Learning to fly RC planes

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kdn

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#71751 16-Nov-2010 14:08

Ok, so I made the mistake every told me not to do, bought myself an RC jet, its an F-15 EDF.

So since its the first real RC plane I have or will use, people have told me I should manage to get about 30 seconds of airtime before I crash it, since I didn't start off with a high wing trainer.

What I am wondering, since the cost of a trainer is pretty dam expensive, is there an airfield or club I can go to for learning how to fly? so I can get a feel for flying before I go on my maiden flight.

I am in Auckland.

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#405327 16-Nov-2010 14:18

I suggest you contact chris021 here on Geekzone.

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#405337 16-Nov-2010 14:33

My neighbour is into RC helicopters.... impressive language from the RC fraternity when things dont go their way ;)

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Jaxson

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#405340 16-Nov-2010 14:38

kdn: people have told me I should manage to get about 30 seconds of airtime before I crash it,

I say go for it and prove them wrong. Get to 31 seconds and you can start saying I told you so. Oh and video it to, so we can all share in your glory.

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#405354 16-Nov-2010 15:04

kdn:

I am in Auckland.

Where abouts in Auckland ? Id be keen to see the plane in flight in person rather than video :)

XPD / Gavin

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magu

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#405356 16-Nov-2010 15:05

If you're gonna do it on the weekend somewhere, post it here so some of us can tag along and video it from multiple angles. ;)

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kdn

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#405373 16-Nov-2010 15:41

Well budding filmakers are welcome to come along for the maiden flight, I think asking me to try and film it as well as fly it might be a bit too much on the first outing.

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magu

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#405379 16-Nov-2010 15:50

I think flying it shouldn't be too much of a problem, even if it is your first time.

Landing (properly), on the other hand...

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#405387 16-Nov-2010 16:02

Name time and place and Im sure someone will turn up to make the first attempt a lasting memory :)

I have a friend with a small camera that we could attach... ;) heh

XPD / Gavin

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SteveON

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#405389 16-Nov-2010 16:04

Try...

http://www.google.co.nz/search?sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=how+to+fly+an+rc+plane#q=how+to+fly+an+rc+...

Dingbatt

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#405392 16-Nov-2010 16:07

kdn: Ok, so I made the mistake every told me not to do, bought myself an RC jet, its an F-15 EDF.

So since its the first real RC plane I have or will use, people have told me I should manage to get about 30 seconds of airtime before I crash it, since I didn't start off with a high wing trainer.

What I am wondering, since the cost of a trainer is pretty dam expensive, is there an airfield or club I can go to for learning how to fly? so I can get a feel for flying before I go on my maiden flight.

I am in Auckland.

I suggest you go to your local model aero hobby shop and ask if they know of any clubs in your area.
The advice you got is quite correct. Think of the full scale aircraft of what you have. I doubt very much that the USAF lets complete noobs jump in an F15 and 'have a go' regardless of how big the airfield is.
What I have seen demonstrated was a computer simulation program that displayed a model aircraft and was controlled by a game controller with 2 analogue sticks. Didnt pay too much attention to the detail but some investigation on your part may bear fruit. It helps with things like cross-controlling when the model is flying toward you.
In the end the cost of a simple trainer (second hand on trade-me maybe) may be less than repairs to your new toy.

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cbrpilot

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#405407 16-Nov-2010 16:28

magu: I think flying it shouldn't be too much of a problem, even if it is your first time.

Landing (properly), on the other hand...

You'd be surprised. Flying is pretty damn hard when you're just starting. Probably the main reason for crashing would be the control reversal depending on what direction you're flying (towards yourself/away from yourself/right way up/upside down). Because aircraft like the afore mentioned are very agile, if you need to make a control correction and you turn the wrong way, the aircraft will have landed (in many pieces) before you know it.

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magu

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#405415 16-Nov-2010 16:40

cbrpilot:
magu: I think flying it shouldn't be too much of a problem, even if it is your first time.

Landing (properly), on the other hand...

You'd be surprised. Flying is pretty damn hard when you're just starting. Probably the main reason for crashing would be the control reversal depending on what direction you're flying (towards yourself/away from yourself/right way up/upside down). Because aircraft like the afore mentioned are very agile, if you need to make a control correction and you turn the wrong way, the aircraft will have landed (in many pieces) before you know it.

My dad used to fly RC planes when he was young. He told me once he was building one and, because the plane was being assembled upside-down (so he could run the cabling underneath it), he assembled the rudder the wrong way around. But he only found that out afterwards, when he took it for a spin and, instead of flying right into the open field, the plane took a sharp left and into the woods. Only one of the wheels was left to tell the story.

"Roads? Where we're going, we don't need roads." - Doc Emmet Brown