RC Airplanes – Be Prepared and Use Commonsense When Learning to Fly Radio Control Airplanes

In previous hubs, I’ve stressed the importance of adequate preparation before attempting to fly hobby-grade RC airplanes, including learning on a trainer plane or other beginner’s aircraft, finding an instructor to teach you the ABCs, and practicing on a flight simulator. If that seems like a lot of work just to be able to fly a model plane, let me tell you about my friend Sam’s first time out.

While doing research, Sam came across a number of hubs on RC airplanes. Citing technology advances in batteries, frequency control and model design that made learning to fly RC airplanes easier and more affordable, these really lit a fire under Sam and he decided to take the plunge. Sam read hubs about how to get started and located a certified instructor. Since it would be several weeks before they could get together, he bought a Real Flight RC simulator and began practicing. He also gave in to excitement and purchased not one but two RC airplanes.

Driving to the club field, Sam felt confident and well prepared. Instructor Mike had a Multiplex EasyStar and a Buddy Box and after going over the pre-flight checklist, he took her up and let Sam take over. My friend doesn’t know exactly how many times Mike had to take over but they were into the second battery change before Sam completed a couple of turns on his own. Still, both felt Sam had made a good beginning and they agreed to add takeoffs and landings to the next lesson.

Mike then asked if Sam would like him to take one of Sam’s own planes up on its maiden voyage. Sam noted wind speed picking up and wondered if it wasn’t too gusty for his small, lightweight park flyer, but figured Mike knew what he was doing. You can guess the rest—the plane was in the air all of 30 seconds before it went out of control, spiraling down in the general direction of Sam’s headphone-wearing, PlayStation 2-engrossed, 12 year old son. Fortunately, it fell about 6-7 feet short of the youngster. Unfortunately, it fell on asphalt and was totally destroyed.

Today, Sam is quite the accomplished pilot and he and Mike have become good RC buddies. If there’s a moral to this story, I guess it’s this—being prepared before you fly is the only way to go, but don’t forget plain old commonsense, too. If you think it’s too windy for RC airplanes, don’t fly! Stay safe, have fun and good flying!