Clarence Ragland

Model Aviation - May 2015 - Page 160-161  Teaching the teachers Here's what I had in mind a few years ago. The school that I was working with had an aeromodelling program where the kids had to design and build RC airplanes. There were several classes involved and the kids were very enthusiastic. They had several simulators and tons of computers. I trained teachers how to fly and teach, which they did on simulators, all year around and outside during flying season. Unfortunately, both teachers found employment else where. I don't know if the program is still in progress or not. Edited By Clarence Ragland on 25/01/2021 10:58:09

Posted by Andy Symons - BMFA on 25/01/2021 09:21:03: Posted by GONZO on 24/01/2021 22:06:59: From a free and easy activity with little to no restrictions it has now changed to one with a 238 page document (CAP722) governing ones activities. This, no matter what some may think and say, is a 'put off'. But, on the other side of the coin is the cheapness and almost certain success of current equipment. It is just this type of over exaggeration around the regulations that will put people off more than the actual regulations. The Article 16 authorisation that the majority of BMFA members will be operating under is only 14 pages long, its formatted with a huge amount of 'white space' too. See **LINK** The BMFA Guide to Article 16 which has quite a bit of extra explanation in is only 12 pages long. See **LINK** and there is the quick start guide which is only 2 pages. See **LINK** The thing is, apart from the minor irritation of having to register with the CAA its mostly what we have always been doing. Let's be honest, the regulations will only put people off if we use them to put people off. We are still very lightly regulated. I received an email last week from a potential new model flyer who had been speaking to someone who had told him the regulatory burden was high, thankfully he took the extra step of getting in touch to find out more, once advised of the real situation he is now raring to go, has already contacted a club and arranged some trial flights once Covid regulations permit. If everyone directed energy to giving just one new person some model flying experience every year our sport would grow massively, and giving experience flights is one of the most rewarding aspects of what we do too, it's win win!! One has to wonder why hasn't everyone brought in one new person? I mean, most people have friends, relatives and people they may meet socially. Just bring up your hobby/sport to as many people as you can. At least you would be planting seeds about the hobby. You'd be surprised at just how many people may be or actually are interested and/or curious, but didn't know who to ask or just a bit afraid of getting into the hobby, but just needed a little push.

AMA industry incentive program Locally, I will offer to give hobby shop or industry customers a free 30 minute RC flying test drive, using my LT-40 trainer Is that something your local hobby shop is doing or would like to do?

The Academy of Model Aeronuatics has lost 32 million dollars since 2004 - just on their magazine. I don't know how much money they have lost altogether. Clarence,   I guess in a way I have given up a little bit on the survival of aeromodelling.  However, I have sent your material to the president of MAAC.   I’ve been with MAAC now for forty years.  I’m not sure that the hobby can be saved.  The world is different today than it was in the 30’s when AMA was formed and in 49 when MAAC was formed.  Today's generation are not exposed to aircraft the way that the traditional modeler, you and I (even though I don’t fly models) were.  We watched movies with all the different types of airplanes flying in the skies, today it’s about the technology, the cockpit, on the outside they all look the same with different paint jobs.  You can’t walk down the street by the local park and see model airplanes flying, you need to get into a car, loaded with your stuff and drive half an hour or more to the nearest flying site.   MAAC lost over 250 members at the end of 2018, another 250+ this year and we’re looking at another 250 in 2020.  I did a count in July of the members 10,000 at the time and found that 75% of those members were over the age of 50.  Not a good outlook for the future with 2500 people under the age of 50 coming along behind the traditional long-term member.  AMA is not faring well either, their numbers are down, and they have cut staff.  Apparently, the British aeromodelling association has experienced member losses as well.   Go into any hobby store or online and have a look at what they are selling.  We are in a disposable world.  Today's member is here for one to five years and then they are gone.   Don’t know where it’s all going in the end.     Linda Patrick MAAC Secretary/Treasurer     Edited By Clarence Ragland on 24/01/2021 18:38:52

I use to teach people to hover helis and a little forward flight instruction. What I did was stand to the right of the student and let him work the throttle/collective stick and I worked the cyclic stick. I would have him raise the heli with the collective stick a few inches and then down again, while I was controlling the cyclic. We would do this several times so he could get the feel of it. Once he got comfortable holding the heli in a hover a couple of feet, while I was controlling the cyclic, I would tell him to forget the cyclic for a few seconds, because the gyro was holding the tail, so there was little to think about for those few seconds. I would have him put his thumb on top of the cyclic while I kept the helicopter steady. This way, he could feel precisely how to move the cyclic. Then I would have him put the heli down for a break. This would go on for the entire fuel tank until he could eventually control both sticks with me keeping an eye on everything, only occasionally giving a nudge here and there when needed. Most of those I trained this way learned to hover within 2 or 3 tanks of fuel, some a bit quicker. Never broke anything in the process. I probably trained a hundred or so doing this. I sold many helicopters this way. Some said they couldn't afford to buy, when I asked them if they would like to fly a heli. I said , no matter, just do it anyway. Edited By Clarence Ragland on 23/01/2021 18:09:22

Posted by Clarence Ragland on 23/01/2021 14:39:20: Kevin, Sorry to hear that. Recently, EAA, Horizon Hobby and others are getting heavily involved in getting youth involved. They are stressing that aeromodelling is a step in getting kids into full scale flying. Then there is the JROTC cadets and Civil Air Patrol youth, AMA is working with. http://www.amaflightschool.org/programs/MASC   AMA has youth programs for schools, I don't know about what kind of paperwork or the legal aspect.     Edited By Clarence Ragland on 23/01/2021 14:43:50

Kevin, Sorry to hear that. Recently, EAA, Horizon Hobby and others are getting heavily involved in getting youth involved. They are stressing that aeromodelling is a step in getting kids into full scale flying. AMA has youth programs for schools, I don't know about what kind of paperwork or the legal aspect.

Thanks for the heads up. I think I did it right one time by accident. lol

I worked with several local schools in training teachers how to fly RC airplanes and then teach RC flying to their students. One school in Newfane, NY had kids building Gentle Lady gliders. I would go once or twice a week to help him teach his students to fly. Another teacher in Backer, NY, bought a dozen LT-40 kits, engines and radios from me when I had my hobby shop. I would go during first period class and give a dozen students flight instruction. They were flying on a full scale runway. At one time, that school had a full scale program. Soon afterwards, a couple of his students became flight instructors. That was many years ago and I'm sure this program is still going. In another high school in Grand Island, NY, I trained two tech teachers how to fly and teach. They practice teaching on their school's 3 RC flight simulators and then went out to their baseball field to teach outdoors. I haven't heard if that program is still going. BTW, they had some much equipment, they could manufacture airplanes if they wanted to. Big bucks there. What they did make was small electric foamies. I also had the school superintendent and principal fly. They both asked me first.

Sorry, I wondered about that, my bad. I clicked Quote and that's what happens

Posted by leccyflyer on 23/01/2021 12:55:57: As has already being pointed out the success of the hobby in terms of membership and model shop sales is not due to the standard of instruction available through clubs, or even the increased chances of success available through the excellent training aeroplanes equipped with stabilising technology. There are many reasons for the reduction in the numbers of model flyers and a slight tweak in the training methods as a method of saving the hobby is a bold claim indeed. It's especially bold when some of the aspects being proposed - simulators in shops for instance - have already been in use here for many years. Not just simulators in shops, but actual flight promoters in the shops to teach customers to fly in those shops. I've already proven the concept when I ran a hobby shop some years ago. I've explained this in previous posts. Most of my customers were just looking around and showed little to no interest in RC airplanes. That is until I gave them a little taste of the hobby on my in-store simulator and then actual flight instruction on our flying field several miles away. So, my promotion method is not just theory, but it actually works. I'll be 74 this year and running out of gas, which is why I'm so persistent attempting to pass this promotion technique on to others.

I practiced extensively flying mode1 on my simulator and got it down pretty good. But since no one in my area flies mode1, I've never had the opportunity to do so on models. I may just do so when I go out to my flying field this coming flying season. All I do is give hands-on promoting and flight training. So if anyone comes to me wanting to learn on mode1, I'll be ready. I hope beginners and industry members, including hobby shop owners are following these threads. Someone from your side of the pond said he might travel the 4000 plus miles so I can demonstrate and teach him my method. If so, he could really help the local hobby shops, distributors and manufacturers increase sales. Gotta think big. lol https://www.sussex-model-centre.co.uk/   Edited By Clarence Ragland on 23/01/2021 12:56:50

Posted by Geoff S on 22/01/2021 20:23:28: Posted by Clarence Ragland on 22/01/2021 17:25:46: Posted by MattyB on 22/01/2021 17:17:44: Posted by Clarence Ragland on 22/01/2021 16:26:44: I've trained over 400 people over the years (don't expect you to believe that) and most earned their solo wings within less than a few days, many within a 3-4 hours. BTW, all students fly for 30 minutes per flight lesson, which is why they are able to learn so quickly. That is why my method works so much better than the buddy-box. I used a buddy-box for training many years ago, so I know the difference. I do believe you about training 400 people, what I don't understand is how this technique will single handedly "save the hobby". On that you have given precisely zero information despite the exhortations on your website.   You will have to think out of the box. Imagine every club able to literally instantly train to solo status within a couple of hours. Every hobby shop and member of the industry had an employee able to do the same. Simulator kiosk in every hobby shop with employees able to give customers a test flight on the sim and the hobby shop had their own flying field strictly for their business. It has to start somewhere, I'm just trying to get the ball rolling.   The main problem with that, is, that in the UK, there are very few model shops and they're getting fewer. When I took up the hobby after retirement there were numerous shops within a bike ride away now there are none. I learned with a buddy box both with the trainer I built (though that was mostly grab the transmitter ) or with an instructor's trainer who charged a modest fee. That had the advatage that I got a bike ride going to the airfield because I didn't need to take anything with me. Both models were 4 channel and I don't see any advantage to flying rudder/elevator/throttle models either - 4 channel models of the right type seem quite stable enough. I find it difficult to believe there's a magic fromula that would have speeded up my learning when the main difficulty is orientation - particularly with the model coming towards you. I still find it amazing that I never even think about it niow - and I'm not nor ever will be a hot-shot model pilot but I can and do test fly my own models. Geoff   How I teach orientation is I bank the plane over a few degrees up and out. I tell my student to see the top of the wing in either direction. You will see whatever color the wing is and any light will reflect off the top of the wing. The correct bank angle will be to see the top 1/4 or less of the wing. If you see anymore of the wing, then it's banked over too steep. I don't even mention control reversal when facing the plane coming at you. From the get-go, my instructions is a constant simply left, center, right center. After a few minutes, there is no control reversal problems, they automatically move the aileron/elevator control lever in the right direction. I realize that it sounds strange, but it works almost every time with all students. The only people I might have a problem with, are those who had previous instruction with someone else. When facing the plane to push the control lever towards the low wing. Or, turn in the same direction the plane is going. Sometimes, the student had different instructors telling them to do it one way or the other. Very confusing.       Edited By Clarence Ragland on 22/01/2021 21:07:03 Edited By Clarence Ragland on 22/01/2021 21:08:43

Posted by David Davis on 22/01/2021 19:57:41: Posted by Clarence Ragland on 22/01/2021 16:30:24: I've never in my 45 plus years teaching had to train anyone using mode 1 Kinesthetic by feel, like full scale flight instructors teach, but without dual controls. Edited By Clarence Ragland on 22/01/2021 16:30:53 You'd have a few problems here in France mate! 85% of them are Mode 1! I've practiced on my simulator using my method on mode 1, just out of curiosity. I don't think I would have any problem teaching this way. There will be a slight adjustment, but I think I can handle it. There are billions of people in the world, so I don't think I would have to worry about that. lol

Posted by Capt Kremen on 22/01/2021 18:56:04: Perhaps the professional instructors/teachers/lecturers among us will confirm, but I have always understood that maximum concentration can only be maintained for comparatively short periods of time. This time will vary according to age. After this period, intense attention and mental focus wanders, not what is required when carrying out any potentially safety critical activity e.g. driving a car, flying a plane - full or model size! If people of any age choose not to take up model flying in the numbers of previous years, 'we' established participants are not going to be able force or make them do so against their will. Others on this and the other thread have made all the valid reasons why the hobby is where it is. Enjoy it, if we get a few new recruits great. I had the same experience using the buddy-box for training. When I switched to my method, all of my students, young, old, men and women could fly for a couple of hours or more. What I do is trim out my trainer (LT-40) which has a 14 oz fuel tank, basically fly on it's own. A slight move, right, back to center, left to correct once the turn is finished and back to center. All of those I've trained are able to mentally pace themselves, which is why they don't have to concentrate that much. Sometimes I have my students to not look at the plane in the air, but focus on their thumb on top of the aileron/elevator stick. Usually around 3 minutes, more or less. I can feel them relax and along the way of their lesson, I will engage in conversation about anything and everything and only give them a movement suggestion when necessary. I've had some students fly for 4 hours in one day, with refueling breaks in between.

Like I've said several times, I used the buddy-box and will never go back. I know the difference. I have everyone, not just some, take off and land on their very first ever RC flight lesson. Most are able to fly safely on their own within a couple of hours, more or less. That I, nor anyone else could do that using the buddy-box. This is 50 years in the hobby talking. I ran a hobby shop and using this method is how I kept my doors open for over 10 years. One 10 minute test flight usually made the sale. Then that customer told someone else how easy learning how to fly RC airplanes is and he told someone else. Many of those I trained quickly trained others using my method. Many had their own property and never joined a club, as they didn't have to, nor many never wanted to. If that doesn't convince you, there is nothing more I can ad that will. What would it take to convince you? Not that it matters. That is why I had problems with club members sending beginners to me. If someone may want to learn a method that is faster, easier, safer and more productive, such as a hobby shop owner, then he might want to learn this method, but like yourself, if you are satisfied with using the buddy-box, then so be it. To each his own, it's everyone's choice.

Posted by Alan Gorham_ on 22/01/2021 17:06:29: Posted by Clarence Ragland on 22/01/2021 16:48:35: Posted by Alan Gorham_ on 22/01/2021 16:38:00: Posted by Clarence Ragland on 22/01/2021 16:30:24: I've never in my 45 plus years teaching had to train anyone using mode 1 Kinesthetic by feel, like full scale flight instructors teach, but without dual controls. Edited By Clarence Ragland on 22/01/2021 16:30:53 So why is your method better? I think there is an argument to say that a buddy box enables a trainee to build confidence more quickly as the instructor can leave them in control for longer to try and sort out any mistakes. This builds up good reactions in the pupil too. Your method might be effective, but I'm not convinced it is better than any other - just different. he RT eliminates the problems associated with buddy-box training. No control reversal problems Hours per flight session as opposed to 6-10 minutes Landing experience within 20 minutes of first ever learning experience No problem teaching in 15-20 mph winds Can train on simulator anywhere, anytime all year All students learn at a very rapid pace Can do many takeoff and landing drills ASAP Can easily teach others to use this method Extremely productive marketing tool Rapid progress from trainer to advanced aircraft Use with or without buddy-box Easy to learn The RT should be a flight training safety standard No, it's not the pass-the-box method Nor don't I hug the student Kinesthetic teaching shouldn't be so out there. Control reversal is not a problem! It's part of R/C flying and a technique to learn. You might say that never teaching someone to land a model solves the landing problem! I have taught several pupils on a buddy box and we were able to fly for more than 6-10 mins per session. We could have as many 15 minute flights as they had time for. Early stage pupils tend to lose concentration and focus after 10 minutes of flying anyway, so I'm not sure how you are presenting this as any advantage and I'm not sure how a buddy system is supposed to limit flying time as against fuel tank size or flight battery capacity? It's perfectly possible to give a newcomer landing experience on a buddy box. Why do you think it isn't? Again, I taught my pupils in 15-25mph winds right from the get-go. We used a Boomerang trainer which flew well and I would say choice of model is a bigger factor than any "technique" if you want to fly in all weathers. No, you haven't convinced me. Sorry. Edited By Alan Gorham_ on 22/01/2021 17:07:26 Never said it was not possible to give landing instruction using a buddy-box. What I can do is have everyone land on their very first ever flying experience. Within a half dozen landing drills, the first time student will be able to land on his own without breaking anything. As opposed to my critics, I used to use a buddy-box many years ago, so I can compare the two methods. I am confident that there are others reading these threads, so it doesn't really matter if you're convinced or not. It should be nice to know that there could possibly be an improvement over traditional methods. I'm at a disadvantage since we are over 4000 miles apart, but sooner or later, someone will demand a demand a "show me". That is why I keep responding. Landing experience within 20 minutes of first ever learning experience

Posted by MattyB on 22/01/2021 17:17:44: Posted by Clarence Ragland on 22/01/2021 16:26:44: I've trained over 400 people over the years (don't expect you to believe that) and most earned their solo wings within less than a few days, many within a 3-4 hours. BTW, all students fly for 30 minutes per flight lesson, which is why they are able to learn so quickly. That is why my method works so much better than the buddy-box. I used a buddy-box for training many years ago, so I know the difference. I do believe you about training 400 people, what I don't understand is how this technique will single handedly "save the hobby". On that you have given precisely zero information despite the exhortations on your website. You will have to think out of the box. Imagine every club able to literally instantly train to solo status within a couple of hours. Every hobby shop and member of the industry had an employee able to do the same. Simulator kiosk in every hobby shop with employees able to give customers a test flight on the sim and the hobby shop had their own flying field strictly for their business. It has to start somewhere, I'm just trying to get the ball rolling.

Posted by Alan Gorham_ on 22/01/2021 16:38:00: Posted by Clarence Ragland on 22/01/2021 16:30:24: I've never in my 45 plus years teaching had to train anyone using mode 1 Kinesthetic by feel, like full scale flight instructors teach, but without dual controls. Edited By Clarence Ragland on 22/01/2021 16:30:53 So why is your method better? I think there is an argument to say that a buddy box enables a trainee to build confidence more quickly as the instructor can leave them in control for longer to try and sort out any mistakes. This builds up good reactions in the pupil too. Your method might be effective, but I'm not convinced it is better than any other - just different. he RT eliminates the problems associated with buddy-box training. No control reversal problems Hours per flight session as opposed to 6-10 minutes Landing experience within 20 minutes of first ever learning experience No problem teaching in 15-20 mph winds Can train on simulator anywhere, anytime all year All students learn at a very rapid pace Can do many takeoff and landing drills ASAP Can easily teach others to use this method Extremely productive marketing tool Rapid progress from trainer to advanced aircraft Use with or without buddy-box Easy to learn The RT should be a flight training safety standard No, it's not the pass-the-box method Nor don't I hug the student Kinesthetic teaching shouldn't be so out there.

I've never in my 45 plus years teaching had to train anyone using mode 1   Kinesthetic by feel, like full scale flight instructors teach, but without dual controls. Edited By Clarence Ragland on 22/01/2021 16:30:53

Perception is reality. I've been doing this for over 45 years and from personal experience, I have a much different experience than you. You have your mind made up, so there is nothing that I could to change your mind. I've trained over 400 people over the years (don't expect you to believe that) and most earned their solo wings within less than a few days, many within a 3-4 hours. BTW, all students fly for 30 minutes per flight lesson, which is why they are able to learn so quickly. That is why my method works so much better than the buddy-box. I used a buddy-box for training many years ago, so I know the difference.

The Ragland Technique What I'm hoping for is an aeromodelling industry representative to come to me this flying season so I can demonstrate and even train her or him how to use this method. They then could pass it on to whoever they wish. It would be a great way to drastically increase sales of RC airplanes. BTW, on the video, it was their very first ever RC flying experience. Notice how windy it is. This was at a public demonstration this club puts on every year. They might not do so this year because of the decline and Covid.

If it were possible to earn solo wings much quicker, do you think that more people would get into the hobby of RC aeromodelling? For example, within a couple of days, 2 hours per day, more or less?

In the February 2021 issue of AMA's Model Aviation magazine, the education director will feature how my promotional method works. I realize that your organization is 4000 miles away, but what I'm hoping is that eventually this method will reach your shores. One of your fellow modelers already hinted that he might pay me a visit this coming flying season to witness and hopefully allow me to teach him this method. I've explained in previous post here how well it works. For some reason, I've always been met with skeptics and cynics. It's almost if they don't want it to be true. lol Using this method, I have no problem getting people very much interested in this hobby/sport. The education director will be coming with a camera crew and people who have never flown before, so I can demonstrate my technique on these beginners. Stay tuned.

How has the sim trailer helped with membership growth? Didn't help at all for the AMA here in the US