1st US RC Flight School - 2010/07

January 2010 43
Who knew
in school?
so much
you could
THERE ARE numERous ways to bring
people into our hobby. An interaction
between friends or family, a love of aviation,
or encountering someone flying a model
might leave us wanting to know more. But no
matter how we got started, we needed some
type of instruction to allow us to safely pilot
our aircraft and learn the basics of flight.
The training we received might have come
from the local AMA club or an experienced
flier. Or we might be self-taught, using a
simulator and stick time on a model. I learned
the latter way, starting with a simulator,
moving on to small electrics, and pushing
forward from there.
I recently found that my flying had hit a
brick wall; my skills no longer seemed to be
progressing. I found that frustrating,
especially since I regularly see some of the
best pilots in our hobby put in amazing
flights.
Lucky for me, I was heading to Dave
Scott’s 1st U.S. R/C Flight School in
Shawano, Wisconsin, to attend his four-day
aerobatics course. The academy also offers a
one-week-to-solo course for those who do not
know how to fly model aircraft.
I had my first experience with Dave Scott’s
training methods when I reviewed Park
Flying 1-2-3D. His manual did a great job of
illustrating everything from basic flight to
aerobatics and 3-D.
It uses the crawl-walk-run methodology,
with an emphasis on starting slow and
breaking maneuvers into steps for easier
learning. When Dave writes his books, he
envisions the pilot sitting in front of the flight
simulator, practicing the maneuver until he or
she is comfortable enough to transition to the
real thing at the flying field.
After reading this manual, I was left
wondering what it might be like to attend an
RC flying school and get hands-on training
from an instructor who has trained nearly
1,300 students in 23 years. What could
prospective students expect to learn from an
accelerated four-day course, with a
curriculum tailored around each one’s
individual needs? I was about to find out.
I did research on the school’s Web site, to
learn everything I needed to prepare myself
for the upcoming trip. Shawano is 33.7 miles
northwest of Green Bay. It is a nice, small
learn
by
Jay Smith
Dave Scott (L) and Noel
Proctor get ready for
another flight with the
school’s Yellow Aircraft
Edge 540T.
01sig2.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 11/20/09 1:45 PM Page 4344 MODEL AVIATION
A look at the Shawano WI flying site before training began. The fact that the
school has its own facilities is a benefit to the student; there are no distractions!
Although the school has its own site, the nearby Shawano RC Flying Club is worth a visit. This friendly group of
modelers has a beautiful field.
Dave fuels the Super Stick for the author’s evaluation
flight. The instructor assembles/disassembles, fuels, and
maintains the models so his students can focus on flying.
Left: Handheld aircraft and the chalkboard are used
throughout the course to reinforce Dave’s instruction.
Above: There are no tests, but Dave shares a lot of
good information that is worth retaining. Noel and the
author took notes throughout the course.
Photos by the author
01sig2.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 11/20/09 1:47 PM Page 44January 2010 45
“ ... the very
best pilots
input the
c o r r e c t
commands
in the first
place.”
Students have the option of bringing a model to
school with them to fly. Jay took his patriotic electricpowered,
87-inch 3D Hobby Shop Extra that will be
featured in an upcoming MA review.
The author (R) gets stick time on the Edge 540. Each
flight at the school is made using a buddy box, which
provides students with a safety net and an extra level
of comfort when trying difficult maneuvers.
Safety is imperative at the school. Dave performed a thorough
preflight check of the model each day and tested the receiver
battery before each flight.
01sig2.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 11/20/09 1:49 PM Page 45town of roughly 10,000 people, with a lot of
farmland in the outskirts that is perfect for
flying models.
The school’s Web site provided a list of all
the hotels in town, making it easy to plan the
trip. It also featured a handy checklist of what
to take.
Day One: I arrived almost an hour before our 9 a.m. start time, to
walk the field and take a few pictures. I was soon followed by Dave
Scott and the other student, Noel Proctor.
As Dave unloaded aircraft and began to set up, I learned that
Noel was an airline pilot and had attended the 1st U.S. R/C Flight
School the previous year. I was curious about his experience and
reassured by the fact that he returned, so I asked Noel why he chose
to attend.
He told me that throughout his career as a full-scale pilot, he had
received formal training—be it to earn his private pilot’s license or
to learn to fly commercial jets. Noel felt the same way about flying
RC; he wanted accelerated, professional instruction, and he found
that with Dave’s school.
Noel also realized that after attending, he progressed faster than
other club members with more flying time. He decided to return to
the school to work on aerobatics and continue to build on what he
had learned the first time.
Dave spent the first couple hours going over field orientation and
safety. He also discussed the student questionnaire that we had filled
out in advance and explained the goals for him and us for the next
four days.
The recurring idea throughout ground school was that most fliers
think that making corrections is the key to good flying. The best
pilots input the correct commands in the first place, thus reducing or
eliminating the need for corrections altogether and freeing the pilot
to think ahead of the airplane and anticipate his or her next move.
Next was our orientation/evaluation flight on the school’s Super
Stick aircraft. I was selected to start but was quickly given a
surprise. Dave asked me to hold the transmitter as if I were flying; I
am a thumbs flier, but he asked me to hold the sticks using my
thumb and forefinger, which he believes provides greater control.
I reluctantly agreed to try it Dave’s way, even after being a
thumbs flier for eight years. He let me continue to use my neck
strap—something else I have done from Day One of flying.
I was slightly nervous on the first flight; I had to try a new flying
style and, on top of that, Dave was evaluating me. Flying was done
using the “buddy box” system, or trainer cord, and he was great
about letting us know when we, or he, had the aircraft.
I flew a full tank of gas out and demonstrated the basics of
flight, with basic turns and loops. Dave pointed out that I was
making several corrections in my turns to keep them at altitude,
which is common with self-taught pilots.
He instructed me to keep turns as simple as possible by
providing the aileron input, returning the stick to neutral,
inputting up-elevator to bring the aircraft around, and
inputting opposite aileron to level the model. Within a few
turns, I was making the best and easiest turns ever.
After our flights, we sat down under the covered training area.
Dave discussed our flying and reinforced our instruction using a
chalkboard and handheld airplanes.
We followed this routine after every flight; it allowed us to
dissect factors that had an impact on our flying, good and bad. We
went on to discuss what new maneuvers we would try and
continued to build on those we had successfully demonstrated.
We continued to work on our foundation as we flew sport
The certificate is a nice touch, but the
author felt that his achievements were
taking his flying to the next level and making
two friends along the way.
Noel Proctor receives a certi f icate
proclaiming him to be an “Intermediate
Aerobatic RC Aviator.”
Dave has put more than 2,500
hours into his full-scale Pitts
and hopes to be flying it in the
summer. The model sitting on
the cowl is how it will look
when it is finished.
The Edge 540 was excellent with which to
practice intermediate and advanced
aerobatics. Jay spent a great deal of time
in knife-edge flight, perfecting Four-Point
and Slow Rolls.
46 MODEL AVIATION
01sig2.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 11/20/09 1:51 PM Page 46Noel and I began using effective rudder
inputs to counteract not only the wind, but
also the propwash and P-factor. “P-factor” is
the term used for asymmetric propeller
loading that causes the model to yaw to the
left at high angles of attack.
As he did during the first day of
instruction, Dave demonstrated the maneuver
a couple times in the air and asked if we had
any questions before he turned the transmitter
over to us. We began using slight right rudder
input in all of our vertical climbs, from Loops
aerobatic maneuvers. It was a great first day
of school, filled with great weather and a lot
of flying.
Dave handled all of the model’s fueling,
starting, cleaning, and assembling/
disassembling. It was like having a caddy at
the golf course. All Noel and I had to focus on
was our flying and having fun.
The amazing thing was how invigorated I
felt when we were finished. I had done the
most flying ever in one day, yet I wanted to
fly some more. I wanted to practice the
maneuvers and continue to try to build on
what we learned. Fortunately I brought the
new copy of the RealFlight Basic simulator
and was able to fly on my laptop in my hotel
room.
Day Two:We started again with ground
school and reinforcing what Dave told us the
first day, such as “Stick your lines,” “Minimal
inputs,” and, my favorite, “Control the
aircraft; don’t react to it.”
Dave flies his Hangar 9 Extra 260 at full-scale and RC
air shows. Jay and Noel got the opportunity to see
Dave practice his routine one evening after training.
Janaury 2010 47
• 1st U.S. R/C Flight School (Wisconsin)
• 2nd RC Flight School (Arkansas)
• Aeroglass R/C Flight Academy
(Maryland)
• Apache Junction Heli-Center
(Arizona)
• EAGLE Miniature Aviation (Florida)
• EAGLE RC Flight School (Florida)
• Flight Instruction by Clarence
Ragland (New York)
• High Soar (California)
• Hobbies Aloft R/C Flight School
(California)
• Hobby Town (Nebraska)
• Infovision (Texas)
• Jim Waterman (Texas)
• John Pagan (Texas)
• Midwest Products Co. (Indiana)
• Philip Mosko, Instructor (California)
• Plane Video Aerobatics and Ground
School (Iowa)
• Pongo Air (California)
• RC Flight Training (North Carolina)
• Southwestern R/C Flying (Nebraska)
• The Hobby House (California)
• Vegas Flight School (Nevada)
• Wasatch Front Model Airplane
Flight School (Utah)
• Whirly Bird Flight School
(Colorado)
The preceding is AMA’s current
list of RC flight-training providers
throughout the country. Visit
www.modelaircraft.org/programs/
rcfi.aspx to learn more about the
schools in your area. MA
—Jay Smith
Find a Flight School Near You!
01sig2.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 11/20/09 1:53 PM Page 47to Hammerheads and beyond.
Throughout each sequence, Dave coached
us on ways to perform the maneuvers even
better. He focused on refinements and setting
up the airplane to transition immediately into
another maneuver, if we were comfortable.
After the second day, we students had the
opportunity to visit Dave’s hangar to see his
full-scale project: a Pitts biplane. Already
2,500 hours into the project, he spends most
evenings working on it; his goal is to get the
aircraft flying by midsummer of 2010. He
ultimately plans to compete with the Pitts and
fly it at air shows.
Day Three: This was when everything came
together for me. We had moved from sport
aerobatics into intermediate precision flying,
and we were piloting a new aircraft: a Yellow
Aircraft Edge 540T.
We also spent time going over my aircraft:
a 3D Hobby Shop 50cc Extra 300 SHP. It was
set up with an electric power system, and I
had it there to fly.
The morning was filled with discussing
model setup and a thorough preflight of my
Extra 300. Dave shared some vital tips about
setting up models, and the one that stuck with
me the most was to do so for your current skill
level. The future is a moot point if you never
get there because you damage or crash an
airplane that is set up beyond your skill level.
Dave’s other point is not to try to solve all
your problems with the radio. He is not
against flight modes or exponential; his point
was that too much programming removes the
correlation of control inputs and model
response that is so important to precision
flying. Keep it simple so you can focus on
flying—not which switch to hit every time
you set up for a new maneuver.
We continued through intermediate
aerobatics, practicing Avalanches and
Humpty Bumps. I specifically worked on
refining both the Four-Point Roll and Slow
Roll.
Noel and I both felt that we had made
significant progress throughout the last few
days. It was hard for us to believe that we had
only one day left.
After we completed that day’s training, we
headed to the local Shawano RC Flying
Club’s field. It was an opportunity not only to
visit this beautiful flying site, but also to see
Dave practice his air show routine with his
Extra 260.
The club has a beautiful grass field, with a
picturesque backdrop of hills and trees.
Members were friendly, and they invited Noel
and me to a cookout. The food and fellowship
were great ways to wind down while
watching Dave put his Extra through its paces.
He is a proficient pilot, and some of the
maneuvers in his routine were ones we had
been practicing at the school. We benefited
from seeing everything we learned, plus a few
more tricks, put together to form a
choreographed presentation.
Day Four: I arrived at the field early and was
surprised to find both Dave and Noel there
already. Maybe they felt the same way I did,
thinking that this was the last day and wanting
to make the most of it. It had been enjoyable
the last three days, focusing on becoming a
better RC pilot and making a couple new
friends.
Our final day left us a choice. We had
practiced the majority of maneuvers in both
the sport aerobatics and intermediate
aerobatics manual and scratched the surface of
advanced aerobatics; we could have further
refined what we had learned or worked on
more advanced aerobatics. I opted for a little
of both.
A nice thing about trying new aerobatic
maneuvers or those you are uncomfortable
with at the school is that you have a safety net
with the trainer (buddy box) system. Then
once you have completed the maneuver in
training, even if you haven’t mastered it, you
should feel comfortable trying it on your own,
since you know how a model should react.
The second half of the day, we focused on
how to transition what we learned to a plan
that Noel and I could take home to use to
continue to progress and be successful. For
me, that came down to the last flight of the
day, when I laid it down and put on my own
air show.
I asked Dave merely to observe my flying
and provide constructive criticism or suggest
refinements. To my surprise, he didn’t have
much to say; I think he was as impressed as I
was with my final flight!
Our last day ended with a brief
48 MODEL AVIATION
conversation about our flying throughout the
last four days, and Noel and I received our
certificates showing that we had completed
training. Noel shared that he planned to come
back next year, to work on even more
advanced aerobatics.
My eight-hour drive home gave me plenty
of time to think about and appreciate what I
had accomplished in the last four days. I was
able to spend four days immersed in the joys
of RC flight during which I, and my flying,
was the focus.
I put in more flights in those few days
than I had in the last several months
combined. Most important, I took my flying
to the next level. Using the crawl-walk-run
format, I strengthened my foundation, learned
to fly basic maneuvers using far fewer stick
inputs, and progressed my flying beyond the
brick wall.
When I made my first flight back home, I
had more confidence and flew with more
purpose than I had before the school. I wasn’t
boring holes in the sky; I was flying precision
aerobatic sequences and focusing on further
refining each segment.
The weekend after returning from flight
school, I attended the Fly-for-Tots charity flyin
in North Carolina. I was eager to speak
with an accomplished pilot, Seth Arnold, who
had also worked with Dave Scott.
I shared with Seth my experience at the
school, and Seth told me that before working
with Dave, he had entered IMAC
(International Miniature Aerobatic Club)
events and finished at or near the bottom.
After receiving coaching and instruction, Seth
place second in his next contest!
I am extremely thankful that I had the
opportunity to attend the 1st U.S. R/C Flight
School and share the experience with anyone
else who has an interest in hands-on
instruction. I chose Dave’s course because of
its location and my familiarity with the
teaching methods he used.
We are fortunate to have several RC flight
schools for aircraft and helicopters
throughout the US. A sidebar accompanying
this article contains a list of all active schools
at the time this article was published. The
AMA endorses none of the flight schools
listed; it maintains the list for our members’
benefit. MA
Jay Smith
[email protected]
Sources:
1st U.S. R/C Flight School
(715) 524-2985
www.rcflightschool.com
3D Hobby Shop
(830) 990-6978
www.3dhobbyshop.com
RealFlight
(800) 637-7660
www.realflight.com
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01sig2.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 11/20/09 1:54 PM Page 48

January 2010 43
Who knew
in school?
so much
you could
THERE ARE numERous ways to bring
people into our hobby. An interaction
between friends or family, a love of aviation,
or encountering someone flying a model
might leave us wanting to know more. But no
matter how we got started, we needed some
type of instruction to allow us to safely pilot
our aircraft and learn the basics of flight.
The training we received might have come
from the local AMA club or an experienced
flier. Or we might be self-taught, using a
simulator and stick time on a model. I learned
the latter way, starting with a simulator,
moving on to small electrics, and pushing
forward from there.
I recently found that my flying had hit a
brick wall; my skills no longer seemed to be
progressing. I found that frustrating,
especially since I regularly see some of the
best pilots in our hobby put in amazing
flights.
Lucky for me, I was heading to Dave
Scott’s 1st U.S. R/C Flight School in
Shawano, Wisconsin, to attend his four-day
aerobatics course. The academy also offers a
one-week-to-solo course for those who do not
know how to fly model aircraft.
I had my first experience with Dave Scott’s
training methods when I reviewed Park
Flying 1-2-3D. His manual did a great job of
illustrating everything from basic flight to
aerobatics and 3-D.
It uses the crawl-walk-run methodology,
with an emphasis on starting slow and
breaking maneuvers into steps for easier
learning. When Dave writes his books, he
envisions the pilot sitting in front of the flight
simulator, practicing the maneuver until he or
she is comfortable enough to transition to the
real thing at the flying field.
After reading this manual, I was left
wondering what it might be like to attend an
RC flying school and get hands-on training
from an instructor who has trained nearly
1,300 students in 23 years. What could
prospective students expect to learn from an
accelerated four-day course, with a
curriculum tailored around each one’s
individual needs? I was about to find out.
I did research on the school’s Web site, to
learn everything I needed to prepare myself
for the upcoming trip. Shawano is 33.7 miles
northwest of Green Bay. It is a nice, small
learn
by
Jay Smith
Dave Scott (L) and Noel
Proctor get ready for
another flight with the
school’s Yellow Aircraft
Edge 540T.
01sig2.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 11/20/09 1:45 PM Page 4344 MODEL AVIATION
A look at the Shawano WI flying site before training began. The fact that the
school has its own facilities is a benefit to the student; there are no distractions!
Although the school has its own site, the nearby Shawano RC Flying Club is worth a visit. This friendly group of
modelers has a beautiful field.
Dave fuels the Super Stick for the author’s evaluation
flight. The instructor assembles/disassembles, fuels, and
maintains the models so his students can focus on flying.
Left: Handheld aircraft and the chalkboard are used
throughout the course to reinforce Dave’s instruction.
Above: There are no tests, but Dave shares a lot of
good information that is worth retaining. Noel and the
author took notes throughout the course.
Photos by the author
01sig2.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 11/20/09 1:47 PM Page 44January 2010 45
“ ... the very
best pilots
input the
c o r r e c t
commands
in the first
place.”
Students have the option of bringing a model to
school with them to fly. Jay took his patriotic electricpowered,
87-inch 3D Hobby Shop Extra that will be
featured in an upcoming MA review.
The author (R) gets stick time on the Edge 540. Each
flight at the school is made using a buddy box, which
provides students with a safety net and an extra level
of comfort when trying difficult maneuvers.
Safety is imperative at the school. Dave performed a thorough
preflight check of the model each day and tested the receiver
battery before each flight.
01sig2.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 11/20/09 1:49 PM Page 45town of roughly 10,000 people, with a lot of
farmland in the outskirts that is perfect for
flying models.
The school’s Web site provided a list of all
the hotels in town, making it easy to plan the
trip. It also featured a handy checklist of what
to take.
Day One: I arrived almost an hour before our 9 a.m. start time, to
walk the field and take a few pictures. I was soon followed by Dave
Scott and the other student, Noel Proctor.
As Dave unloaded aircraft and began to set up, I learned that
Noel was an airline pilot and had attended the 1st U.S. R/C Flight
School the previous year. I was curious about his experience and
reassured by the fact that he returned, so I asked Noel why he chose
to attend.
He told me that throughout his career as a full-scale pilot, he had
received formal training—be it to earn his private pilot’s license or
to learn to fly commercial jets. Noel felt the same way about flying
RC; he wanted accelerated, professional instruction, and he found
that with Dave’s school.
Noel also realized that after attending, he progressed faster than
other club members with more flying time. He decided to return to
the school to work on aerobatics and continue to build on what he
had learned the first time.
Dave spent the first couple hours going over field orientation and
safety. He also discussed the student questionnaire that we had filled
out in advance and explained the goals for him and us for the next
four days.
The recurring idea throughout ground school was that most fliers
think that making corrections is the key to good flying. The best
pilots input the correct commands in the first place, thus reducing or
eliminating the need for corrections altogether and freeing the pilot
to think ahead of the airplane and anticipate his or her next move.
Next was our orientation/evaluation flight on the school’s Super
Stick aircraft. I was selected to start but was quickly given a
surprise. Dave asked me to hold the transmitter as if I were flying; I
am a thumbs flier, but he asked me to hold the sticks using my
thumb and forefinger, which he believes provides greater control.
I reluctantly agreed to try it Dave’s way, even after being a
thumbs flier for eight years. He let me continue to use my neck
strap—something else I have done from Day One of flying.
I was slightly nervous on the first flight; I had to try a new flying
style and, on top of that, Dave was evaluating me. Flying was done
using the “buddy box” system, or trainer cord, and he was great
about letting us know when we, or he, had the aircraft.
I flew a full tank of gas out and demonstrated the basics of
flight, with basic turns and loops. Dave pointed out that I was
making several corrections in my turns to keep them at altitude,
which is common with self-taught pilots.
He instructed me to keep turns as simple as possible by
providing the aileron input, returning the stick to neutral,
inputting up-elevator to bring the aircraft around, and
inputting opposite aileron to level the model. Within a few
turns, I was making the best and easiest turns ever.
After our flights, we sat down under the covered training area.
Dave discussed our flying and reinforced our instruction using a
chalkboard and handheld airplanes.
We followed this routine after every flight; it allowed us to
dissect factors that had an impact on our flying, good and bad. We
went on to discuss what new maneuvers we would try and
continued to build on those we had successfully demonstrated.
We continued to work on our foundation as we flew sport
The certificate is a nice touch, but the
author felt that his achievements were
taking his flying to the next level and making
two friends along the way.
Noel Proctor receives a certi f icate
proclaiming him to be an “Intermediate
Aerobatic RC Aviator.”
Dave has put more than 2,500
hours into his full-scale Pitts
and hopes to be flying it in the
summer. The model sitting on
the cowl is how it will look
when it is finished.
The Edge 540 was excellent with which to
practice intermediate and advanced
aerobatics. Jay spent a great deal of time
in knife-edge flight, perfecting Four-Point
and Slow Rolls.
46 MODEL AVIATION
01sig2.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 11/20/09 1:51 PM Page 46Noel and I began using effective rudder
inputs to counteract not only the wind, but
also the propwash and P-factor. “P-factor” is
the term used for asymmetric propeller
loading that causes the model to yaw to the
left at high angles of attack.
As he did during the first day of
instruction, Dave demonstrated the maneuver
a couple times in the air and asked if we had
any questions before he turned the transmitter
over to us. We began using slight right rudder
input in all of our vertical climbs, from Loops
aerobatic maneuvers. It was a great first day
of school, filled with great weather and a lot
of flying.
Dave handled all of the model’s fueling,
starting, cleaning, and assembling/
disassembling. It was like having a caddy at
the golf course. All Noel and I had to focus on
was our flying and having fun.
The amazing thing was how invigorated I
felt when we were finished. I had done the
most flying ever in one day, yet I wanted to
fly some more. I wanted to practice the
maneuvers and continue to try to build on
what we learned. Fortunately I brought the
new copy of the RealFlight Basic simulator
and was able to fly on my laptop in my hotel
room.
Day Two:We started again with ground
school and reinforcing what Dave told us the
first day, such as “Stick your lines,” “Minimal
inputs,” and, my favorite, “Control the
aircraft; don’t react to it.”
Dave flies his Hangar 9 Extra 260 at full-scale and RC
air shows. Jay and Noel got the opportunity to see
Dave practice his routine one evening after training.
Janaury 2010 47
• 1st U.S. R/C Flight School (Wisconsin)
• 2nd RC Flight School (Arkansas)
• Aeroglass R/C Flight Academy
(Maryland)
• Apache Junction Heli-Center
(Arizona)
• EAGLE Miniature Aviation (Florida)
• EAGLE RC Flight School (Florida)
• Flight Instruction by Clarence
Ragland (New York)
• High Soar (California)
• Hobbies Aloft R/C Flight School
(California)
• Hobby Town (Nebraska)
• Infovision (Texas)
• Jim Waterman (Texas)
• John Pagan (Texas)
• Midwest Products Co. (Indiana)
• Philip Mosko, Instructor (California)
• Plane Video Aerobatics and Ground
School (Iowa)
• Pongo Air (California)
• RC Flight Training (North Carolina)
• Southwestern R/C Flying (Nebraska)
• The Hobby House (California)
• Vegas Flight School (Nevada)
• Wasatch Front Model Airplane
Flight School (Utah)
• Whirly Bird Flight School
(Colorado)
The preceding is AMA’s current
list of RC flight-training providers
throughout the country. Visit
www.modelaircraft.org/programs/
rcfi.aspx to learn more about the
schools in your area. MA
—Jay Smith
Find a Flight School Near You!
01sig2.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 11/20/09 1:53 PM Page 47to Hammerheads and beyond.
Throughout each sequence, Dave coached
us on ways to perform the maneuvers even
better. He focused on refinements and setting
up the airplane to transition immediately into
another maneuver, if we were comfortable.
After the second day, we students had the
opportunity to visit Dave’s hangar to see his
full-scale project: a Pitts biplane. Already
2,500 hours into the project, he spends most
evenings working on it; his goal is to get the
aircraft flying by midsummer of 2010. He
ultimately plans to compete with the Pitts and
fly it at air shows.
Day Three: This was when everything came
together for me. We had moved from sport
aerobatics into intermediate precision flying,
and we were piloting a new aircraft: a Yellow
Aircraft Edge 540T.
We also spent time going over my aircraft:
a 3D Hobby Shop 50cc Extra 300 SHP. It was
set up with an electric power system, and I
had it there to fly.
The morning was filled with discussing
model setup and a thorough preflight of my
Extra 300. Dave shared some vital tips about
setting up models, and the one that stuck with
me the most was to do so for your current skill
level. The future is a moot point if you never
get there because you damage or crash an
airplane that is set up beyond your skill level.
Dave’s other point is not to try to solve all
your problems with the radio. He is not
against flight modes or exponential; his point
was that too much programming removes the
correlation of control inputs and model
response that is so important to precision
flying. Keep it simple so you can focus on
flying—not which switch to hit every time
you set up for a new maneuver.
We continued through intermediate
aerobatics, practicing Avalanches and
Humpty Bumps. I specifically worked on
refining both the Four-Point Roll and Slow
Roll.
Noel and I both felt that we had made
significant progress throughout the last few
days. It was hard for us to believe that we had
only one day left.
After we completed that day’s training, we
headed to the local Shawano RC Flying
Club’s field. It was an opportunity not only to
visit this beautiful flying site, but also to see
Dave practice his air show routine with his
Extra 260.
The club has a beautiful grass field, with a
picturesque backdrop of hills and trees.
Members were friendly, and they invited Noel
and me to a cookout. The food and fellowship
were great ways to wind down while
watching Dave put his Extra through its paces.
He is a proficient pilot, and some of the
maneuvers in his routine were ones we had
been practicing at the school. We benefited
from seeing everything we learned, plus a few
more tricks, put together to form a
choreographed presentation.
Day Four: I arrived at the field early and was
surprised to find both Dave and Noel there
already. Maybe they felt the same way I did,
thinking that this was the last day and wanting
to make the most of it. It had been enjoyable
the last three days, focusing on becoming a
better RC pilot and making a couple new
friends.
Our final day left us a choice. We had
practiced the majority of maneuvers in both
the sport aerobatics and intermediate
aerobatics manual and scratched the surface of
advanced aerobatics; we could have further
refined what we had learned or worked on
more advanced aerobatics. I opted for a little
of both.
A nice thing about trying new aerobatic
maneuvers or those you are uncomfortable
with at the school is that you have a safety net
with the trainer (buddy box) system. Then
once you have completed the maneuver in
training, even if you haven’t mastered it, you
should feel comfortable trying it on your own,
since you know how a model should react.
The second half of the day, we focused on
how to transition what we learned to a plan
that Noel and I could take home to use to
continue to progress and be successful. For
me, that came down to the last flight of the
day, when I laid it down and put on my own
air show.
I asked Dave merely to observe my flying
and provide constructive criticism or suggest
refinements. To my surprise, he didn’t have
much to say; I think he was as impressed as I
was with my final flight!
Our last day ended with a brief
48 MODEL AVIATION
conversation about our flying throughout the
last four days, and Noel and I received our
certificates showing that we had completed
training. Noel shared that he planned to come
back next year, to work on even more
advanced aerobatics.
My eight-hour drive home gave me plenty
of time to think about and appreciate what I
had accomplished in the last four days. I was
able to spend four days immersed in the joys
of RC flight during which I, and my flying,
was the focus.
I put in more flights in those few days
than I had in the last several months
combined. Most important, I took my flying
to the next level. Using the crawl-walk-run
format, I strengthened my foundation, learned
to fly basic maneuvers using far fewer stick
inputs, and progressed my flying beyond the
brick wall.
When I made my first flight back home, I
had more confidence and flew with more
purpose than I had before the school. I wasn’t
boring holes in the sky; I was flying precision
aerobatic sequences and focusing on further
refining each segment.
The weekend after returning from flight
school, I attended the Fly-for-Tots charity flyin
in North Carolina. I was eager to speak
with an accomplished pilot, Seth Arnold, who
had also worked with Dave Scott.
I shared with Seth my experience at the
school, and Seth told me that before working
with Dave, he had entered IMAC
(International Miniature Aerobatic Club)
events and finished at or near the bottom.
After receiving coaching and instruction, Seth
place second in his next contest!
I am extremely thankful that I had the
opportunity to attend the 1st U.S. R/C Flight
School and share the experience with anyone
else who has an interest in hands-on
instruction. I chose Dave’s course because of
its location and my familiarity with the
teaching methods he used.
We are fortunate to have several RC flight
schools for aircraft and helicopters
throughout the US. A sidebar accompanying
this article contains a list of all active schools
at the time this article was published. The
AMA endorses none of the flight schools
listed; it maintains the list for our members’
benefit. MA
Jay Smith
[email protected]
Sources:
1st U.S. R/C Flight School
(715) 524-2985
www.rcflightschool.com
3D Hobby Shop
(830) 990-6978
www.3dhobbyshop.com
RealFlight
(800) 637-7660
www.realflight.com
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