, started with a single channel glider.
then i converted that to 2 channel.
then 3 channel powered
and now i'm on 4 channel trainer.

When first venturing, a big slow-flying model is best, as it gives you time to decide what it is doing, and what to do about it - while remaining within vision range!
These little foamy bouncy things might be ok for survivability, but they are too small, really, blink, and they are out of sight!

Right again Eric, the thing is, with the right plane you can do glide tests into long grass, you already know it's going to fly before you commit aviation! Multiplex specifically forbid glide testing with the Funcub and the Mentor.

I've long thought that one of the Ben Buckle old timers would be perfect for someone who has to learn alone, which is why I chose the Ben Buckle Radio Queen, punt, punt,:woohoo:
A build blog coming soon!

I didn't know Ben Buckle did punts!

Kippy, What a brilliant thread.

During the winter a good way to keep your hand in is to buy a small helicopter and fly it in the lounge.A contra rotating blade model is more stable but dont try flying it up the stairs,ask me how I know,but it is good stick time preparing you for the new season

Flying UP the stairs is easy!
Coming back down is a lot harder, especially if you are following the heli! The co-ordination required by the hands, conflicts with that of the feet, and you tend to descend rather abruptly!

I didnt eric but the helicopter did