A year ago last March, the Flite Test videos finally got the better of me, and I took the plunge to learn RC flight. So, in celebration of my one-year anniversary this year, I returned to my roots, flying a basic FT Flyer in the fields where I first learned, doing the basic exercises I spent hours and hours practicing. I recommend it.
How far have you come? It's easy to lose sight of our growth until we look back to those early days. I'd love to hear your "anniversary" reflections.
Like many of the Flite Test family, I had no coach, no mentor besides the beginner video series by Josh and Josh. (Thanks for those, Joshes!) Choose an appropriate plane. Build it carefully. Outfit it with Power Pack B. Start with taxiing, then bunny hops, then left-hand patterns to build muscle memory. Then right-hand patterns, and then on to figure-8's. Every step was an exciting challenge.
So, I built a basic, no-frills FT Flyer for my anniversary.
I returned to the neighborhood baseball field I first flew with so much hand-shaking and knee-knocking.
Those early fears and excitements came whispering back as I built the old, familiar wing. Didn't expect that. When I stepped back on that first field, the ghost of those early, barely-controlled flights came a-calling, too. In fact, I had forgotten that I started each flight with a nervous prayer that I wouldn't hurt anyone. Any more, the only remnant of that fear is that I stop to scan my field carefully before every flight.
And it almost surprised me how competently and comfortably I flew my anniversary plane. My eyes weren't used to seeing my plane fly so smoothly in that field. No longer intent on keeping close to the ground, tiptoeing into the air as a nervous novice, I soared up above the baseball field lights, altitude and airspeed my friends instead of my nemeses. Steep descents to kiss-soft landings also looked foreign on that field of so many flopped and plopped "arrivals".
[Photo by Garreth Fuller]
I returned to the second, much larger and less obstacle-filled (did I mention the light poles at the baseball diamond?) soccer park where I had spent hours and hours building competence. I discovered that yes, I can still fly 10 patterns in a row to beautiful touch-and-go landings. I remember that was a big hurdle back then.
I continued to fly that basic plane all month. When it was over, I bequeathed it to Patrick, one of my beginner friends who somehow learned to fly much faster than I did. Maybe it's because he didn't have to learn alone? Josh Bixler is right, RC flight really is more fun with friends! Patrick is still putting that wing to good use.
[Video by Rick Aldom]
Next year, I'll build another, to return to my roots once again.
Robert Browning wrote of our past...
“...how sad and bad and mad it was - but then, how it was sweet...”
Once a year I want to revisit that sad, bad, and mad beginning when flight was new and reflexes were slow, and remember how sweet it was. For instance, I've rarely known such pride and giddy excitement as the first time my plane stayed together long enough to fly more than one battery! I'd forgotten that day.
None of us would be comfortable in the air now if it weren't for those early days. Celebrating honors them. Plus, it lets today's newbies know they're not alone. Share your stories, below. And...
[Photo by Garreth Fuller]
-- Mike
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