Just not hard wired for R/C?

Again the best time to fly the small floaters is early morning or right at the end of the day within 2hrs before dark.

I use an app that posts hourly temps,wind and sun light I check Friday evening for weather conditions for my weekend.
Sometimes I can get by doing chores then going out sometime chores wait till the morning flying is done.

Remember flying weather comes first chores second. ehhehe eeeeeeeeee

The only time the wind lets up here is after dark!

Some progress made! Two nights in a row with calm evenings! Last night five flights...sorta. One forced landing and five crashes! Had to climb two trees! Tonight I relocated to a more open area and the air was much calmer. Actually ran through two battery's! I may be getting the hang of it...though I never did have what I would call a controlled landing! Havn't wised up to when the battery is getting low and the plane usually stops responding well at the downward end of a leg. So I end up ditching in the tall weeds! But I don't think there were any casualties tonight! Man the controls are touchier than I expected! And I'm on low rates! Great fun now that I'm somewhat in control! No death spirals tonight!

good to hear, i didn't see it mentioned, but a good hint when plane is coming at you is to simply turn your body away from plane and fly it over your shoulder, this totally eliminates any issues with 'reverse' controls.

For some reason I don't seem to have much left /right issues coming or going. I did kinda luck into the turn your back to it thing accidentally tonight ! Worked great for avoiding a row of walnut trees!

Good job! I started the same way by looking over my shoulder, then tried the other way I read about. In case you have not heard it, when flying towards yourself, push the stick to the low wing.

I should add that most of my landings with my Champ are about as graceful as you described yours as I fly mainly in grass also. I took the gear off and my landings got better.

Yeah....I really have no where safe to do a normal landing...or takeoff! I thought about removing the landing gear but thought it would screw up the CG. This thing always sags and starts a left bank when hand launched even with full throttle. I assume prop torque accounts for some of it. I tried some right rudder trim but it didn't help. Everything is trimmed nice in the air once underway. Is this just normal with a hand launch? You got to get on the controls pretty quick due to the tall weeds! Videos I've watched don't do that...or is it varied weird wind currents? Lot of wind breaks around here that cause strange air currents even when there is no perceptible wind!

Good to hear your getting in some more fly time and things are improving for you , I know when I was doing RC (beginner I am still) there was engine torque on ground take off that rudder was needed , never did hand launch. iF YOU COULD TAKE OFF WITH SOME WHAT LESS POWER THAT SHOULD HELP (BUT NOT SURE ) stupid cap lock, sorry .. keeps us posted and Thanks, Eric

Tonight didn't go so well compared to yesterday.... Felt calm on the ground,different story at altitude! Errant gusts at the most inopportune times! And still no warning of impending dying battery...it just totally stops responding,also at the most inopportune times! At least I got in some practice averting disasters due to changing conditions! I also ALMOST made a decent planned landing. But grass even in the lawn is too tall! Takes tricky navigating to even get to the yard dodging trees. A little too unnerving for a noob!

keep going, it just takes some stick time, you'll get'er!

Hope the poor plane survives ! Getting a bit banged up on the nose! Even small weed stalks are tough on foam! Great fun though....in between panic sessions!

Sounds like you need a timer. Set your watch or phone or something if there isn't a countdown timer on the transmitter.
Phil

It may have been suggested earlier in this thread, but if there's any way at all that you can hook up with a club that has a training plane and buddy box system, I can guarantee that you'll make some giant strides REALLY fast in your learning...especially with the experience you've already gained on your own.

An experienced instructor can cut right through the mystery of whether it's the plane, the weather, or the student that's causing it to behave in a certain way. Also, a heavier loaded trainer is not as susceptible to winds and turbulence, and so has a wider window of conditions that it can fly in.

Sorry if this a repeat of other posts, my computer is fairly slow and can get cantankerous...somewhat like me I suppose !!!

Ditto what Kim said. The instructor and buddy box will allow you to make huge strides very quickly without so much wear and tear (crash damage) to your plane.

The local "club" flying field dosn't even open until June. You have to be a member which is 50.00. You also have to be an AMA member...which is another 75.00 . Not gonna happen on my paltry soc. sec. The only friend I have that used to fly sold all his stuff and got out of the hobby. So I'm pretty much on my own. From what I've heard the local club is pretty much a snooty bunch that dosen't have time for a newby that dosn't have the latest most expensive equipment. Never been much for clubs anyway.

Well, sorry for that situation, the club here is very similar. Wish we were all bunched together a little closer.
Good luck with your training, I hope you get things going good real soon.

Kim

OhBee wrote:From what I've heard the local club is pretty much a snooty bunch that dosen't have time for a newby that dosn't have the latest most expensive equipment. Never been much for clubs anyway.

Amen to that. Sounds like it's a universal problem. I've always got the same impression from any club people around here which doesn't give you much incentive to join in.

Rod.

Oldenginerod wrote:

OhBee wrote:From what I've heard the local club is pretty much a snooty bunch that dosen't have time for a newby that dosn't have the latest most expensive equipment. Never been much for clubs anyway.

Amen to that.  Sounds like it's a universal problem.  I've always got the same impression from any club people around here which doesn't give you much incentive to join in.

Rod.

There ARE some exceptions though, there's a club south of here, near Sikeston, Missouri, along with 'The Breezy Hill Flyers' up north near Travis.

For a long time back in the day, we had a 'Non Club' of flyers that used the airport ramp at Cairo. I'm still proud to have been part of that bunch of great guys. If you showed any interest at all, you'd get handed a buddy box transmitter.

I think for some reason the best clubs are usually 'non-clubs'!

Check behind schools, churches, and public playing fields around dinnertime (6pm) as groups of people tend to gather about then. This is after work for most. The usual way it to check the sky for activity.

Phil

Just have to keep practicing it will all click in due time, also there are 3 primary RC forums
you may find locals in your area RCU, RCG and here.

The folks at the local club should be kind enough to help and give tips without
the need for you to be a member or have AMA for this class of aircraft.

At my local parks over the years I have trimmed up new planes for folks to insure
they have a well mannered plane to learn on. Lol some have rudders, elevator and ailerons
set up backwards impending doom in the making.

A bit off topic...anyone having trouble posting in the other forums? I can't get anything to post anywhere but here!?