C/L flying and balance

[Terry Caron]

I returned to c/l spring of last year after 55+ years absence.
At that time, I could barely stand on one foot to dress myself.
After each of the 1st 4 flights or so, I had to sit down immediately to avoid falling.
After a total of about 30 mins spin-time I barely felt dizzy - a few seconds wait and I was OK.
And I found I could now stand on one foot for prolonged periods with only minor concern.
Just wondering if any other old retreads experienced a similar recovery of balance?
Might point to a good rehab exercise for balance problems.

Terry

[Bill Johnson]

Hi, Terry.
Yes, I had the same problem. Earlier this spring, they put me on one of the club trainers, a slab wing scratch built plane with a .15 Enya. About half way through the fuel load, I was getting a little dizzy. It was turning laps under 4.5 seconds so that didn't help. The guys noticed and yelled asking if I was OK. I kept it together long enough to complete the flight and get the plane back on the ground in one piece.

Most didn't know that was me first flight in over 40 years so we all had a good laugh!

I've destroyed about 5 planes so far learning to fly the pattern so many of my flights are first flights on the airplane/engine so I've learned that if lap speeds are real short, I'll get the plane in solid level flight at about 20 feet, then, instead of watching the plane constantly, look ahead maybe a quarter lap and let the plane fly into the center of my vision. Just a second on not spinning your head seems to help. Just don't let the plane get ahead of you!

Hope this helps.

Bill

[RknRusty]

And after you get completely adapted to turning fast circles and start flying inverted and backwards, you get dizzy and have to adapt to the other direction just as if you've never flown brfore. It's excellent tuning of your inner ear's fluid balance mechanism. In my case it significantly staves off the effects of my badly eroded cervical(neck) vertebrae, which would otherwise cause trouble standing and walking. My neurologist just shakes his head, "Boy, I can't believe you can even walk a straight line! Keep doing whatever it is you're doing, cause I can't help any more than that." Okay, Doc, I'll keep flying.
Rusty

[Jim Kraft]

I have had inner ear infection twice to where I could not stand up without falling over. At almost 75 years old I still sometimes loose my orientation in the overhead 8's. As far as getting dizzy otherwise, I do not have to much trouble. When I first start flying after a long layoff, I will fly a few laps and then do some lazy 8's to keep from getting to dizzy.

[Motorman]

I don't have any dizzy problems but when I started flying endurance the plane was so slow the background was no longer a blurr and everything moving by catches your eye. Had to train myself to stare right at the plane like tunnel vision.

MM

[john e. holliday]

Here I thought it was just me.  After the injections on the knees and the exercises I would stumble all over the center circle.   The rough grass was no help either.  So I would do lazy 8's also lots of loops.   Then I discover the right ear needs surgery.   Now if you think standing on one foot is hard, try it on a piece of foam pad about 4 inches thick.  Also same pad, stand on it with both feet together and close your eyes.   Have someone close by though and I mean it as I almost went over before I could get a hold on the chair. 

[Steve Helmick]

Leg muscle has a lot to do with the one-foot standing thing. Having peripheral neuropathy doesn't help a thing. I'd be lucky to be able to stand on one foot for 10 seconds on a hard floor. There's no way I could pass the usual roadside sobriety tests, so if I ever get stopped, I guess I'll 'splain that and the officer will get out the tazer...  Steve

[Terry Caron]

My sympathy or congrats (as it applies) to you fellows.
I expected to become accustomed to the dizziness, which I have for the most part, and the great improvement in overall balance is a welcome bonus.
At my age, health issues are likely to become more of a prob in the future, but while I can I'll continue to crash planes learning to loop (5 loops out of 7 attempts so far  ).

Terry

[Steve Helmick]

Follow the plane with your arm, Grasshopper! That, and let it FLY through the loops. Full up usually equals "Figure 9". Have you succeeded in doing loops while "dry flying" in the shop?  Steve

[Terry Caron]

If you'll indulge me Steve, you bring up a point:
The only advice I remember from my youthful mentors was to move my arm the way I wanted the plane to go.
So should my arm follow the plane or the plane follow my arm?
I've been trying the latter, with no intentional wrist input.

As for dry flying, I haven't heard the term before, but I understand dry firing weapons, which is practicing procedure known to be correct.
Other than the advice noted above, I'm in the dark as to what's right or wrong about flying a c/l model.

Terry