[wizard]

There are a lot of different methods to use when this situation occurs. What method to use depends on a lot of things, how high the plane is, the glide rate,the stall speed, length of runway left, even what is at the end of the runway for an off field landing. The only way to know which method to use is experience.

Here are a few different things to think about.

1. Is there room and and a surface you can use for an off field landing? The last dead stick on my 30% was one of these. A buddy was flying the plane (the first time he was on the sticks of this plane) when the engine quit, I was standing right beside him. He handed the transmitter back to me and with the position of the plane, I wasn't able to bleed enough speed to get it down on the runway without it being a hard landing. I ended up putting it down about 75 feet off the end of the runway in the tall grass. I just did a normal type approach and just slowed the plane a little higher flared a little higher and mushed it down in the high grass. It wasn't a pretty landing, but, there was no damage. (BTW found the reason for the dead stick was due to the battery lead in the wrong place and got unplugged)

2. "Crab" the plane to bleed of speed. Use the rudder to kick the tail of the plane to the side a little (ailerons to keep the plane level). This will cause more drag and cause the plane to slow.

3. You can use the elevator to put the plane a little nose high to drop speed. At first this can increase altitude but will slow the forward speed. You just have to be careful not to stall the plane.

4. If you try to make a turn back to the runway, remember to use the rudder to prevent "Adverse Yaw". Adverse yaw will put the plane nose high and can bleed off to much air speed. Using the rudder will keep the nose down and conserve airspeed.

5. If you have enough altitude you could even do a split S and land in the opposite direction of takeoff.

6. Along the same lines IF you have enough airspeed, you could perform a 1/2 Cuban 8 to land down wind.

Again the only way to know which method will work is experience, and even that isn't always enough. As you said the only way to insure that a plane will never crash is not to fly it.

As for your move to the aircraft you are flying. If you are comfortable with it, safe in your flying, and can afford it. Do it and enjoy. Many people have a different speed learning curve. It sounds like you have picked up the hobby very quickly and are progressing well.