Russ1974

In answer to number 2, and a beginner myself, don't rule out clubs.  My local club consists of a farmers with a takeoff/landing strip that is kept mowed.  Often when I go, I am the only person there.  But it gives me a place that I know I can fly safely in with owners permission, no risk off upsetting anybody or having an encounter with stray farm animals/people!   A club simply means it's organised and authorised, doesn't mean it's full of people.  The club I am at, you can fly anything you want from a £20 toys-r-us foam toy upwards.  

Although a few weeks old I thought I'd mention this to anybody else who has their first plane and is considering taking it for a fly without expert assistance.   On my second trip, and my first fly, I had somebody check the plane over properly before taking it up.  It turns out that I had fitted one of the parts backwards on the prop assembly/engine, and as he gave it an inspection the prop pretty much fell off in his hands!  Took it all apart, rebuilt it properly, and all was well.  Nothing broken, but had I taken it up for a fly and the same thing had happened, well a plane without a propellor would not be much fun for a beginner.   So, if you have built your first plane/heli/and are desperate to get it in the air, just be patient, these things are dangerous.

Thanks for the messages!  Unfortunately one thing led to another and I got bogged down at home with work.  I have a conference call in 45 minutes, shortly after that it'll be time to get the kids ... then it'll be evening ... oh well maybe tomorrow  

... to me !   So on this lovely sunny day, should I get some work done, or take my plane down to the flying club.  Tough choice.

Medal is in the post Ross   Me??  A little grin??  Never ....  

  Didn't want to advertise/name drop in the wrong forum - but as requested;   Weston on the Green model flying club : http://www.westonmodelflyingclub.co.uk/  

Saturday morning came, I was bright(ish) and early(ish), got to the model club just after 9am.  It was a lovely clear still warm day, so I was surprised to find I was the first and only person there.  I waited until 10.15am and still was on my own!!  So packed up and went home.  Went back out early afternoon to find around 8 people there, some I knew already.   Got my plane all set up and fuelled, tried to start it, and it wouldn't.  Spent a few minutes trying and then realised the prop didn't seem to be "biting" on the engine properly.  Took it to bits and it kind of fell apart in my hand, fairly surprised as I'd used all the proper tools and tightened it hard.  One of the other people came over and noticed that I'd got one of the bits on back to front - oops !  So he helped me put it all back together, properly, and once all was fastened again, tried to start it.  Engine was flooded .... I learnt the art of the "upside down plane tip whilst running the starter" which blew all the fuel out of the bits it shouldn't be.  Tried again, and it sprung in to life.  Phew   One of the guys fiddled with the enginer until it was ticking over nicely and not spluttering, and I asked if he would take it up for a test flight and to get it trimmed.   All went well, it flew very nicely, I even took the controls for a bit and did some circuits.  No buddy lead was available but I felt comfortable having flown helis years ago and learning all the controls on my sim.   Time to come in to land, so I handed the controls back.  It was a perfectly calm day and with no head wind or flaps, it was clear the plane was coming in quickly, resulting in a few go arounds.  Final attempt, the plane came down fairly quickly, started to bounce, and the nose wheel bent and then snapped off.  Doh!   Took the plane home, worked out that it was a fairly easy repair, and after a bit of bending with pliers and a bit of epoxying, the plane was ready to fly again - so back to the field I went!   This time they asked if I wanted to do the take off ... "sure" I said, so off I went, and took off!  I was doing circuits fine, both directions, some high some low, and felt really comfortable and confident.  I lost orientation once when a gust of wind made it start turning the opposite way to my control but I quickly realised and managed to recover.   Time to land ... "I'll give it a go" I announced, and they guided me through the correct approach path, angle and speed.  I did a few practice runs, coming in low and slow, then accelerating in to another circuit.  The time came when it was now or never - and I pulled it off!  Plane landed on the runway, stopped before the end of the runway, and was still in one piece!   I packed up and went home feeling very happy with myself.  Solo on my 2nd flight !!   I am sure I now need to go down hill quickly and write the machine off before I can progress ... it can't be THIS easy can it??  

Hehe.  Well I am just getting ready to head to the club for my first proper introduction and with a bit of luck somebody will take my plane up.  With even more luck, somebody will have a buddy lead handy and i'll get to take the controls ... but we'll see !!

My guess is that the only reason they do this on "real" planes is to free up the fusealage for passengers and luggage.  Because on a model plane you don't have that requirement, it's much simpler just to shove the electronics and fuel in the big empty middle bit.   The extra strengthening and technology required to put fuel in the wings is pointless on a model plane.      

John - a very technical and useful response.  I, on the other hand, just "shoved it in"

Fuel tank is now secured in place

Ulty - thanks.   Simon - electric is for girls.    

Hi,   At present I haven't securely fitted my fuel tank as I was unsure whether to have it perfectly flat or at an angle.  Then it got me thinking.  If it was perfectly flat, and if I put the plane in a nose dive with anything other than a completely to the brim full tank, wouldn't the engine be starved of fuel and cut out?   So two questions;   1) Should I install the tank securely or leave it loose so it can flop round a bit, and if secured, should it be flat?   2) How does the plane get fuel when pointing downwards?  I understand the "clunk" on the fuel pipe will give fuel during rolls etc but can't work out how it would work when the plane is pointing down.   Thanks!

   I went to the club today,nobody else around, but gave me a nice big safe area to give the new plane (my first) a good checking over.  As I had flown helis many years ago I felt quite comfortable checking all the controls, securing the plane in its restraint, filling the tank with fuel, connecting the glow plug, and starting the engine up!!   All was going fine until I got distracted and put my hand in to the prop.  Went to A&E but they couldn't do anything to save most of my left hand, and I am now typing this with 7 fingers.   Ok ok I'm just kidding - the engine started up perfectly first time, and I ran it at various throttles getting though 3/4 tank of fuel to run the engine in.   After a couple of hours I realised nobody else was going to show up (9-5 job on a calm sunny day?  no thanks!) so packed up and went home feeling quite pleased with myself.  Not just because the engine started and I didn't hurt myself or the plane, but also that I resisted temptation and didn't even do any taxi-ing let alone flying.  Looking forward to the weekend when I'll get to see it fly for the first time.  Edited By Russ1974 on 24/09/2009 21:24:28

Thanks Simon - that's reassuring.  Yes it's a 40-Trainer, built very well (if I say so myself) with all correct bits and pieces.  I'm used to modelling, and built+flew a petrol heli many years ago.  It's just not very straight