Flight Training - 2012/12

The most common request for content generally included the question, “How do I
learn xxx maneuver?” or some variation on that theme. Instead of jumping right into
a specific skill, it seems as though it’s a good idea to discuss the process of learning to
fly RC model airplanes in a more comprehensive sense. Although there isn’t a magic
bullet that makes any maneuver or skill easy, I’ve found several tips that can make a
huge difference.
It is critical to acknowledge that we all learn differently. I find this to be particularly
pronounced when working with pilots of different ages. Younger pilots (to a point)
adapt and learn faster. I believe this is in part because younger pilots are accustomed
to learning. They do it in school every day.
For those of us in middle ages (I’m 39), I haven’t been in any formalized non-jobrelated
school in nearly 20 years. I think it is fair to say that I’ve forgotten how to
learn as well as I once could. The tips that follow in this column are my attempt to
distill some of those learning skills and processes that we can apply to our flying to
help us improve.
Owning It
Probably the most important mindset with regard to flying model airplanes is the
premise that you, as the pilot, are in
control. This seems obvious, but you
wouldn’t believe the number of times
I’ve heard pilots claim that the airplane
just “did” this or that as if it had intent
and/or will. Clearly, your model has
neither. It is, in all instances, doing what
you told it to do.
Unfortunately, sometimes we don’t
realize what we told it to do. Additionally,
2.4 GHz technology has nearly
eliminated glitches and interferencerelated
issues, making the connection
between the pilot and model as secure as
it has ever been.
Sure, each airplane’s performance
and feel differs, causing it to respond
differently to the control inputs based on
those unique characteristics. It is your job,
as a pilot, to learn each model’s unique
characteristics and adapt your control
inputs to better operate the model.
Always remember that you are in control
and 100% responsible for the model’s
flight path.
A Sense of Purpose
To improve as a pilot, you need to
focus on learning and flying with a sense
of purpose. I hear far too many pilots
complain that they’re not getting better,
yet they fly basically the same flight
each time. They take off, burning holes
in the sky with the throttle wide open,
their left thumb resting on the side of
the transmitter, followed by a loop or
roll, and a mediocre landing. In that
short flight, there were at least a couple
dozen opportunities to work on a skill or
maneuver.
That isn’t to say that you shouldn’t
spend a part of each flight just messing
around, but I’d argue that the only way
to improve is to spend a sizeable part of
each flight working on a specific skill.
www.ModelAviation.com December 2012 Model Aviation 89
FLIGHT TRAINING
Scott Stoops
[email protected]
Whether you’re just getting started in
this hobby as Austin is, or a seasoned
vet, the basics of learning are the
same. Perfect practice makes perfect!
The Stevens AeroModel Daddy-O is a great airplane for practicing everything from touch-andgos
to traditional sport aerobatics. Takeo s and landings should be practiced. Consider them a
maneuver to perfect.
When working with a student, I’d
prefer it to be at least 50% of each fl ight,
but would settle for a solid third. This
brings me to my next bullet point: plan
your fl ight.
Flight Plan
When I speak of having a fl ight plan, a
more correct term might be to plan the
fl ight, or at least have a rough outline
of what you’d like to accomplish. My
competition aerobatic fl ights are nearly
100% scripted.
Flying the Sukhoi forces me to work
on skills that I struggle with instead of
only doing what I’m already comfortable
with or enjoy the most. It could be
something as simple as forcing myself to
work on outside snaps or rolling circles
for 5 to 10 minutes (I dislike these
maneuvers, but I have to be competent
at both to be competitive).
In that same sense, I routinely see
excellent pilots who are horrible at
landing their models. Not unlike a fourpoint
roll, relatively simple things such
as takeoffs, landings, and fl ying a clean
traffi c pattern are maneuvers that should
be practiced and perfected. By allowing
time in each fl ight for a couple of touchand-
gos, etc, you can improve your skills.
Plan your fl ight and fl y your plan!
Effectively Using Flight Simulators
Flight simulators are one of the
primary reasons that the skill of the
average RC pilot has improved as much
as it has in the last decade. The quality of
the simulation is so close to feeling real
that the skills can be directly translated
to the model with a high level of
confi dence.
Being able to hit reset and have
a perfect new airplane setting on
the runway allows you to attempt
new maneuvers with confi dence.
Pilots of every level can benefi t from
incorporating a quality fl ight simulator
into their training repertoire.
I have a couple of suggestions about
how to use the simulator, however.
For starters, I recommend using the
largest monitor you can fi nd. This helps
give useful visual perspective that isn’t
possible on a small screen. I have an
HDMI output from my laptop into a 60-
inch LCD TV in the family room that
works great.
The second suggestion is to stand
while fl ying. Unless you sit while fl ying
at the RC fi eld, sitting in front of your
computer fl ying the simulator doesn’t
resemble how you’re going to hold your
transmitter at the fi eld. If you fl y with
a transmitter strap, I’d also use it while
fl ying on the simulator.
Conclusion
Flying model airplanes can be a
frustrating endeavor. It isn’t easy to do,
and the path to success can be fraught
with setbacks.
That noted, it is also one of the most
rewarding things I’ve ever done. Seeing
the smile on a student’s face after a fi rst
solo is absolutely priceless. Own it, fl y,
and train with a sense of purpose; make a
plan and fl y it! You can do this.
As always, remember that learning is fun
and fun is what this great