Flying for the first time - How hard could it be?

by dege13 | June 4, 2014 | (8) Posted in Just Fun

This article is to share with friends and family who wonder why we spend so much time trying to learn to fly and think that they could do it better.

I built a quadcopter a few years ago. I never got it working quite right due to APM's (Ardu Pilot Mega/ArduCopter) barometer and magnometer issues at the time. My friend, Rob, built a quadcopter and crashed it terribly.

We both thought we would try RC airplanes because they at least glide before falling. Rob got the '3 Pack Swappable Speed Build Kit' and started to build I built the Experimental Airlines Axon. We have both not really flown that great yet. But we know we need practice.

Our friend Naeem then got interested. He helped him pick parts and he built an FT Versa Wing Pusher. He wanted to fly it so badly when it was done that he ignored our warnings about how hard it is to fly an RC airplane...

Here is his first flight.

Lesson learned: Take your time. Do not rush into it. Try a simulator at least once before taking your creation to the air.

In the end, I climbed the tree and got the airplane out for him.

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COMMENTS

Yogenh on November 1, 2014
I know what you mean. A lot have gone through this. Big thing always get help!!!!
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canuck on November 1, 2014
I've been flying for over 25 years now both models and full scale. I can easily remember by first "short" RC flight. Have a good day.
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Grearson on November 1, 2014
i am in that phase as well right now, maidend today my Maker Trainer 2 and it worked!!! Tough after my "landing" i need to build a new one and a new Motor, but it realy flew this time for like 4 minutes. =)
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kkuenzel on November 1, 2014
Your flight lasted about as long as mine last weekend. Built the FT 22 and maidened it at the local school yard. I had to do the walk of shame to recover the pieces of my plane.
I think I will set my sights a little lower for my next plane.
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rogerjiangcf on November 1, 2014
As a beginner, it's easier to learn from a plane that can takeoff from the ground. If you plane can't, you should let someone to toss the plane for you so you can keep your hands on the sticks all the time.
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Kurt0326 on November 2, 2014
That's classic.
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pintokitkat on November 2, 2014
Ah, how well I remember the first time I climbed a tree to retrieve a plane. I was 59. I remember too the first time I fell out of a tree trying to retrieve a plane. I was 59. I remember the second ascent too. I was 59. And the second demonstration of the effect of gravity on a 59 year-old who shouldn't have been up a tree in the first place.

Of course I'm much older and wiser now, being 60. I don't climb trees anymore. I still fly into them, of course. Where's the fun otherwise?
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Crazy68 on November 2, 2014
Watch the beginner series on here! I did, and it helped alot! I am still new, and have crashed several times, but as the two Joshes will tell you, Take it slow, and do it with a friend! Cheap, and slow is good too!
Good luck, hang in there!

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Neal on November 4, 2014
My first flight was with a RTF foam Supercub with some cheapo collision avoidance system. I had disabled it because it was acting oddly but I continued flying. I somehow re-enabled it by accident and it immediately rolled onto its back and dived into the ground.
That has been my experience with RC so far. I hope I get get some money for some equipment soon so I can get flying again, and this time read the manual first...
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PeterGregory on May 21, 2015
It flew. Points awarded.
It actually flew kinda straight, too.
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dege13

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Flying for the first time - How hard could it be?