Skylighter
05-13-2008, 05:24 AM
CBRC is friendly and welcoming to new members. We encourage you to look around the website to learn about the field and the resources the club has to offer. More importantly, we encourage you to visit us on a nice day at the field.
On most weekends and some weekdays, there are pilots at the field that are more than willing to help you learn. For our beginner pilots, we have a “buddy box” system that allows you to connect your transmitter to an instructor's transmitter. This allows the instructor to take your plane to a high altitude and allow you to fly. If needed, he can automatically “take-over” during your first flights.
In addition, every weather permitting Thursday at 5pm, an official instructor is available at the field to help those wishing to learn to fly.
Here are some tips for the pre-flight stage:
Feel free to come watch and socialize at the club at any time.
Apply for your AMA Membership (https://www.modelaircraft.org/joinrenew.aspx) and your CBRC Club Membership (http://www.crabrag.com/membership.htm) as soon as possible.
While not absolutely necessary, computer simulators like RealFlight, FS One, AeroFly and FMS will help you learn your orientation and stick control. You are ready to attempt real flights with a buddy box when you can fly consistently in circles without crashing. Landing in the simulator is not critical at this stage. Note, some trainer airplanes will come with a free flight simulator.
For first flights, acquire a trainer-style airplane. Please do not come to the field as first time flyer with a non-training aircraft, such as one with a mid or low wing. Replica models may look good, but it is very hard to learn using them.
I personally prefer RTF (Ready to Fly) trainers. They come with almost everything you need, including a transmitter. They take about 20 minutes of work to get ready to fly. Another option is an ARF (Almost Ready to Fly), which typically needs a radio and engine installed. These take about 4-10 hours to assemble.
Flaps, automated stabilizers, airfoil extensions, airbrakes and other gimmicks that claim to make learning easier can often be more of a headache than help when learning with an instructor. In fact, we suggest that you leave these off of your trainers when learning via “buddy box”.
We do not recommend airplanes that are advertised as extra durable. Typically they are excessively heavy and therefore fly poorly which makes learning frustrating.
If you are looking for an RTF, consider the Hobbico Nexstar Select which is bundled with a limited version of RealFlight. It also comes with an OS 46FX engine, which is considerably more powerful than the 40 sized motors provided with most trainers. If you prefer to go electric, then consider the Nexstar EP, which is similar.
If you are buying an airplane that you would like to “buddy box” with one of our instructors, then it is critical that you buy an airplane that uses a Futaba or Tower Hobbies transmitter. We only have cables and extra transmitters for this brand.
Please have the plane completed as much as possible before arriving at the field. We can help you with any details, but we do not want to build the plane onsite.
An often overlooked step in building an aircraft is checking and adjusting your center of gravity. Due to wind, this is hard to accomplish at the field. If it is not correct, your airplane will be very hard to fly. It is critical that you do not skip this step.
Finally, being shy will get you nowhere. If you show up at the field and would like to have someone buddy box with you, then simply walk up to anyone with a plane and mention you need help. In most cases, they will get you to the right person.
Instructors at the field are often willing to share their field equipment. But you should come to the field with fuel. For OS .40 or .46 engines that are in most trainers, you will need 10% with Castor Oil. The popular brand is Morgan Fuel’s Omega 10%, which is available at any local hobby store. Do not buy Cool Power or other synthetic oil fuel for these engines. Come to the field with a fuel pump and some fuel tubing to get the fuel to your airplane.
You will also want to bring paper towels and a mild cleaner like Windex or 409.
Sooner or later, you will need to buy your own field equipment such as field box, starter, and glow plug battery. But you may want to come see which setup you like before purchase.
When you arrive at the field, there is a board with numbers on it. Find your transmitter frequency number and place a card in the slot. This prevents sharing a frequency with another flyer. Turning on your transmitter and causing another person to crash is a MAJOR mistake at a flying club. So be careful of this rule.
At CBRC, we love new members. We have plenty of room and are more than willing to help you get started. So please take advantage of the beautiful flying site, instruction and fellowship that we have available.
Written by Daniel Clark (danny@firework.org)
On most weekends and some weekdays, there are pilots at the field that are more than willing to help you learn. For our beginner pilots, we have a “buddy box” system that allows you to connect your transmitter to an instructor's transmitter. This allows the instructor to take your plane to a high altitude and allow you to fly. If needed, he can automatically “take-over” during your first flights.
In addition, every weather permitting Thursday at 5pm, an official instructor is available at the field to help those wishing to learn to fly.
Here are some tips for the pre-flight stage:
Feel free to come watch and socialize at the club at any time.
Apply for your AMA Membership (https://www.modelaircraft.org/joinrenew.aspx) and your CBRC Club Membership (http://www.crabrag.com/membership.htm) as soon as possible.
While not absolutely necessary, computer simulators like RealFlight, FS One, AeroFly and FMS will help you learn your orientation and stick control. You are ready to attempt real flights with a buddy box when you can fly consistently in circles without crashing. Landing in the simulator is not critical at this stage. Note, some trainer airplanes will come with a free flight simulator.
For first flights, acquire a trainer-style airplane. Please do not come to the field as first time flyer with a non-training aircraft, such as one with a mid or low wing. Replica models may look good, but it is very hard to learn using them.
I personally prefer RTF (Ready to Fly) trainers. They come with almost everything you need, including a transmitter. They take about 20 minutes of work to get ready to fly. Another option is an ARF (Almost Ready to Fly), which typically needs a radio and engine installed. These take about 4-10 hours to assemble.
Flaps, automated stabilizers, airfoil extensions, airbrakes and other gimmicks that claim to make learning easier can often be more of a headache than help when learning with an instructor. In fact, we suggest that you leave these off of your trainers when learning via “buddy box”.
We do not recommend airplanes that are advertised as extra durable. Typically they are excessively heavy and therefore fly poorly which makes learning frustrating.
If you are looking for an RTF, consider the Hobbico Nexstar Select which is bundled with a limited version of RealFlight. It also comes with an OS 46FX engine, which is considerably more powerful than the 40 sized motors provided with most trainers. If you prefer to go electric, then consider the Nexstar EP, which is similar.
If you are buying an airplane that you would like to “buddy box” with one of our instructors, then it is critical that you buy an airplane that uses a Futaba or Tower Hobbies transmitter. We only have cables and extra transmitters for this brand.
Please have the plane completed as much as possible before arriving at the field. We can help you with any details, but we do not want to build the plane onsite.
An often overlooked step in building an aircraft is checking and adjusting your center of gravity. Due to wind, this is hard to accomplish at the field. If it is not correct, your airplane will be very hard to fly. It is critical that you do not skip this step.
Finally, being shy will get you nowhere. If you show up at the field and would like to have someone buddy box with you, then simply walk up to anyone with a plane and mention you need help. In most cases, they will get you to the right person.
Instructors at the field are often willing to share their field equipment. But you should come to the field with fuel. For OS .40 or .46 engines that are in most trainers, you will need 10% with Castor Oil. The popular brand is Morgan Fuel’s Omega 10%, which is available at any local hobby store. Do not buy Cool Power or other synthetic oil fuel for these engines. Come to the field with a fuel pump and some fuel tubing to get the fuel to your airplane.
You will also want to bring paper towels and a mild cleaner like Windex or 409.
Sooner or later, you will need to buy your own field equipment such as field box, starter, and glow plug battery. But you may want to come see which setup you like before purchase.
When you arrive at the field, there is a board with numbers on it. Find your transmitter frequency number and place a card in the slot. This prevents sharing a frequency with another flyer. Turning on your transmitter and causing another person to crash is a MAJOR mistake at a flying club. So be careful of this rule.
At CBRC, we love new members. We have plenty of room and are more than willing to help you get started. So please take advantage of the beautiful flying site, instruction and fellowship that we have available.
Written by Daniel Clark (danny@firework.org)