begin airplane

[Steve Sanderson]

Just thought that I would write to let everyone know about my experience with my first glow plane. About March I bought a Hobico Nexstar and began flying the simulator that came with it. I have now got four flights on the airplane. The first flight the takeoff and landing were done by a friend that has been flying for 20 years. The next two flights I tookoff and landed with Ron standing near me just in case, These two flight lasted about 20 minutes and still had fuel left but I did not want to try landing without power. The four flight was without any experienced person around. All flights were a complete sucess. I would recommend this kit to anyone looking at Rtf for their first plane. The simulator flies exactly like the real plane. Great Planes has done an execlent job on the simulator, and Hobico has put an excellent package together. The plane flies very stable and is easy to fly. The only down side is that it has a tendence to fly towards the sun on very bright days because of the assisted flight stability sensor. But I would definitely recommend this system to any beging flier. As would the two buddies that I fly with.

[PurgatorY]

I assume you are still using the flight stabilization system when you fly. Have you attempted to fly without using it. In my opinion the set up is fantastic and I have highly recommended it. However that being said the student should not be allowed to fly on his own until he can take off, land and perform all the requirements set down by the club unassisted by instructor or electronic means. These are basic skills and if the student cannot fly these without the assistance of the auto stabilization system he has no business flying without the aid of an instructor.

Dennis Pratt

[Fodder]

We had a student with the Nexstar. Very stable plane with flaps on. We finally told him to remove them and boy did that make for a whole new airplane. He still did okay, but he now has to be a bit more cautious.

You should remove them eventually so you don't get used to them because once you switch to a new plane it could be a shock.

Keep practicing. :TU:

[Steve Sanderson]

One I know you must be a pro but I thought instead of cutting people down that are trying a new thing that as a pro you should incourage those that do try somethong new. And by the way I did fly tonight with and the help of the stabilization aid. I just thought that I would write the other night to let people starting out about my experience. I was not looking for discouragement. By the way we fly on a private air strip and do not worry the closest RC airstrip is 30 miles away.

[Steve Sanderson]

should state that I did not fly with the stablization system.

[PurgatorY]

No one is putting you down I think the whole learning process is improved by the use of the system you are using. Anything that helps keep planes and beginners from having a less than pleasant experience is welcome. It is simply a mater of safety having an instructor by your side until you can fly all the basic maneuvers including landing and taking off without aid from the stabilization system or instructor. I have been using the pilot assist link for quite some number of years and I know its faults as well as its strong points. At less than 25 ft from the ground and a major upset be it from wind or dumb thumbs and you might not have the altitude for the system to catch up. What if from lack of experience you panic and feed the wrong inputs in even for a few seconds. You could possibly hurt someone.

By all means use the system but keep turning down the gain or turn it off and learn to fly with just your own skills. This is not a put down it concerns me that a responsible instructor would let you fly on your own without earning your proper wings. Hurting someone or causing an incident is probably the furthest thing from your mind but if you take the time to research you will find that major injuries even death have resulted from models this size. It is your responsibility to be in proper care and control of your airplane and if you have to rely on a stabilization system you should not be flying by yourself.

Dennis Pratt

[britbrat]

Hey guys, don't get all wound up over this. Use of the stabilization system is obviously an initial step in the process. I have difficulty in imagining any pilot who is interested in what he is doing, relying on a stabilization system for more than the early learning period. If the pilot does rely on it in perpetuity & the system works that well, there is still no problem -- lots of (all) "graduate" pilots dig holes despite mastering flight without aids.

I don't think there is a real problem -- I have seen absolutely no statistics that support need for concern.

[PurgatorY]

Statistics???? These combos haven't been out long enough for any compilation of statistics. Have you ever flown with these systems britbrat? I have and when set up right you can line up with the runway and at the right throttle setting take your hands off the controls and it will land itself. This does not make a qualified pilot. It's like anything else until one learns the basics and becomes proficient enough to take off, fly and land without the stabilization system he should be with an instructor. We have several in our club and it is still necessary for the student to demonstrate full control without the help of the system to get his wings. No wings you don't fly solo period. That is part of the reason there is a recommended wings program initiated by MAAC. Every time you turn around it seems there is some new tool to help the learning curve of the student. I think its great. There is no way to safely by pass the learning of the basics. Re read the initial posts. A few flights with the stabilization system and he was allowed to fly on his own.

Dennis Pratt

[Steve Sanderson]

If you did not read the second post I made the fifth flight without the system and it went well. One point that I think that everyone is missing is that I fly off my own farm and a friends air strip that he has for his full sized plane. And Do not worry about interference because their is no one near with RC aircraft and the nearest club field is 30 miles away. You have to do the flying eventually so the sooner you try the more confident you become. I would not have made the fourth flight unless Ron thought that I could handle it. You must rember that not everyone learns things at the sane rate so when you are not flying with a club should you not fly when you and the peers that are helping you fell that you are ready. That and I did have about 50 hours on the sim and did not use the pilot assist for well over 40 of those hours. I have not and will not rely and the system to save my ass. And except the fact that the plane might crash, But I know that even the best pilot can have something go wrong. But if you do not venture out that first time by yourself you might use having someone around as a curch and never be able to cut the strings. I made two more flights tonight with the system completely disconected and both were good flights.

[Newbie flyer]

Are you guys posting your replies to get extra ballots or is this actually going to go somewere. If it is not than why don't you all take it outside.

When I first joined this sight I thought it was a place to get usefull information from friendly, fellow RC'ers. Not to be put down and stomped on for answering a question! :roll:

[Steve Sanderson]

sorry guys I sometimes get definesive. I just posted the first post to let everyone know how I did because I was exicted, ijust do not care to be picked apart.

[Derrick]

Steve, welcome to the world of RC Glow powered airplanes! One word.....addictive. 8)

You are very fortunate to have your own field and I am envious. I have a friend who is lucky enough to own quite a bit of property and I find it quite the break sometimes to head up to his place and get a few flights in outside of the club atmosphere. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the benefits of a club and MAAC membership but I also don't mind having the odd flight in a non MAAC approved flying field, although lately I find myself spending more time flying in the park behind my house..... (OMG, somebody call the MAAC police!! :lol: ) Gotta love those GWS park flyers!

You also have to keep a mind out of some of the online posters. Some guys have more posts/time online than actual flights.....when my post counts start to exceed my flights then I'll be out flying..... :wink:

Just keep the enthusiasm up, keep safe, and above all enjoy yourself as it is supposed to be a hobby.

[PurgatorY]

Steve my posts were not directed at you personally but at a situation that could happen in a club atmosphere. We envy you the freedom that your situation provides. Most of us have to share a field with many other members. I agree you having use of a private site enables you to operate as you have stated with relative safety. A crowded site on the other hand is a different situation and I guess that is the situation I have been concerned with.

Dennis Pratt

[Gary Maker]

In the last week I had the privledge of starting off two brand new pilots in the wonderful world of RC flying. Both students came out to the field with NexStar trainers. These are wonderful packages, so complete and setup, they fly great from the very first flight.

As an instructor who wants to see my students excell and thouroughly enjoy the RC experience, I sit down first thing and have a 20 minute discussion with each new pilot, explaining the program and the learning process with them. They obviously want to learn to fly, they are there with brand new equipment and the enthusiasm to go and they have to be very trusting to let this person whom they didn't know at all the first time, to let them take up their pride and joy hoping to see it come back safely!

As part of that trust, I want to assure my students that they will learn to fly and even more importantly, to do it safely!!!!

This is just my personal opinion and not meant to take anything away from anyone else or cause insult or put down. But I explained the situation to each student after test flying these brand new NexStars that the plane will fly easier especially in a bit of wind WITHOUT the fixed flaps. I showed them the difference by first flying one with the flaps in the bit of wind we had, then a flight without the flaps. Much more stable without in my opinion.

As for the autopilot, I opted to ask each student to disconnect it as I wanted them to get the real feel of the sticks and the reaction of the plane with out this flying aid and I personally feel, in my opinion only, the student will progress faster with out it and learn to fly better and more precise!

If however I see a pronunced difficulty with the pilot not being able to maintain control stability I would have no difficulty in connecting up the autopilot and letting the student settle down and find joy in not having to continueally fight the plane to keep control. My feelings however and again, just my opinion, this would only be a temporary feature until the student gained his confidence and learned to fanese the sticks to maintain control. My personal feeling is that the student should be able to fly his plane for his wings test, doing the required manovers without the aid of the autopilot! But then again, this is not written in stone! It depends greatly on the overall ability of the pilot. Here is a quick example:

I instructed an older gentleman at my club in northern Ontario. For the better part of two years, I use every trick I could think of to help him get his wings, but he just couldn't get the hang of keeping his wings perfectly level on the landing approach and would flub it almost every time. He ordered a Futaba Autopilot from Great Hobbies and asked me to help him set it up which I did! We took the plane out and set up the auto aid and gave it a try. I talked him through an approach as I had done a hundred times or more but this time the wings stayed level, power down, flaired and did a perfect landing. Each alternate flight was the same. He did it! I gave him his wings and he was so happy it brought tears to my eyes. For this man this was a wonderful device. He only goes out on Sundays for perhaps 1 or 2 flights and there are always other pilots and instructors there to assist if he needs it. So I had no reservations about this fine gentleman having his wings and enjoying himself immensely!

But my preference is for a student to learn to fly honestly and precisely with the expectations of moving on up to bigger and better planes learning aerobatics and burning holes in the sky like the rest of us. I feel that the autopilot should only be used in exceptional cases as listed above for training or at least just as an aid in the early stages of training but that his wings test should be done with out it exceipt in those rare exceptional cases. MHO only!!

[britbrat]

I don't have any problems at all with that approach. A happy ending for all concerned.

[Ateeq4]

:D Hey Guys I Just Bought The NexSTAR Package And It Is My First Plane. I Have Flew On The Simulator A Number Of Times And Took Off The Stabilizer And Then Got Use To It. I Will Be Going To My Club Soon And It Will Be My First Flight :) .

But I don't Know If I Should Start Off With The Stabilizer On Or Just Leave It Off? Could Someone Please Tell Me What I Should Do.

[gus]

Follow the suggestions of the instructor who you will be going up with ....

If no instructor, then, if it was me, I would go with the stabiliser on, and a lot of sacrifices to the RC gods.

gus

[Dave Holmes]

I have no problems with Gary's approach. While I agree flight stabilization systems (I have a FMS Co-Pilot myself) should be like training wheels, and come off eventually, in certain rare cases it makes sense to leave them on.

Hey, I'm not allowed to drive without glasses, either! I don't see them being discarded in the near future.


Dave

[britbrat]

Get as many hrs on the sim as you can cram in -- even if you are flying regularly. If you are trying to teach yourself, keep the AFS active & keep the speed brakes on the plane. If you have an instructor & buddy box, he probably won't want either the AFS or speed brakes -- do as he suggests.

Have fun & save your money -- you will be spending it in large chunks for the next 50 yrs.

[Fodder]

We had a couple of Nexstars with the stabalizers on and we recommended he take the off right away. The plane flew almost by itself when equiped. The student looked real stable, but as soon as he took them off, it was learning all over again. As long as your with an instructor on a BB, we recommend not using them to our new students.

[Ateeq4]

Thanks For The Info I Am Going To Be Flying With The Buddy Box System And Am Going To Leave The Stabalizer Off But Keep The Speed Brakes On Just Incase. :)