Author Topic: First flight since 1970 (Read 2371 times)

Wade Bognuda · « **on:** January 28, 2012, 01:50:33 PM »

Wow... I flew C/L for a few years before jumping headlong into R/C in the early seventies. Bought an RSM Ringmaster and a Fox .35 and they both performed flawlessly this morning. It was me that was the issue. I have never had these issues with an R/C plane, never. Nervous, anxious I couldn't believe it. I mean, I couldn't do my day job as an ag-pilot in this state of mind, I don't get too excited about anything. I seemed to be getting dizzy. I could fly the thing without looking at it, and I can do loops, figure eights and fly inverted. That helped some. But the wingovers left me wondering if I would lose my balance. Every time I took it above 45 degrees or more it was not good. I never had any issues with an R/C plane, this is not about motor skills. I never had these problems as a kid flying C/L. Will this go away through perseverance? I never felt at any time I would lose control of the aircraft and wreck it. I just didn't enjoy it AT ALL. I sure did enjoy the building process. Silkspan and dope, it turned out real nice. Any thoughts on this?? Thanks.

Garf · « **Reply #1 on:** January 28, 2012, 02:25:46 PM »

Sounds more like an inner ear problem than anything else.

rustler · « **Reply #2 on:** January 28, 2012, 02:49:12 PM »

Don't give up yet. More practice and the symptoms may disappear, - they did with me after 30+ years away.

Will Hinton · « **Reply #3 on:** January 28, 2012, 03:13:57 PM »

Wade, I would short tank the beast for several flights if I were you. I think you'll build up a resistance to the dizziness after a while.
I came back into this after an 18 year layoff and had the same problems. It didn't really take all that long to adjust.
Set the engine kinda rich. also, to slow things down a bit. Sort of like having to lay down foliar feed at 70 MPH to get all the stuff on at the right rate - takes concentration.

Paul Taylor · « **Reply #4 on:** January 28, 2012, 03:21:56 PM »

Yea, the jitters will go away and so will the dizziness unless you do have a problem with balance.

I still get a little dizzy the first of every flying season but it goes away.

Great job and now show us some photos of the RM and Fox!

Will Davis · « **Reply #5 on:** January 28, 2012, 04:29:51 PM »

Wade,

Glad to hear you are back, Good choice on the kit/ engine , it is a very nice kit to put together . The dizziness will go away, I have alot of problems with dizziness , cannot even ride in the back of a bus, or backwards on a golf cart, but am fine flying stunt , even tried some racing with no problem

Bill Little · « **Reply #6 on:** January 28, 2012, 04:36:55 PM »

Hi Wade,

Like Brother Will said, it will go away. Every time I have a lay off, I get a little dizzy the first couple of flights and especially when I go inverted. But a couple flights and it doesn't exists anymore.

Welcome back!

Bill

John Fitzgerald · « **Reply #7 on:** January 28, 2012, 04:50:55 PM »

I started flying again last year after a seven year break. The overheads really bothered me the first flights. After several flights, the better part of my "skills" came back. Today I flew several overhead eights in a row, while standing in one spot. If you start to get dizzy, stop turning, face downwind, and fly a few lazy eights.

Wade Bognuda · « **Reply #8 on:** January 28, 2012, 05:04:59 PM »

Thanks everyone. I was a little worried about noise complaints , everything is new, tank, engine, plane, stooge etc. Never used a uniflow before, it ran a perfect wet 4 and 15 seconds of 2 then it quit clean. I did notice cars driving by slowing down to take a look. We have an R/C field but no one flies C/L here. I thought about short tanking it, I will the next time. My inner ear is fine, no problems with spatial disorientation in IFR or any sickness during acro, although the tumbling stuff has gotten to me but that was because I am not used to it. The plane is sensitive, no problems holding level flight, I just think it is a little touchy for me at this time. I am going to slow it down a little in pitch for now. Line tension was good. My camera battery is charging, as soon as I can I'll get some pics up. I have an Oriental also, still in the process of clearing it with butyrate. My Banshee showed up yesterday, the cutting is ok but some of the wood is harder than I have ever seen before. The last Sig kit I built was 1/4 scale Clipped-wing Cub and the wood was excellent. This was about 15 years ago, that was a good airplane.

Bill Heher · « **Reply #9 on:** January 28, 2012, 07:53:17 PM »

You can speed up the acclimation to spinning by turning aoround with you arm out , you can "Mind Fly" the pattern or stunts you know, make your circles about 6 sec eac, and do it for increasingly longer periods -log some Mind Sim time. It worked for me
Stock stab / elevator are big on a Rinmaster, and generally have too much throw, add an old school handle like an E-Just or Sullivan, spacing is to wide and stock horn on plane is kinda short. Get a handle with spacing adjustment and put long elevator horn on it to slow down and reduce the elevator throw - it will be easier to fly smooth then.

DanielGelinas · « **Reply #10 on:** January 28, 2012, 08:01:34 PM »

Welcome back WADE!!!

Joe Mig · « **Reply #11 on:** January 29, 2012, 06:56:46 AM »

Welcome back,I'm just wondering the length of the lines you are using?

John Stiles · « **Reply #12 on:** January 29, 2012, 07:35:01 AM »

I use a pole in the center of both my flying fields. I never got dizzy before I* broke my neck and back....now at the beginning of each flying season I do. It goes away though after a few days of flying, so I guess it's a mental thing. Long years ago, people used a 6' diameter disc with a pole mounted in its center....so the apparatus was portable. I own my fields so I made mine semi-permanent. Glad to see you're not one of the R/C guys that isn't flexible. You never can have too many recreational outlets.

Wade Bognuda · « **Reply #13 on:** January 29, 2012, 08:33:25 AM »

Quote from: DanielGelinas on January 28, 2012, 08:01:34 PM

Welcome back WADE!!!

Thanks!!

Wade Bognuda · « **Reply #14 on:** January 29, 2012, 08:34:02 AM »

Quote from: Joe Mig on January 29, 2012, 06:56:46 AM

Welcome back,I'm just wondering the length of the lines you are using?

60

keith varley · « **Reply #15 on:** January 29, 2012, 10:04:43 AM »

As we age , our balance is more of a problem.That's just normal I suppose.I am 78 and the balance has been an issue for the last few years.In order to fight it , I do specific things when I am at the gym , three times a week.One thing is , I stand on one leg , and spin around, by hopping on one leg , in both directions , and also I stand on the inflated half ball , I think it's called a bosa ball or something, and turn around .Also I have a place where there is a mark on the floor and also on the ceiling directly above it. I pretend fly my overheads, by getting my knees bent as much as possible and get my body bent backwards as much as possible ,and my head bent backwards in a vain attempt to emulate Dave Fitzgerald's posture, and my outstretched arm pretends to be flying the overheads. I think that kind of stuff is necessary , at my age and it's always a struggle to maintain any semblance of my youth.I guess most of the folks at the gym , think I'm some sort of a nut, but it's all about flying to me.I am enjoying the flying so much , and really hate to see myself slipping backwards.
Like you , I came from R.C., and I have found that stunt is where you get more of a hand's on feeling, It's not about twiddling a gimble stick , to control a plane that's way far off in the sky . It's really personal ,and thrilling to me. Welcome back to control line --enjoy. Keith Varley

Wade Bognuda · « **Reply #16 on:** January 29, 2012, 12:06:51 PM »

Thanks.

keith varley · « **Reply #17 on:** January 29, 2012, 12:34:10 PM »

I really like the looks of that Keith

Wade Bognuda · « **Reply #18 on:** January 29, 2012, 01:26:58 PM »

Thanks, the fuselage was meant to be like the stab and rudder, silk died yellow orange, as were the wings. I didn't have enough silk to do the fuselage. So, silkspan on the fuse. Then, I put down the silk the wrong way on the wings, and it wrinkled up after the first coat of nitrate, and didn't get any better with more coats, so I cut out all the bays and re-covered it with more silkspan. Then, I didn't have enough black to do the fuslelage, so I sprayed it with silver. I just wanted to use what was on hand, it is my "learning curve" airplane, but is fuel proof and what I call acceptable for a trainer. I sprayed the silver and clear on the fuse (brushing clear over silver doesn't work, I tried) and the rest is with a brush. I normally spray everything, but a good brush really works good for a finish I never intended to rub out. And..... I enjoyed it.

Jim Kraft · « **Reply #19 on:** January 29, 2012, 03:49:12 PM »

Welcome back Wade, and nice looking Ringmaster. I flew control line in the 50's and 60's, and started flying R/C pattern in the late 60's. Flew R/C pattern until 94 at which time I started flying control line again. I still fly a little R/C but mostly control line. I am fortunate as the guys at the R/C field put in a control line circle for me. And yes, at 71 years old I do get a little dizzy in over head 8's sometimes at the first of the season, but it does go away after a few flights. Also like you, my first plane when comming back was a Ringmaster with a Fox 35. Slow your controls down and keep at it, and you will be fine. Really glad you are giving it a shot again.

John Stiles · « **Reply #20 on:** January 29, 2012, 06:14:31 PM »

That's a purdy Ringmaster right there.

Gene O'Keefe · « **Reply #21 on:** January 30, 2012, 01:35:08 PM »

Wade...what really helps is to NOT stand in one spot and rotate 360 but to "walk backwards" in a small circle ( 3 ft or so) and you won't get dizzy at all. Works great...try it, you'll like it.

Dan Bregar · « **Reply #22 on:** January 30, 2012, 04:26:42 PM »

Wade

It will keep getting better. My experience after a 35 year lapse is very similar to yours. I can't fly eights behind my back anymore, but I'm getting better after over 100 flights this past summer. Fact is I will never get to where I was when I quit, cause I'm not 24 yrs. old anymore, but I'm having a blast learning to be a "stunt flyer" as I approach retirement time. Keep on keepin on !