Help with dizziness...

[Flying Knight]

After 50 years, I've decided to get back into C/L.  I love building more than flying, but some day I want my models to fly.  I'm 68 and not the most stable on my feet.  I'm not handicapped or impaired and am in reasonably good health, but the thought of going around in circles is not something I'm sure I can handle. I am building a 59 Ares converted to electric power and it's coming out better than I thought it would.  I've thought about flying it on longer lines or slowing down the motor to make it fly slower.   I'm strictly a sport flyer and not up to any competitions. Any thoughts on how I can get through my angst?

[badbill]

The classic solutions work as well now as they have always. My Son just made his first flight ever and did not get dizzy, by following this advice. First- Do NOT focus on the plane. Focus on the background, with the plane still in view. It's easier than it sounds. Also, turn a quarter or third of a turn at a time instead of spinning. Good luck and enjoy!!

[Bob Matiska]

I feel your concern! I'm "only" 64 and flew some pretty fast models in my younger years, but now, even a Fox 35 Flight Streak is a bit fast for me! My next step will be to make up a set of lines 5 feet longer; that should help.

Since you'll be flying an electric, can you limit flight time to a minute or so and gradually increase it? Maybe that'll preclude a tendency to get dizzy. But let me suggest something right now: Don't use that beautiful Ares yet, try to dig up an old clunker somewhere, or throw together something simple and cheap until you get back in shape, so to speak. It would be a cryin' shame if you got so dizzy with that model that it is lost!

Bob in NEPA

[Flying Knight]

Thanks for the input.  It's all good.  I'm thinking about using a R/C transmitter to control the throttle on my Ares. That way I can slow it down or shorten the flight at will.   If not, I can set the timer for a short flight and work up slowly.

[John Park]

Whatever model you choose to fly, I'd suggest that you make sure it's at least moderately aerobatic.  If you feel a spell of dizziness coming on, you can just stand still and fly some nice wide lazy eights until you feel better.  I had to do this when I had a bad knee and sometimes had to stop turning for as long as fifteen or twenty seconds to let the pain go down; so it might work with dizziness too. 

Regards
John

[Russell Shaffer]

Without an airplane, stick out your flying arm and turn circles. Start slow and speed up as you get better. Don't do this in the front yard. I'm usually a little unstable in the Spring.

[JoeJust]

Russ, I personally have never thought of you as being "unstable" no matter what others may have said to the contrary.
How's the Postal thing coming along?
Joe

[Russell Shaffer]

Joe, funny that you should ask. I'll email later.

[Motorman]

If you're using age as an excuse I know a 74 year old guy that flys the fastest rat racer in the US on a regular basis.


MM

[Terry Caron]

Welcome back and welcome to the forum Flying Knight.
I was in the same position a year ago.
I hope you may find some comfort and encouragement in this thread ("C/L flying and balance": http://stunthanger.com/smf/index.php/topic,41011.0.html) on this very subject.

Best to you.

Terry

[RC Storick]

Someone suggested only looking at the background. I disagree I only look at the airplane and do not pay attention to the spinning back ground. But what ever works for you be sure to let us know.

[Brett Buck]

Someone suggested only looking at the background. I disagree I only look at the airplane and do not pay attention to the spinning back ground.

    That's pretty much what I do, too. I tried looking at the background but I lost sight of the airplane.

     I had a mild case of vertigo before and during the NATs this year, and I was concerned it would have bad effects on me. But while I could feel the "gyros" flip at times, like in the vertical 8, it seemed like my vision overrode it and it really didn't effect me. Actually my two or three best flights were among those that had the most feeling of vertigo, but I think that was a coincidence.

     Brett

[Phil Krankowski]

Practice practice practice.  Circle walk daily starting with as much as you feel comfortable with, 5 laps is fine to start, as are nice and slow 10 second laps.  Build up till you can go a few minutes at 6 seconds per lap.

Wear similar footwear when practicing so you know what they feel like.  Socks slide and sneakers grab kinda thing.

Phil

[Randy Powell]

Scopolamine?

[phil c]

At 68 you're likely taking some medications.  Talk to your doctor about which ones are likely to make you dizzy.  MANY meds do, especially heart medications.  If you're taking them, ask if it's okay to skip a day or two occasionally for flying.

The suggestions about not focusing on the plane, looking away to the scenery every few seconds, and taking figure eight breaks are all good.

The last thing is just learn to ignore your ears and fly the plane and the horizon(if you can see it) and pay attention to your feet.  It's not easy but learning to fly with vertigo can be done if there aren't any serious medical problems behind it. Pay special attention to your feet, using them to feel the ground.  It's real easy to lose that and let your feet catch an edge or roll on a lump and get confused, even to the point of tripping.

The last thing is to talk to a physical therapist or look up simple exercises on-line.  Practicing not getting dizzy helps a lot.

[Frank Imbriaco]

Add  this one to all the good suggestions/comments :See an ENT (Ear,Nose, throat) specialist. The MD will check for inner ear problems  that could potentially affect equilibrium.

One of the most benign, but troubling  issues, is ear wax buildup.

Ear wax not only diminishes hearing, but may block one's inner ear(s) enough to cause a range of problems; including balance.

[M Spencer]

The BACKGROUND is what makes you dizzy . !

The further away things are , the easier it is . At Different fields it takes the brain cells awhile to get used to whats about .
After half a diozen visits its taken for granted by the grey matter and no longer a distraction , or spinning around .

THEREFORE standing out at the circle center with your Arm out and thumb up , looking about a foot in front of the thumb
and LOOKING where you want your thumb ( aeroplane ) to go , for a dozen laps ( rotations )minimum , gets the INFORMATION
OVERLOAD in abeyance. Or has dealt with that already rather than having your attention jumping between the plane , spectators , carpark
and hot dog stand constantly .

A field with trees at the edge of the circle gets the background whirring a good deal more than  somewhere ' wide open ' , so your likely
a lot better off starting out at a airfield type site .

Some smart assed young turkey asked if he could hve a go off my Phantom ( stunter ) I told him ' if you hold your arm out and look at your thumb and walk around in a circle a dozen times first . amazingly he did, no arguments . Manadged to leave the handle for a few laps straight off and chase it for a 1/2 dozen , at times. The plane would go half the angle of the arm - straight arm .
He got a bit dizzy after 4 minutes or so , but had flown several laps unhindered ( dual - handle ) .
He had never seen a control liner 10 minutes before .

SO , do some practice WITHOUT the airplane beforehand , at home and at the field .
When your HAPPY with THAT , add the Aeroplane .

[john e. holliday]

Years ago Mr. Meriwether used to tell us that get over the dizzies was to take a bean bag and tie it to about a 10 foot cord.   Then spin it around you like an airplane flying.  He also stated that you must do it in reverse also.  The short cord is so you can do it in the back yard to entertain the neighbor.

[Clancy Arnold]

I have a simple solution for beginners.  It is called a Throttle.  I have 2 Ringmasters equipped with RC engines and U/Tronics control of the Throttle.  By varying the speed of the model the Dizzies can be reduced and if all else fails you can kill the engine and land.

The model shown is a Ringmaster Trainer designed by Pat King and has 1/32 Birch plywood skins on the wings and the Wing and Tail are retained with rubber bands FF style.  It has survived a figure 9 over pavement but the engine has a bent crank.   My other one is a stock S-1 Ringmaster.
Clancy