FlyingMonkey's Top 10 Tips for New Pilots.

by FlyingMonkey | December 24, 2015 | (17) Posted in Tips

I get asked for advice from beginners quite often.  Sometimes because of my participation in the Flite Test community.  Other times by people who have watched a youtube video of mine.  And on occasion by people who see me when I'm out flying in public.

 

 

Most recenly was during a customer support conversation.

Do I have advice?  I always have advice.  You might not want it, it might not be right, but if there's one thing I have plenty of, it's advice...

 

 

There's a few questions that I get on a regular basis.

So, I found myself giving the same adcive over and over.  Tonight I decided to write them down in a list.  Here it is.

 

  1. You're going to crash, a lot, don't let it get to you.  Everyone stinks at this at first.


     
  2. Buy a good transmitter, that doesn't have to mean an expensive one.  Get one you can learn with, and find out what you will want in your next transmitter.  This is important, because it's the one thing you'll use every time you fly.

    (Image borrowed from HobbyKing website.)
     
  3. When you go to pick your first plane, remember, it's your first plane, the first.  You'll have more, you want a "beater" because... well see tip #1


     
  4. Use the forums.  Get advice.  You don't know anything about the hobby, and that's to be expected.  There's lots to learn, and plenty of helpful people who will be happy to help you learn it.


     
  5. Don't feel the need to explain or justify your lack of experience to anyone. If there's someone that looks down on you for being a beginner, they're not anyone you need to impress.


     
  6. Find somewhere big to fly.  Bigger than you think you'll need, because you'll need it.


     
  7. Reach out to other RC pilots.  Join a club, look for people near you on the forums, or Facebook, or however you can find them.  Flying can be much more rewarding, when done with other people who share the enthusiasm that you do for the hobby.  Also, on the days you get to the field, and it's too windy, or raining, having someone to "hangar fly" with is better than sitting there talking to yourself.


     
  8. If someone offers to help you learn, take the help.  You're not imposing, they offered.  Chances are they remember how hard/expensive/frustrating to learn without help.  They want to keep you from going through the same thing.


     
  9. This hobby can be expensive, and addictive.  Pace yourself.  Don't try to buy one of everything, right away.  Try new things, learn what you like, but don't rush it.

    (Photo stolen from the googleweb.  I think I searched "too many rc planes" or some such.  Credit for this amazing collection goes to Robert Griffin.  According to his Facebook profile, he is up to 120 aircraft, 105 of which are airplanes, and 15 of them are helicopters.  Thanks Robert for the use of this image!)


     
  10. Have fun.  This is a hobby, you do it to be happy.  If you find yourself getting frustrated, stop.  Find out what's not fun, and don't do that.  

 

That's it.  Just a few tips I found I give repeatedly to new pilots.  Some of them I really wish I was told when I was starting out.  I remember many days of frustration at crashed planes, when all of the guys online seemed to fly so easily.  I felt like an idiot.  I also spent way too much money on the hobby trying to buy cheap, or used items.  If I had just bought a decent radio, or a good beginner's airframe I would have saved myself a lot of heartache.  

 

Bonus advice....

  • If you're a full scale pilot, no, that is not going to help you, chances are it's going to make learning harder.
  • If you're just starting out getting into FPV... don't try to buy the stuff that will make you able to go high and far away.  It just makes you sound silly, and when you lose your plane, the search area gets MUCH bigger.
  • You're going to need some building/storage space.  Don't buy more (amount, or size) than you can fit in the space that your significant other/parrent will tolerate. 
  • Podcasts.  There's several, and they're fun and educational.  Listen to them.
  • If there's an RC flying event near enough that you can go, go.  Don't bother bringing anything to fly your first time.  Meet people, look at their gear, ask them what they like about it.  If there's vendors there, take the opportunity to touch, feel, try out any gear/equipment that they'll let you.  
  • Be safe.  Theres lots of eyes on all of us now.  How you fly could effect the rest of us.

COMMENTS

Flipper35 on December 31, 2015
I am not sure I agree with the full scale pilot having a harder time. Maybe add the qualifier about no other RC time. Some of us full scale pilots have lots of experience in the 2 dimensional world so orientation isn't an issue and understanding what makes an aircraft fly, or stop flying for that matter, is knowledge we have. We just have to translate that FPV full scale and car/truck racing small scale stuff into the 3D RC realm.

Yes, I crashed on my 2nd landing. Got too slow in gusty winds on approach and I almost had her down. Popped the wing back where it belongs and taped the cowl back up and it is good to go.
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FlyingMonkey on December 31, 2015
It's a long standing generalization. Full Scale pilots tend to approach the learning process from the view point that they will be automatic RC pilots because of their experience with full scale flying. Except it doesn't translate well to line of sight flying, when the plane turns back towards the pilot, and all controls are reversed. It might not be as true for flying FPV, since you are getting the same perspective. But full size pilots often comment how much more difficult flying RC is, because they're not getting the tactile responses from the aircraft that they're used to flying by.
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fatguy1hand on December 31, 2015
Well said Fred
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FlyingMonkey on December 31, 2015
Thank you sir!
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canuck on December 25, 2015
There are plenty of us around to moderate his work. :-)
These are good lessons for us old fliers as well. Even after you get the handle on flying your trainer, don't expect to go to a sport/scale flier and have the same experience. your learning never ends. Every new model will have it's own quirks you may need to adjust to. Take your time and have fun. I flew a variety of models over the years and crashed a few but after taking a number of years off and them coming back into the hobby it was still a learning experience but thanks to FliteTest not a heart breaking one anymore. :-)
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The-One-Who-Never-Crashes on December 25, 2015
Half joke!
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The-One-Who-Never-Crashes on December 25, 2015
Bravo Fred! Great article!

But I wonder who moderates the articles written by FlyingMonkey... :)
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earthsciteach on December 25, 2015
Good question. I did see some sentence fragments.
;-)
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FlyingMonkey on December 25, 2015
Normally the wife... but I snuck this one past her. We have someone that edits articles for spelling and grammar, but I published this before she could see it. ;)

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Fearless FPV on January 5, 2016
Uh oh!
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abieex on December 25, 2015
One of the best "noobie" articles I've read. Thanks for what you do Fred. I have to go now as I'm generally not nice to monkies!!!
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FlyingMonkey on December 26, 2015
Thanks Steve!
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SP0NZ on December 25, 2015
Great article Fred. Most important thing that was stated in this article is, keep it fun. If you're reading this article and you are new to the hobby, be sure to get on the Flite Test forums and don't be afraid to ask questions.
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magicmerlin on August 3, 2016
Great article, many thanx!
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FlyingMonkey's Top 10 Tips for New Pilots.