jklong03
Squadron leader
Utah, USA (Yes, it is a state!)
Posts: 226
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Post by jklong03 on Aug 17, 2013 3:58:40 GMT 1
First off, let me say I honestly don't think any of this would have been possible of many of the great people here on the SCC that have listened to me, mentored me in some areas, and in general given me invaluable encouragement! To all of you I say thanks.
Were is "here" you ask? For me, here is being at the stage where I can grab my trusty Cub on a whim when the air is still in the evening, go out and strap the wings on and not be fearful of what is about to happen! I can calmly take off, fly around, do my little loops and landings and not have to clutch the controls sweating and fearful of what may happen. Now I am not getting over confident, as I am aware the flying gods are always lurking with some surprises when one least expects them. But I do enjoy this hobby so much now that I can feel calm and not fearful I am going to come home with a pile of pieces due to some stupidity on my part.
This hobby is d**n fun once you get to this point! To any new flyers out there, just persevere and don't give up. I have done many stupid things, bought many spare parts and made countless repairs. But at least now things are stable, my plane is still in the same condition as it was over 20 flights ago (give or take the broken prop and scratches on the cowling), and I can now concentrate on technique and aiming for that flawless flight.
Just had to share my thoughts after returning from a truly enjoyable evening of flying on a beautiful, calm, balmy evening!
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Post by Crazy Horse on Aug 17, 2013 8:44:05 GMT 1
jk,
Really, really pleased for you. May all your days be filled with the joy you have now.
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Post by prarieflyer on Aug 17, 2013 15:15:08 GMT 1
My cub is the plane i feel most confident when flying. Great plane and glad you reached this point. No where to go but up.
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jklong03
Squadron leader
Utah, USA (Yes, it is a state!)
Posts: 226
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Post by jklong03 on Aug 17, 2013 16:57:51 GMT 1
My cub is the plane i feel most confident when flying. Great plane and glad you reached this point. No where to go but up. Yes, "up" is much better than "down"! |
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Post by kenninny on Aug 18, 2013 4:40:46 GMT 1
Its a good feelng when you reach that point when flying. I had my cub up so high today that even watching
it she seem to vanish for a few second
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Post by renard80 on Aug 18, 2013 21:57:36 GMT 1
To any new flyers out there, just persevere and don't give up. That advice deserves to be displayed prominently at the top of this board - for ever! Jk, I am sure I'm not the only one to have read your post and thought: "Yep, that was me, too." A few years ago, I would say to my long-suffering wife: "Put the kettle on, shan't be long - I'm going to try once more to fly this *$@£$%* plane." And sure enough, I would return miserably with a bag full of battered foam, convinced that I would never get the hang of it. Then, one day - wow!So I can empathise with your feeling of achievement, jk. Great, isn't it! And from now on, it will only get better. Newbies, learn from our experiences - stick in there.  |
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jklong03
Squadron leader
Utah, USA (Yes, it is a state!)
Posts: 226
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Post by jklong03 on Aug 18, 2013 23:27:30 GMT 1
A few years ago, I would say to my long-suffering wife: "Put the kettle on, shan't be long - I'm going to try once more to fly this *$@£$%* plane." And sure enough, I would return miserably with a bag full of battered foam, convinced that I would never get the hang of it. Then, one day - wow!So I can empathise with your feeling of achievement, jk. Great, isn't it! And from now on, it will only get better. Newbies, learn from our experiences - stick in there. Just for grins, I was sitting here, about to go out flying again and started thinking back over my short journey in learning to fly this year: 1) Started of by LOSING two planes right off the bat, I don't mean crashing, I mean letting them get beyond my visual sight and virtually losing them! 2) tried going to ailerons too early, flattened the wing and ended up crashing many times trying to stay ahead of the plane because I hadn't even learned to control the 3 channels I had first! 3) Finally bought a new stock wing, went back to three channels and continued crashing occasionally, albeit not quite as regularly. 4) Bought another fuselage due to many crashes 5) Upgraded motor when I burned out my stock esc crashing into weeds at full throttle. Decided to upgrade electronics and go brushless at the same time. 6) Crashing less frequently, painted airplane a combination white/black/yellow 7) Discovered drooping wings, decided to go with carbon fiber reinforcing rods and keeping dihedral rather than buy yet another wing 8) Wife dropped airplane trying to secure it out of reach of grandchildren, broke rear fuselage, so bought another fuselage 9) Plane finally in current state and has stayed that way for over 20 flights now. So yes, it has a been long strange journey, but I have learned from every step! |
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Post by renard80 on Aug 19, 2013 0:57:51 GMT 1
Well done, jk.
We may be old, but we grandads certainly stay the course!
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Post by Cubflyer on Aug 19, 2013 14:41:57 GMT 1
Congratulations on your hard fought and sought after achievement! I too now enjoy the freedom from a hightened sense of fear when increasing the throttle and taking to the air with my Super Cub. Now flying my Cub is a completely enjoyable experience, and I'm having a blast trying to perfect turns, take offs, landings, and bomb runs. Congrats again!
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Post by toff on Aug 19, 2013 22:45:45 GMT 1
JK. I am very, very pleased and happy for you. That you can now go and fly, and know what will happen, and how and why, and return with happiness and a plane in one piece!  In a small way, I am also a little sad. "Why?" you ask..... I can only go from my own experience, but, you start with the cub, then the ailerons, then the warbirds,then the aerobats, then the EDF's, then the small fast pusher prop depron planes, then watching YouTube videos of turbines, and wondering if you can afford them...... This hobby gives heroin and crack- cocaine ( Disclaimer-I have never used these drugs), a run for their money in the addiction stakes.... inverted EDF, 5 feet off the ground at 70 mph....adrenaline rush! I know, I know....the cub is brilliant...but it is only a trainer. In your original post, you thanked everyone here for making it possible to get where you are ,but, at the end of the day, it was you who had the patience and perseverance to learn to fly. Thank you to you, for proving once again, it is possible to fly RC from scratch, and, become a valuable voice in our little community. Well Done!! |
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jklong03
Squadron leader
Utah, USA (Yes, it is a state!)
Posts: 226
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Post by jklong03 on Aug 25, 2013 20:45:21 GMT 1
I just ordered a Flysky FP6 and can't wait to see how much smoother I will be able to fly with proportional inputs.
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Post by iandhunt on Aug 31, 2013 19:15:01 GMT 1
Were you still using the stock electronics?
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jklong03
Squadron leader
Utah, USA (Yes, it is a state!)
Posts: 226
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Post by jklong03 on Aug 31, 2013 19:59:45 GMT 1
Were you still using the stock electronics? Heavens no! Quite a while back I upgraded to EFlite Park 480, 40 AMP ESC with switched mode BEC and 2400 mah 30C setup. The receiver is now the 6 Channel one that came with the FlySky, but before that I was flying an Orange 6 Channel receiver. Also, four new servos. |
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Post by iandhunt on Aug 31, 2013 23:16:44 GMT 1
Were you still using the stock electronics? Heavens no! Quite a while back I upgraded to EFlite Park 480, 40 AMP ESC with switched mode BEC and 2400 mah 30C setup. The receiver is now the 6 Channel one that came with the FlySky, but before that I was flying an Orange 6 Channel receiver. Also, four new servos. Good man!!!! |
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jklong03
Squadron leader
Utah, USA (Yes, it is a state!)
Posts: 226
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Post by jklong03 on Sept 2, 2013 2:13:49 GMT 1
Here I sit with one of the most beautiful, calm flying days of the year and me with no prop due to a simple landing accident earlier this week. I'll get one soon I told myself. Well, here it is Labor Day weekend, all of the LHS's closed for the holiday.
My solemn pledge is, I will never be without at least 4 SPARE PROPS in my flight bag ever again!
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