David Davis Posted December 1, 2013 Share Posted December 1, 2013 I took my Telemaster 40, Super Sixty and Foamy WOT 4 to the flying field today. I was flying the T40 quite gently, mostly horizontal eights but also a few loops and Immelmanns. I got the model straight and level and transferred the transmitter to my right hand in order to glance at my wristwatch. Having looked up, I saw that the model was in a curving dive but when I reached for the right hand stick, I fly Mode 2, I noticed that it wasn't there anymore! I worked out pretty quickly, that if I got the wing tips level using the rudder and and pushed the throttle stick forward the model would climb, and models don't tend to crash when they are going upwards! So using the left hand stick I righted it and then got the model to climb. I was then able to pick up the right-hand stick which had fallen at my feet, fit it into place and regain full control. I have subsequently cyanoed it in. It rather reminded me of a story, which is supposed to be true, concerning Douglas Bader, the well-known WW2 Wing Commander, while he was learning to fly in the 1920's. Apparently there was a rather brusque flying instructor who, when he thought that the pupil was ready for his first unassisted landing was in the habit of removing his joystick, tapping the pilot on the shoulder with it and throwing it over the side! Pupils sat in the front seat of the Avro and of course, as the instructor had thrown away his joystick, the pupil had to land the aircraft. Bader had heard about this and was famous for his sense of mischief so he took a spare joystick with him when he felt that he was about ready for his first unassisted landing. True to form the instructor tapped Bader on the shoulder with his joystick. Bader turned round to face his instructor who waved the control column in Bader's face and then threw it over the side. Bader faced the front as if concentrating on flying the aircraft, then after a minute or two he turned round in his seat, rapped the spare joystick on the cockpit coaming, waved it in the instructor's face, then threw that over the side! The expression on the instructor's face must have been priceless! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Plains Posted December 1, 2013 Share Posted December 1, 2013 Hahahahahahahah! That sounds just like him! My planes often fly as if I just threw out the sticks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malcolm woodcock 1 Posted December 1, 2013 Share Posted December 1, 2013 I don't know if the story's true or not, I just hope it was. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spikey Posted December 2, 2013 Share Posted December 2, 2013 Posted by malcolm woodcock 1 on 01/12/2013 17:52:52: I don't know if the story's true or not, I just hope it was. I don't know either, but I can tell you a true tale about the time I bought Mr Bader and his pal Herr Galland a drink ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Clarkson Posted December 2, 2013 Share Posted December 2, 2013 Posted by malcolm woodcock 1 on 01/12/2013 17:52:52: I don't know if the story's true or not, I just hope it was. Me too because that is brilliance. Great tale David and great save of the model, well done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles' Elder Brother - Moderator Posted December 2, 2013 Share Posted December 2, 2013 I thought you were going tell us that you were both "legless" David! BEB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bernie Posted December 2, 2013 Share Posted December 2, 2013 Yes I thought he was going to say he had tin legs also. quite a guy douglas .rare breed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Davis Posted December 2, 2013 Author Share Posted December 2, 2013 Now what would have happened if I had been a Mode 1 pilot? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Plains Posted December 2, 2013 Share Posted December 2, 2013 Hmm, well, Mode 1ers are silly, so you wouldn't have realised that you still had a similar amount of control as you did when you were clever and flew Mode 2 ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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