Galway Bay Hotel - Learning to Fly at SFRCF - A Senior Citizen Begins Radio Control - RC Flight Instruction

Might benefit from the experiences of an RC pilot still in flight training, and those who are still thinking about entering the hobby, these lucky future pilots. Will be looking forward to flying new aircraft, unfamiliar with radio-controlled(RC) airplanes, many individuals. It is possible that Christmas will have come and gone, by the time you read this article.

I decided to try again, 2008, in July. I never earned my wings as an RC pilot, although I had many false starts in the past. I am now a senior citizen and have been interested in model airplanes since I was a youngster.

In a crash, at the very least, learning to first fly something other than a trainer aircraft and without an experienced flight instructor can quickly end. I knew that I would need help in selecting a training aircraft and in learning to fly. The Sanderson Field R/C Flyers(SFRCF), my first step was to join the local RC club.

The AMA has defined rules for safe flying and also provides insurance for flight-related personal injury or property damage. I also had to join the AMA in order to fly at the club's flying fields, and since the club is an Academy of ModelAeronautics(AMA) sanctioned club, besides the club-membership fee.

I was able to look at many kinds of aircraft and benefit from the advice and suggestions of the pilots, at the meetings and events. I initially attended club meetings and flying events as a spectator, but wanted to explore the many possibilities first, since I wanted to make the right purchase decisions. My next step was to determine what kind of plane and equipment to buy.

I decided to invest in an RC flight simulator, while I was accumulating the information I needed to purchase my own plane and equipment.

I will be able to practice more advanced flying maneuvers on the simulator first, as I progress in my flight training. The simulator helped me learn the correct stick control for an approaching aircraft (something even "real" pilots find difficult), most importantly. Using the simulator helped me learn the basics of RC. The simulator I purchased ran well on my old Windows-2000 computer. Using a flight simulator is a great introduction to RC flying -- without the risk of an expensive "real" crash.

Ready to Fly(RTF) package that included an electric-powered aircraft with a new technology 2.4GHz RC transmitter and receiver, i was fortunate in finding a newly released. I found a suitable training aircraft at a price I could afford, by the end of August.

He safely landed the plane and taxied it back to the flight line, after completely flight testing the aircraft. He then made the maiden flight to trim the flight controls. My flight instructor taught me how to ground-check the aircraft. I reported to the field ready for my first flying lesson, and on the next good flying day, after receiving and assembling my new aircraft.

My instructor resumed control of the aircraft and made a safe landing, after about 10 minutes. What a thrill! I could do this safely because my transmitter was linked to the instructor's transmitter by a cord that allowed him to resume control at any instant. Allowed me to assume control and actually fly it, after a successful take-off, my instructor taxied the plane onto the runway and, and after recharging the flight battery, the next flying day.

I had the instructor "bring it back alive" and safely land the plane, particularly when it got a little too breezy, once or twice. My instructor resumed control and brought the plane back so that I could continue flying, again. I let the plane get too far away and lost "orientation": I was not sure just what stick control to use to bring the aircraft back, a few times. There have been a few "close calls" but I was "saved" each time by my instructor. I have had many more training sessions, since my first flight.

And elevator in order to achieve a good take-off, rudder, this required learning how to manage the throttle. A cross-breeze could cause the plane to turn off the runway, because of the large rudder/stabilizer area. Ramping up the engine to full power and trying to keep the plane rolling straight down the runway was a little scary--particularly if there was a breeze. I was allowed to control the plane during take-off, after several sessions.

I am looking ahead to the next good flying days to continue my landing practice. I had previously been concentrating on keeping the airplane in the air and it was quite a switch to cut the power and allow the plane to fall towards the ground--on purpose. And landing (still attached to the safety of my instructor's transmitter) was a "red letter" day, flight, the day I was able to complete a take-off! The landings were "bouncy" but I was still able to land the plane and taxi it back in one piece, true. I did manage a couple of landings, at the end of the flying season.

Fully recover from the stress of protecting his student from catastrophe, i hope, my flight instructor can, at the same time. I will continue to practice on my flight simulator, in the meantime. " I am looking forward to some good flying weather so that I can resume my training. I will need a lot more flight training before I can qualify for my "wings. Our flying days are somewhat limited, in the Pacific Northwest.