Two out of three

[Steven Kientz]

Went flying 5/12/09 for the first time this year.Ran about 1/2 tank thru the Tutor II to get rid of the jitters. My mentor had to leave so I was left on my own. Second flight 3/4 tank, good needle, mostly level flight. Third flight I decided it was time to try a loop, had never built up the nerve to try. First loop was big,but round. Second loop I tried to tighten it up a little bit, ended up being egg shaped. The third loop got out of hand and turned into a 9, the bottom being about 6" below ground. Cleaned the Tutor today and it seems no worse for the wear. Did have a bent muffler screw, but I can live with that minor stuff. I've had good landings where I've broke more.
As far as what went wrong on the final loop, I went vertical and probably went past neutral , ended up overhead, gave more up and thats when I lost line tension.
 Overall I'm pretty happy, Rc members at our field couldn't understand why I was happy when I crashed. I've spent two years going round and round, not really enjoying the flights. Too worried about tearing up equipment. Well the Tutor is looking pretty rough, but flies amazing well.
I can honestly looking forward to the next flight.

Steve

[Bootlegger]

   Steve, That is the only way that I learned was to give it a try, something that you might know is to have the wind at yer back when you are gonna try a manouver, and don't get them real tight, but not real big either, but congrats on trying, keep going we all did the same thing learning...      

[Russell Shaffer]

Yep, just keep trying.  After all, these are just toys when all is said and done.  And no matter how bad it looks after a crash, just put it all in a bag and wait a week or so.  Don't smash it up and throw it away.  After a few days you realize that it can be glued back together and fly again.  I don't rebuild my mistakes, I repair them.  The repairs are very obvious but as long as the airplane is straight, it will fly just fine.  And after it is dented you don't have to worry about minor scratches.  I am still learning the beginners pattern so I know where you are comming from.  Just don't fly over asphalt, stick to grass.  You won't break the engine.   

[Wynn Robins]

seeing as noone else has mentioned it - when you are learning to fly loops - keep you arm straight - and DRAW the shape in the sky - the plane will follow your arm - you dont need to give any wrist control - just draw a circle with your hand.

it is kinda hard to explain it in writing

[Steven Kientz]

I had to add a layer of plywood around the LE( like a collar) last fall. The original doubler had developed a crack. Instead of covering in monokote or ultracote, i used some sign vinyl I had laying around.It's fuel proof and very sticky. Probably weighs more than $$cote, but has held up very well.
If the Tutor gives up I still have a Twister(flapless)and a scratchbuilt(DOINK) based on a Skyray 35. i also have a Corehouse Pyscho ready for covering.
At first I was doubtful that the TutorII would take the abuse that I would throw at it as a beginner.I know its been below ground several times and everything still looks good. If it makes it thru this season I suppose I'll have to recover it. everytime I bring it home in 1 piece I have to thank my wife(she bought it as a birthday gift several years ago.

Steve

[Russell Shaffer]

That is one of my big deals - when I come home with the airplanes all in one piece.  It is happening more offen now. 

[Paul Taylor]

Steve,
A guy I fly with said he took his Tut2 straight in from the top when the engine quit over head. Not much damage. He is still flying it.

One thing that helped me a great deal was to just get a handle with out any lines hooked to it and just draw the shapes. Like Wynn is saying. This way you see them in your minds eye.
Wait till you do your first clover.
I hope I remember how. We have had nothing but wind and rain every weekend for the past two months !!! We might have had a few weekends, but I could not get away to go fly.

[Steven Kientz]

I'm pretty lucky most days, I leave work at 2:30 pm, 1/2 hour commute and load to go flying. End of the month is usually out of the question because of overtime. My wife is very understanding as far as "honey do's" , she usually waits til a windy day.

Steve

[Larry Fulwider]

. . .  My mentor had to leave so I was left on my own. Second flight 3/4 tank, good needle, mostly level flight. . . .
. . .

Steve

Steve –

What is your normal, comfortable, level flying height? It is common for folks to start doing loops before they get 10 to 15 foot level flight and full overhead wingovers within their comfort zone.
   Problem is, starting any maneuver at a level flight altitude of 20 feet or more, and finishing it at or above the entry altitude, brings in a big “pucker factor.” If you make a “normal size” loop starting at 20 feet, the loop will look way too big to you, and your normal instincts are to start “pinching” it smaller – which can lead to the figure 9 death spiral in a hurry in consecutive loops.
   Flyers starting to learn maneuvers nearly always unnecessarily handicap themselves by confining their maneuvering space to a small “yarmulke” sitting atop the whole hemisphere. The entire hemisphere is yours, and the more of it you use, the easier it is to fly. Try to consciously expand your comfort zone downward (and, to a lesser extent, upward)
   One drill to lower your “comfort altitude” is to fly a couple of laps, each tank you fly, with your arm extended some and the handle at about chin level. Keep your lines parallel to the ground for two three consecutive laps, then ease up to a “more comfortable” altitude for a few laps, and then do the low laps again. Try a few laps consciously at 25 feet or so, and try to keep that altitude for a couple of laps. Try some level laps at “just above the top of your head” altitude, and again try to stay consistently there for a few laps.
   The purpose is to build your eyes and body into a “sensitive control line altimeter” so you can maintain somewhere between 10 and 15 feet as your “comfort altitude” for maneuver entry. Also, that is the altitude to get back to after the maneuver is finished. When you can consistently start and finish one loop within the 10 to 15 foot target, you can safely string 3 together.
   Do a similar drill for wingovers, targeting directly overhead, and the same entry / exit altitude as the loops.
   If you can get your mentor to help with gauging altitude, you will do better. The flyer tends to "see" a “lower” altitude than an outside observer. The same fundamentals apply to any of the maneuvers you will learn later.

Larry Fulwider

[john e. holliday]

As I try to tell my students learning to fly.  The hardest thing to learn is to take off, fly level and land.  Take off they usually want to keep climbing, level off as soon as you can and feel confortable.  Level flying is at eye level or little higher until you are confortable.  Landing I have a hard time convincing them that you can't land at the top of the circle.  Keep the plane fairly level and let it come down.  Then just before touchdown you give a little up. 

I remember my first loops.  As someone stated I tried also to do them too high.  But, after that first one it was work on getting it down in front of me.  My big problem is still pulling out too high on the reverse wingover.  I have nailed that 4-5 foot a couple of times.  I admit I don't fly enough.  Still having fun,  DOC Holliday