Pete B Posted September 17, 2009 Share Posted September 17, 2009 I returned to the hobby last year, having flown with a club in the late '70's - early '80's, when I was 25-30yrs old. Back then, I coped pretty well with three-channel models, both power and glider, but tended towards the gliders as I didn't seem to bend as many! I built several aileron jobbies, such as the Magnatilla, but none of them ever seemed to last very long..........I admit I struggled with 4 functions. When I started flying again, I was quite relieved to find that it was a bit like riding a bike - once learned, never forgotten. (This might reassure other potential returnees!). Since I returned, I've done all my flying alone, starting with a Ripmax Nebula electric glider to see if I could still fly, and then progressing with an Easyglider and into the EP field with the Phoenix Rainbow, E-Flite Cub and Sea Fury and the E-flite Lightning (which, admittedly, is now in a bin bag.....). I've got a few other models queueing up for attention as well now! The thing is, after the first couple of nervous flights with ailerons last year, I seemed to pick things up fairly quickly and my flying now, in my mid-50's, seems much smoother and more relaxed than first time around, despite my being older, with arguably slower reaction times. I've being trying to work out why this is - perhaps when I was younger, with a career and family to look after, I wasn't able to give the hobby my undivided attention. Now, I can devote a lot more of my time to the hobby. Possibly now as well, I'm older and not so bold? Is it me, or have models become easier to set-up and fly? Has the design of models improved and how much has the modern computer radio made fine-tuning a model's trim easier and more reliable? Or am I just taking more care now? Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAVID CLIFFORD Posted September 17, 2009 Share Posted September 17, 2009 Hi Pete, Reading you post i thought could it be the planes and radio equipment are much more sofisticated now and more responsive to the modelers input? I dont know about maturity though there is a young lad of no more than 14 - 15 years who has attended our open fly ins who can handle a model like he was born with a transmitter in his hands. Perhaps as you say you now have more time to devote to it the more stick time you get the better you will become. Or perhaps its a combination of several things, whatever it is it has to be good for you right? DEdited By DAVID CLIFFORD on 17/09/2009 23:33:40 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete B Posted September 17, 2009 Author Share Posted September 17, 2009 Yes David, I watched an 11-year old with a pattern job at the Basingstoke E-vent at the weekend with complete envy..........it's so much easier to learn when you're young! You're right - the more time you have, the better you get. Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ken anderson. Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 two 84 year old's flying a 'radio queen' at our field yesterday-one working the rudder and the other working the elevator...168 year's combined experience with a model designed in the 30-40's............ ken anderson.......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
001 Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 I learnt to fly r/c in my forties, took a while before I got my A (the club I was with wouldn't let you fly on your own until you had passed it.) I am sure that if my dad had been there to pay for and mend my broken trainers that I would have learnt quicker!!!Edited By Richard Bond on 18/09/2009 08:15:18 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Clarkson Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 I would go with your "Im older and not so bold" quote. I bet you will find that lots of people of a lesser numeric age will crash more often. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myron Beaumont Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 The more I read -the more I don't know why most of you spend your time crashing -Young OR old??? (Just me trying to regain my status as G-UMPY 1 that is 'til aspB came along.Whatever his name is ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete B Posted September 18, 2009 Author Share Posted September 18, 2009 Hmm, Ross, an interesting phrase, that - 'a lesser numeric age'. Perhaps it confirms what many women believe - that we boys never really grow up Pete(r Pan) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Clarkson Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 Hee Hee, exactly. We may be old but we will always be young at heart. Why grow up too fast, the inevitable always happens sooner rather than later! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Former Member Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 [This posting has been removed] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myron Beaumont Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 I often say to people " I didn't get where I am !" I get a blank expression as a rule 'cos they don't understand But don't want to show that they don't! It is to do with the above comments by the way -There's a clue ! G-UMPY ! Hopefully back on form ? Watch out bsaP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myron Beaumont Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 PS People keep telling me they're "middle-aged " How do they know when their time will be up ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete B Posted September 18, 2009 Author Share Posted September 18, 2009 I think, Myron, that it's a fundamental hope that there's as much left ahead as has gone before - some hope!!! Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAVID CLIFFORD Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 Oh dear this isgetting very depressing. Enjoy life while you can. thats what my old man always tells me. You could get run over by a bus 2morow! I have been able to get to my local park this afternoon with a good friend and took the eflight mini stick. the clouds were broken the sun was out i had a box of charged lipos. We were having a competition to see who could climb the highest and fastest and who could keep the craft up there with no throttle on. It felt great and we were having a proper good time, two boys with toys as it were. i didn't feel my age at all. (P.S I won of course) D the victorious Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz Elliott Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 Yep! We males never grow up ....our toys just get more expensive!!!! As a kid i had a pedal cycle and as I've grown older my bikes have got bigger ....then developed engines.....and got bigger. i am now with a 1000cc much more expensive than my first bike!!!! Just like the hanger in the garden. Life is not a dress rehearsal. You only get one shot so enjoy it. Buy what you want and fly the wings off it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Muir Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 Pete, Maybe it's electric power. I always feel the noise of an engine, especially a two stroke, get's the heart rate up. I.C. engines also seem more intimidating and are certainly a further complication and something else to go wrong. The more calm and less worried you are when you fly, the less likely you are to crash? Hence you got on better with gliders before. Or maybe it's the relative cost. When I took this hobby up originally the plane and gear set me back an awful lot of money, so when I flew I was always a bit up tight about trashing my investment. Then I had long break, as you do, and when I returned I was pleased to discover everything was now much cheaper in real terms (plus I now had more money) so I was less concerned about crashing, so found, perversely, that I didn't crash. It was all much easier and quicker too, with ARTF being the norm. Your post really struck a chord as I found my flying much better second time round as well. I think maybe mental attitude has a lot to do with it, as I wasn't bothered about impressing anybody, took my time and didn't try to run before I could walk. Tended to be a bit more over-enthusiastic (and nervous) when I was younger. John. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete B Posted September 19, 2009 Author Share Posted September 19, 2009 Hi John, welcome! I'd have to tick every box in your post - I think you've summed it up perfectly Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Muir Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 Thanks Pete, Been reading this forum for ages, only the second time I felt the urge to post. Probably be easier now I've broken the ice. John. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glyn R Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 A famous quote springs to mind. " There are old pilots and there are bold pilots, there are no old bold pilots" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ernie Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 Hi guys, I do reckon that flying sharpens your reactions...I've noticed that when my other half is driving, and there is a 'brake quickly' situation, my foot is flat on the floor before she has noticed the problem ernie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz Elliott Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 Hi Ernie, Thats not an age thing or a flying thing...thats just female driving!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz Elliott Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 Hi Ernie, Thats not an age thing or a flying thing...thats just female driving!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic. P. Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 Hi Guys. A saying comes to mind....... " with age comes maturity", You only have to take a look at young drivers these days to get a glimpse of how most of us probably used to be in our youth! (impulsive, impatient, imeverything, the list goes on) It's the mellowing out as we get older that makes the approach to model flying more relaxed and somehow easier. Are you a better car driver now than in your youth? Same goes for flyinng! I've had a fairly long break from aeromodelling and got back into it again four years ago. I know for certain that i'm a much more accomplished flier these days than i used to be and it's all down to attitude and attention to detail, something that was seriously lacking in my youth. I was always in too much of a hurry to get into the air to take that extra care in the set-up of a model and pre-flight checks, which is now evident in as much as i don't have nearly as many crashes these days (and mostly these are due to the inevitable and unforseeable parts failures) and that's not because i'm less adventurous with my flying, it's because my whole approach to it is more refined. One mature kid Vic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Former Member Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 [This posting has been removed] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Bandit Posted September 24, 2009 Share Posted September 24, 2009 Hi Pete, In answer to your original question. No yesterday evening I crashed good and proper as they say in these parts, and it's my own fault for getting too cocky in my old age. Cheers, Chris. Edited By Big Bandit on 24/09/2009 20:03:08 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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