My first time flying!!!

[Fbiguy1]

Ok guys, I did something really stupid. My first time to ever fly a remote control plane was a hell of an experience. I have a Wattage Cessna 180. I got to the park were there was a big open field with some trees on the outside of it. I turned on the remote, put the battery in the plane and rubber band on the wing. I picked up the plane nervous and excited, pressed the little red button and pushed the throttle stick all the way up. As I launched the plane by hand it plunged straight into the ground. On my second attempt I pulled up hard on the stick and the Cessna stayed level. In the blink of an eye the little foam plane had flown nearly out of sight. It flew wildly wanting to dive and shoot straight up to the sky. I was doing loops one second and plunging for the ground the next. I thought damn this little thing is impossible to fly and it's supposed to be a trainer!!! I could barely keep the thing in the air. Next thing I knew I was trying to dodge stuff that seemed far away before. It was heading for a huge Oak tree so I tried to turn but it didn't quite make it. SMACK it hit the top branch of a 50 foot tall tree and stuck there. It was so high that I could barely see it at all. I was very upset because I had no way to get it. I went back to the park the next afternoon with a fishing pole and a socket on the end of it. The cessna had fallen to a much lower branch sometime during the day. It took me about 3 hours but I managed to get it down. The only thing that was broken was the propellor. Wow this little thing is tough. IT TURNS OUT THAT IN MY EXCITEMENT I HAD ACTUALLY PUT THE WING ON BACKWARDS. So I am looking forward to my next flight with the wing on the right way. Does any one know about how slow you can fly a plane like this? Because I swear I couldn't fly it less 50-60 MPH. The reason I say this is because I have a T-Maxx and this thing would have made my T-Maxx look like it was sitting still.

[mike85gn]

Well, if your wing is on backwards, you'd probably need a heck of a lot of speed to keep it off the ground! I don't think I've ever heard of a reverse airfoil configuration like that before, I don't think it would generate much lift if you put it on backwards. That plane should have no problems idling around a park with the wing on properly, I mean even some of my big gas trainers have been able to slow down and keep flying normally. Give it another try, you'll probably have better results.

[flyinhigh]

LOL ,That did sound pretty exciting.have you flown it since?

[aeajr]

TEST FLIGHT PROCEDURES FOR PARKFLYERS
by Ed Anderson
aeajr on the forums

PURPOSE - Here are some quick tips and a "check sheet" for preparing your
parkflyer for flight. If you have an instructor or coach, follow their
recommendations. This list is primarily for someone learning on their own who
would like some tips, guides and check lists to help them with their early
test flights. Skip a step and you open yourself to problems.

If you are REALLY new to RC flying, before you put your plane up you may wish
to read this series of articles aimed at new flyers of all types.

Beginners Bootcamp:
http://www.rcezine.com/cms/article.php?cat=&id=17
http://www.rcezine.com/cms/article.php?id=31

Too many people think flying an RC plane is like driving an RC car. ITS NOT!
Read the column, see why, and understand how this is going to be so much
better than cars.


BALANCE THE PLANE - Read the manual to see if you need to balance the plane.
Be sure to balance the plane to the suggested CG point. If you don't know how
to balance a plane, this is the time to ask. Don't try to fly it until you do.

An improperly balanced plane is not likely to fly well and is very likely to
crash! Even SOME Ready to Fly planes have to be balanced, so check the manual
for the manufacturers suggestions. In general it is better to be a "little"
nose heavy rather than tail heavy. A nose heavy plane is more stable so you
have a better chance of a smooth first flight session.

WIND - Read the recommendations in the manual. Some planes must only be flown
in dead calm or indoors.

For new pilots, dead calm to 3 MPH is perfect. No more than 5 MPH for your
first test flights and early/training flights or you will be fighting the
wind, not flying the plane. (guess how I know)


AT THE FIELD

1) Make sure no one is on your channel BEFORE you turn on your radio. If there
is another flyer anywhere in sight, go and talk to them BEFORE you turn on
your radio.

If someone is flying on your channel and you turn on your radio, they will
crash! Check first! At our field if you cause someone to crash, you have to
buy them a new plane. That can cost thousands. Check first!

2) Do a range check before the first launch of the day - If you don't know how
to do a range check, ASK!

3) Make sure that battery is fully charged just before the launch. Not 3 days
ago. Not last week. Last night or today!

4) Make sure all your surfaces are properly aligned and move properly before
you launch. Check the instructions.

Make sure right rudder goes right and up elevator goes up, etc. Also make sure
your wing is straight!

5) CHECK THE TRIMS! Check the trim slides on the side and below the stick(s).
They should be in the center. Be sure you have not bumped one out of position.
A bumped trim can cause the plane to crash. (guess how I know). I do this a
lot throughout the day, so check just before EVERY launch.

6) Always launch and land into the wind - ALWAYS!

7) For hand launches - good firm LEVEL throw - NOT UP! Never throw the plane
upward on a test flight as it will most likely stall, go nose down and crash.
After a few launches you will know how THIS plane flies.

TEST FLIGHTS

The following is a suggested test flight process for flyers learning on their
own, primarily in an open field area. If you are at a highly disciplined
runway based site, they may not allow you to follow this procedure. In this
case, you probably have an instructor, follow their guidance. If you are alone
in a field, follow this process.


ALWAYS LAUNCH INTO THE WIND - ALWAYS!
If you don't know why, read this article:
http://www.rcezine.com/cms/article.php?cat=&id=43

LAUNCH - FLY STRAIGHT - LAND - Don't go for a real flight, this is a test to
see if it goes straight and level. I like to fly straight out and then land
for the fist few tries. I send it out 100-300 feet. This way I get a feel of
how the plane will launch and how it will land.

Follow the launch procedure in the manual but don't go for height, go straight
out. Typically you will go to full power, then throw the plane straight out -
NOT UP- let it get out about 100 feet just keeping it straight. Let it climb.
At about 100 feet, cut the power to 1/3 adn try to land it still going
straight. All you want to do is keep it straight and level as it starts to
climb then as it lands. Cut the power just before it touches down. Some
planes fly at such slow speeds you may have to completely cut the power to get
it to land.

Did it climb out straight? If not, did you throw it level or were the wings
tipped? If the wings are tilted on the throw, the plane will turn toward the
low wing.

Does it glide in nicely for the landing? Do you need power on as you land or
can it glide in?

Launching and landing are the two most important things you have to do, so
make sure you know how the plane behaves before you attempt anything more. You
will do some walking but that is better than gathering up pieces or watching
your plane fly off into the distance.

On these test flights, try to use the controls as little as possible. If it is
balanced correctly, and your surfaces are trimmed it should fly straight and
true. If you have to work the sticks a little to keep it straight, that's OK,
but if you are working hard to keep it going straight and level, you may have
some trim adjustments to do, or your plane is not well balanced. Make those
adjustments now. If it flies with the nose sticking up, you are too tail heavy
or you are giving it too much up elevator. If the wind is blowing it around a
lot, put it away for a calmer day.

The first time I bring a plane to the field I might do 1-5 test flights as
straight out launches and landings. After each I adjust and do it again. Only
when I am happy that the plane goes straight and flat will I take to the
skies. I may add or remove some balance weight if the plane needs balance
improvement.

I like to adjust my planes at the surfaces so that my normal flight trim
settings on my radio are normally neutral trims. This way I don't have to
worry about setting trims before I fly. It takes time, but it saves problems
later.

Many kits tell you to set your control throws for lower amounts for early
flights. Follow this recommendation. Too much surface movement on an
unfamiliar plane can cause you to over control it. You can always "crank it
up" later.

Once I have done all these things, which might take 10 minutes or it may take
an hour or two, then and only then would I go for altitude and go around the
field.
After these few test flights I also get a feel for how much stick movement
will give me how much plane movement.

I get to know the plane is right before I send it up. Finding I have a problem
when I am 200 feet up and climbing and can't control a turn is not a good
thing because now I have to get it down and
land it.

I hope this is helpful. Clear Skies and Safe Flying!

[STaNgXs]

Hey aeajr, I really appriciate all the time you take to help us RC Plane Newbies, out, I've learned a LOT from you.

I just purchased a Multiplex Easy Star, and will try to fly it tomorrow, hopefully everything goes good, i've never flown an airplane before :rolleyes:


I've read all the articles on your website, they were very helpfull, as are your posts. Thanks again, bro!