Dave M

Thanks, it does feel good. No chance of the A test as I fly in Germany and they don't have such a test, although that is basically what I did to get cleared. Had to do it in a fine drizzle as well which wasn't ideal. Might try the test at one of the flying schools next summer when I visit home.

Today I have been cleared to fly solo by my instructor, and I'm well chuffed. I,ve felt ready for a few weeks now, but today he has  finally let me off the (buddy) lead, after a good test of all the basics, ending in cutting the motor for a dead stick from over the trees at the end of the field. I have been learning since April and had a good, patient instructor, and helpful clubmates. For anyone starting out, there is loads of good advice on this forum, but if you only take heed of one piece of this advice, it has to be join a club and learn with an instructor! I think that the real learning starts now, flying solo, making all the decision's and making the saves when things don't quite go the way you intended, I am looking forward to it. All the best,  Dave

Thanks for these answers, I thought this was the case. Bit worried about the "you the pilot" comment, in my case the term is used very loosely  Dave

Hi all, just a quick question. Is it OK to mix digital and standard servo's. I am fitting the digi servo's that came with my Spektrum DX 7 to the control surfaces of my new model, but this requires all four, is it ok to use a standard (new) servo for the throttle control. I think it is, but am not sure. (Being a tight wad, its a cheaper option!) Thanks Dave

Thanks Andy, I have wrapped the servos in tape and glued then in place now, but the method you suggest sounds excellent. I will try to remember it for future reference. Cheers Dave

Erflog, thanks for your thoughts. I am reluctant to join them into a one piece wing, you are right about that. I think that I will try taping them, I will try it to see how secure it is before I try flying the glider. I am new to this really and this is a problem that I have not had before. My IC trainer has a one piece 61 " wing, that fits in the car OK,  and when I chose this glider it was because I read that it was a two piece wing, you live and learn!  Thanks again  Dave

Thanks for this Jetsome. The model is ARTF so the wings are pre built and covered, they are sheet covered for half the span then open ribbed, the root has a closed end plate with 2 holes in for the wing joiners which would be inserted prior to gluing the two halves together. (Hopefullt this makes some sence!)  I wondered if the joiners could be glued in place, then the two halves joined together when flying. My real concern is obviously that they could part when under load. They would be screwed to the Fueslage on the trailing edge, but only held under a retaining lip at the front. Prehaps they could be taped around the join?

Hi All, I am assembling my new toy, an electric glider. It is a CMPro Omei 2000ep.   The (very basic) instructions say that the aileron servos should be secured into position using double sided tape. I wonder if this is common practice and will be safe, or if there is a better solution? There is no space to mount using screws. Also, I have to use servo extension leads, but I think that I will need a "Y" lead to connect the aileron servos to the RX, is this correct?  I thought that the model had a two peice wing, but the instructions say that the two halves should be glued together. This is my error, the 75" wing span will make transporting it in the car interesting. If anyone is familier with this model and has sucessfully used the wing as a two piece, I would be really interested to know how this was acheived  As always I will appreciate any advice that you can give.  Thanks

Yes please, just pick me, I never win anything, so this could be a whole new experience!

Well, today I landed my model for the first time. I have been learning ( with instructor) for about 20 flights now, and all that he has been teaching me has really come together. After a couple of appraoches I landed. We flew a few more times and I managed 4 more landings before slightly bending the nose and right U/C leg (eaisily fixed). I know that there is a long way to go and much more to learn, but today felt good! If I have a message to pass on, it is learn to fly with an instructor, mine was as chuffed as me when I brought it home!

I'd take it back, it might not stay perfect, but you should start that way. Plenty of oppertunities to damage it yourself. For minor skin/covering repairs look at the advice in the new thread "Plane Repair Help PLEASE !!! It has good advice , (from the usual suspects). All the best, Dave

It takes a couple of evenings to assemble the tutor 40, and your out flying. Basically Glue the wings together, glue the tailplane and fin in place, fit the fuel tank and engine. Attach the undercarridge, Fit control horns and set up the push rods, fit the radio gear and it is complete. I have also put a Ripmax trainer 40 together, (as a back up) and the build/assembly was exactly the same. I suspect that it will fly the same as well. Go foe it, it took me ages to get into the hobby, and each time I fly, I wish I had done it sooner. Be patient though as it harder than it looks,with luck I think a trainer should do all you want and take you beyond the basic skills that must be learned.

Greg, I am learning with an Irvine Tutor40,with an Irvine .46. It is excellent, not that I know ant different, but my instructor loves it! It is really stable, flys well in quite windy conditions and the engine has plenty of power. My 12 year old had his first flight last week, got it into some really hairy situations, (fast tight turns, full power dives etc) and there were no problems, except stretched rubber bands on the wing mounts that is. I have had one heavy landind,(ran out of fuel, doh!, and only suffered a bent U/C leg and a small puncture to the wing covering. All in all its a good strong well behaved trainer.

Thanks again, I think I will go this way and try it.I just got back from flying, and was completly rubbish today for some reason, lack of ability I suppose. Still we all learn at different rates, so must have to put up with the bad days! Cheers

Timbo, thanks for your reply, your right about the mode, I meant throttle/aileron on the right, it was a typing error. I am learrning with mode 1 as that is what my instructor flys, I am based in Germany and it is the common mode at my club. The training socket on my transmitter is a D.S.C./trainer jack. (DSC stands for direct servo control) Whether this is a mono jack socket, I don't have a clue!

Hello, I wonder if anyone could answer a question for me. Can the Spektrum DX7, be used in training mode (Buddy Box) linked to my current transmitter, a grupner MX12 (same as a JR 2610), either as master or slave. I think it should be possible to mix 35 Mhz with 2.4 Ghz transmitters for training as the Master dictates the frequency flown, ,or am I completly wrong? Also, can the transmitter be used in mode 1, (Throttle left) I have e mailed Helger a couple of times but they don't answer! Thanks

Clive, the instruction book for the tutor 40 says "Tighten the bolt equally so that the clamp plates are kept square to the engine and that the engine is in straight". The Cof G, (balance point) s shown as 85mm back from the leading edge of the wing. I hope that this helps Dave

Thanks for your thoughts, I should have said that I have NiMH batteries.

I am new to all this, and have a question about batteries. I charge them overnight for the prescribed time before going flying the next day. But I only get a max of about 2 hours of flying in, (with my instructor) each day, so the batteries always have loads of charge left. Then I re charge them before the next days flying. Is ths good for the batteries? Should they be totally dis-charged / recharged occasionally? If so how often? Is a battery checker a good investment? Can anyone recommended "smart" charger that will stop once the batteries are at peak charge, and perhaps have a discharge function as well. Lets go for broke,one that will charge faster than 10 - 12 hours like my current charger does? Thank you for any advice.

I have an irvine tutor 40 which I got to fly properly for the first time this weekend, I found it difficult as it was really windy, strong gusts etc. I got on ok but the wind was so bad I got into trouble really quickly a couple of times, but my instructor took control and all was well. Then it ran out of fuel, I thought it would last about half an hour, but after 25 minutes it all went quiet, Doh! Anyway, despite the wind my instructor brought it home, with only a bent main U/C leg. How he did it I don't know, but I was impressed. I would say that the Tutor 40 is a good strong model, and you need to get a good instructor or it won't matter which model you get, it won't last long anyway

Well, my tutor 40 is assembled, looks good and I have run the engine in, it started first swing and purred like a good one. I was well impressed! So far the weather has been too rough (high winds) to fly it but I think this week end might be OK, I am really looking forward to seeing it fly, and having a go, I am really nervous about it though. I am based in Germany and the club I have joined has been really welcoming, I just hope that there will be no problem with the language when I am learning, so far its been good, but when things get tense, it could get interesting.

I had the same problem, ended up securing the tank with the foam sheet they supply (but do not mention in the instructions) this gave a snug fit. I then cut some quite thick poly sheet/foam to stop any chance of movement fwd / aft, (chocked it in place). It was given the ok when I got my instrucyor to check it and although I have only run the engine in so far, it seems to be a good fix. Maybe the first flight, which will be real soon weather permiting, will tell me if more secure fitting is required!

Hi, I have just joined the site and am "looking around". I have a re-kindled my interest in rc flying and have taken the plunge and bought a Irvine tutor 40 trainer and all the other bits and pieces. (Currently half way through assembling it!) I have found a club to join and can't wait to have a go and start learning. My last experience, a glider, ended up spead all over Butser Hill (Hampshire) in a million pieces! This time I will have an instructor.