Well, considering I've only tried to fly the beginner pattern a couple of times, it would be sad if I didn't make some progress. But so many members here have been bending over backwards to give me helpful advice, I thought I should let y'all know it hasn't been in vain.
So I packed up the Shoestring and went to the field with my new flying buddy, Wayne. Though he doesn't much use a computer, and forums are unknown to him, he mentions some of your names when telling me about stunt flying. His name is Wayne Robinson, from South Carolina. He's a judge at some events his club sponsors including the contest coming up in October that I want to enter... if I'm capable by then. The club is Metrolina Control Line Society. If today is any indication, I think I can give it a go. I had originally thought maybe I would train for OTS, but since it turns out the Shoestring doesn't qualify, today I practiced the AMA pattern.
She flew well today. My first flight was my usual overexcited rush, and it showed, with tight gut wrenching loops, too low to the ground. But I calmed down after that and got good critique from Wayne. It sure is easier to concentrate when you have someone to help, instead of stooge flying. My next flights went better, and I got a good portion of the beginner pattern done fairly respectably. After taking the advice Wayne offered, I did better bigger rounder inside loops and kept all three in the same circle. He insisted I start a little higher, and that helped. My outsides were all on track, but he said they were still too tight. My figure 8s also were of decent shape, but again too small. He called them tiny, holding up two "o"s with his fingers. That seems to be the hardest advice to follow, using all of the air. I know I'm sounding like a broken record about that. Still blaming it on decades of wild 1/2A flying. Anyway, I wouldn't have believed it, considering my previous attempts, but my square loops were today's crown jewel. I did use the full height with those. I didn't do any overhead 8s. My takeoffs were jumpy, but the bumpy grass field makes that difficult. And my landings were no beauty either, though I only nosed over once, and never an unplanned landing. So, I'm happy with that. I showed some real improvement. I still haven't thought enough about my body position and foot planting. But Wayne did help me with starting and following through with my wingovers. Maybe some of it will develop naturally, but there's so much to commit to memory, I'll gradually tune up as I practice.
I wanted someone who knows how a plane of this type is supposed to feel to test fly it, so Wayne took the controls and flew the whole pattern. Nicely done, it was a pleasure to watch my plane do what Carl Goldberg meant for it to do. He reported that the plane has no bad habits and felt really good. I was happy to hear that. Now my rebuilding job has the official seal of approval, so I'll quit referring to it as the Epoxy Bomb.
I set up the camera, but never gave it another thought, so no video today. I also flew the Baby Flite Streak for relaxing fun, and that Tee Dee .051 continues to be a wonderful screamer. Fast smooth runs and nice clear pink exhaust oil. Best plane I've ever built. Wayne flew his hand-me-down.40 Nobler too
So that's my flight report today. Don't know if I'll get the SS out again before next week. At the Brodak, he picked me up me some new un-bent landing gear for it that I need to put on, and I need to harden the fuse where it mounts. The old bent and plier straightened gear is compressing the wood. Maybe I'll fill the old holes and put fiberglass patches over the fuse where they squeeze it, and re-bore the boles.
So thanks for all the advice and I'll continue to pay attention to it.
Rusty
Topic: Progress update in my Novice training (Read 8124 times)