You didn't say if he's getting into it from something else, or if he's going to be learning CL as well. Nor if he wants to build or just to fly. I haven't flown a Flight Streak, but my understanding is that the Skyray is a copy of it. If so, then it's a good training plane and not a bad place to start.
If he hasn't built before and he's not dead set on building his own then have him start with an ARF. If he hasn't flown before then make sure he understands that he's got to walk before he runs, and start him off with a forward CG and reduced control throw, and maybe even over-rich runs or other measures to make sure the plane isn't going as fast as it can. If you don't know how to show someone to fly from inside the circle then ask here, or dig for a video. I didn't realize until I started frequenting this group that there was an alternative to the Abbreviated Bleriot Method* for teaching; I had a chance to teach a kid to fly this summer and was astounded at how easy it was for both of us to hold one handle and fly a plane -- I had her soloing after half a dozen** flights, and she didn't leave until her grandparents dragged her off. So if you haven't done it before -- it's easy.
I would strongly recommend that he stick with profile planes until he's at the point of being held back in contests by appearance points and tail flexing. Until then the robustness and the ease of access and repair should trump the good looks and rigidity of a full-fuse plane. He'll go to full fuselage before he's ready, but don't we all?
I would also strongly recommend that you don't let him get scared of inverted flight, and that you have him practice it early and often. As soon as he can do lazy eights he can start learning inverted flight. It seems to be the most common bug-a-boo that holds people back from making the transition to Advanced; you may as well kill the monster before it grows teeth.
Dick Mathis had a book called "How to Fly U-Control", published in 1975. I don't know if it's still in print, or if there's better ones out there, but I sure like it. His focus is on taking you from a non-flier to the AMA stunt pattern. The only things that are missing from the book from today's perspective are comments on Schnuerle engines, the wisdom of just buying an ARF and learning how to build later, and the Beginners Pattern. I love that book, and I particularly like the section on how to learn to fly stunt -- he's got a nice method in there for sneaking up on "real" maneuvers that is not only good for a beginning pilot, but (I've found) a good sequence to go through with a brand new plane that you're not sure of. If you can find a copy -- buy it. If you can't -- hope that someone out there has an equivalent that's just as good.
Finally -- get him to sign up here. He can ask questions and we'll be nice when we answer them.
* Launch, crash, repair, repeat. The
real Bleriot method had you controlling planes of ever-increasing performance until finally they gave you one that could fly. Crashes were common, but generally mild.
http://www.airminded.net/bleriot/bleriot.html.
** Granted, she was 12, which is the ideal age for learning this stuff.
Topic: beginner (Read 2178 times)