Spitfire76 goes to RC Flight School

[Spitfire76]

I am currently attending RC flight training from Dave Scott who is teaching a 5 day class at our club field.

I will add my notes and what I've learnt to this thread.

Dave's website.

Accelerated Radio Control Flight Instruction for all Skill Levels

www.rcflightschool.com

 

[Spitfire76]

The first thing that I learnt from Dave is how to perform a procedure turn.

Note the way he holds the sticks. It looks like pitching but the index finder is used for added support to make smoother control inputs and to reduce over controlling. Also to help get a better "feel" for the stick position he highly recommends to increase the stick tension as high as possible. I found that maximum stick tension on my TX16s was not enough and so have ordered these.

https://graysonhobby.com/radiomaster-tx16s-gimbal-hard-tension-springs-4pc.html

 

[LitterBug]

Which version TX16s and which gimbals? I have an OG TX16S and a TX16S MarkII. The newer gimbals on the MarkII have more tension which I prefer. There are also AG01 gimbals. I don't like a super loose stick, or one that is too firm. Too firm can be just as bad as one with no feel.

 

[Spitfire76]

Which version TX16s and which gimbals? I have an OG TX16S and a TX16S MarkII. The newer gimbals on the MarkII have more tension which I prefer. There are also AG01 gimbals. I don't like a super loose stick, or one that is too firm. Too firm can be just as bad as one with no feel.

I have the first gen TX16s Max with stock gimbals. I had read that the AG01 gimbals are tighter.

 

[LitterBug]

The whole feel of the MKII is better. Sliders and Pots are tighter with much better center detents. The MKII gimbals have the same sensors as the AG01s, and the AG01s are all metal instead of plastic. One of these days I'll move everything off the OG to the MKII and make it my primary.

 

[Spitfire76]

After the procedure turn we then learnt how to fly straight lines with gradual course changes.

 

[Spitfire76]

Next we learnt how to reduce adverse yaw by using aileron/rudder mixing in the radio

As Dave points out in the video adverse yaw occurs with flat bottom wings but not with symmetrical wings.

 

[Spitfire76]

At around this point Dave also talked about rates and expo.

From my notes.

• First set travel then fine tune with expo.
• Use manufacture's rates as a starting point.
• If large changes are needed in control surface travel then change hole in servo arm

Also he spoke about flying in wind.

• It exaggerates what you do compared to a calm day and is less forgiving.
• If landing in a cross wind point plane into wind (crabbing) with wings level.

 

[Spitfire76]

I install the Aura 5 Lite in all my FT and 3dprinted planes. The initial idea was to use the "level assist" flight mode on maidens in order to reach sufficient altitude and then disable it to trim the plane. The level assist worked so well I ended up using it all the time but of course it restricted me from performing any sort of aerobatics.

Dave's training has changed that and I now feel confident to fly without it.

For the class we were flying planes equipped with Spektrum radios with SAFE off and I was able to perform loops and rolls and while not perfect even an Immelmann.

Dave on the Realflight sim explaining flying safe vs conventional control.

Note: Dave does keep AS3X enabled when flying but this makes the plane easier to handle in the wind by countering any wind turbulence. It makes a small plane handle more like a larger plane in wind but does not restrict the roll or pitch angle like SAFE. The equivalent on the Aura 5 lite is having a 3 axis gyro enabled vs 6 axis used for level assist.

 

[bisco]

that is some sweet piloting

 

[Spitfire76]

During the class Dave also gave us tips on takeoff's and landing's.

Landing - Establish ground references (targets) to know when to make the turn for the base leg and upwind leg. This may of course take a few tries to pick a ground target but I discovered that our club field actually has installed base leg and centerline reference markers. I also learnt to idle the throttle earlier than I have been doing as my landing's were usually bouncy whereas idling earlier allows the plane to glide to the runway, then at about 3 to 5 ft to apply a small amount of up elevator to smooth out the touchdown.

 

[peteparkerh]

During the class Dave also gave us tips on takeoff's and landing's.

TBA

Landing tips? What’s landing? Is that an alternate way of getting a plane out of a tree?

 

[Mr NCT]

Landing tips? What’s landing? Is that an alternate way of getting a plane out of a tree?

I've heard the word "landing" before. Is that a crash that doesn't damage anything?

 

[Spitfire76]

Landing tips? What’s landing? Is that an alternate way of getting a plane out of a tree?

After this RC Flight School training the plane is less likely to end up in a tree

 

[LitterBug]

I've heard the word "landing" before. Is that a crash that doesn't damage anything?

I had at least two Lawn Dart landings this year! They did not go through a tree either!

 

[Spitfire76]

Another part of flying that I have had trouble doing well is trimming a plane on maiden flights. As I install an Aura 5 Lite in all my planes I first would take off in level assist mode in order to get to a safe altitude and then switch if off to trim the plane. This worked but I would still often struggle to trim the plane well. In Dave's' class he gave some very useful tips on trimming a plane best explained by the man himself.

 

[Piotrsko]

Whats recommended for the plane facing you comming back to land?

Landing can be really simple, just chop throttle until it starts descending and pretty much leave it alone, maybe a touch or two up trim and a turn or two to keep it on the field. Lawn darting takes practice to be good at it.b