A Beginner's Approach to "Professional" Flying

[F3AFlyer7]

Well it's 12:32am as I start this and one more day until spring break so let's see how this goes.....

This year will be my fifth year flying pattern, and my sixth year flying RC. Since the day I started, I've tried to perfect my flying every time I go to the field, and strive to make it to a forever undecided level. I never thought about the professional side of flying as a future possibility. Sure it was always a dream, but I never thought it would actually get to that level. After taking second place at the Nationals this past year, my simple hobby was boosted to a "professional" hobby with the advent of a couple sponsorships. How awesome could that be! Well, maybe it isn't all that it's made up to be. Sure, there's no substitute for free stuff, but there are plenty of costs that I never thought of before it became a reality.

I think the word that best describes what a sponsored hobby feels like is PRESSURE.

I don't think I've ever felt more pressure flying RC than I do now. This past weekend, I got a chance to fly in the E-Xgames, and what a wakeup call that was! I always thought that I could control an airplane pretty well. After seeing the top pilots up close and in such a small confined space, the magnitude of their skills in my eyes have increased ten fold! I never thought how difficult it would be to just look good out there, and the pressure to make sure you don't totally screw yourself and your reputation. To make sure you look good for your sponsors, and to make sure you are always conducting yourself with the best of behavior.

I also knew I had to fly a demo during the intermissions. So now not only must you worry about flying in the contest, but also not totally screwing up when people are watching that new product in your airplane. What kind of pilot would you be if you crashed your plane and made everyone think it was the equipment that did it? How would your aponsors feel?

I guess my reasoning for this is to give an idea of what sponsorship is actually like to all the people out there.

However, don't take this as me saying I dislike it. Sure, the free stuff is cool, but thats not what I like about it. It's when you are standing at the booth and someone comes up with a question and they just cant seem to get the right answer, and you help them figure out exactly what to do. The smile of gratitude on their face makes it all worth while. For me, that is what makes all that pressure go away.

The other benefit is being able to meet and fly with all the top pilots. Sure, Chip, Jason, Mark, Quique, etc...they're all just normal people living an everyday life like you and me. BUT! These are people I've looked up to for the past six years, and now I know some of them personally.

Those two benefits, for me, completely smash the costs. And I think that anyone who want to or is striving for this exact thing should keep some things in mind.

Never give up. You can make it there if you really want it. Practice doesn't make perfect, deteremination, goals, and dreams have to go along with it. I surly haven't made it anywhere near where I hope to be someday. Eventually it might happen.

I salute this site for everything it brings to the hobby, and all the smiles it brings. And I salute the real professionals of this hobby. Being able to withstand the presssure of such a great responsibility to yourself and your sponsors is a great feat. And I salute the people in this hobby trying to make a difference, and the ones who help make those goals and dreams come true.

Dont know where I went on this but maybe someone will get somthing out of it.

[JeeUm]

Great post Scott, really puts things into prospective.

Nice to finally have a face to the name also.

[Fly-guy]

Great post, I sure got something out of it

Right now I have been looking to go further in RC, ie, pattern or IMAC but dont have the funds, as well as a few other things. Then again I have only been flying coming up three years, and still have plenty of time to achieve something more.

"It's when you are standing at the booth and someone comes up with a question and they just cant seem to get the right answer, and you help them figure out exactly what to do. The smile of gratitude on their face makes it all worth while. For me, that is what makes all that pressure go away."

I work at an LHS and can relate to that one a big way, nothing like helping someone with a problem

I guess I will trek on through the years to come and see what I can make out of RC as a semi-professinal hobby.

[F3AFlyer7]

Looking to go further in RC is always a great thing. Going out and pushing yourself to learn new things every time you fly is the best way to get better. There are a ton of good inexpensive ways to do it also. Thats how I did it. I never flew a "top of the line" airplane, and my motors and such were always hand me downs. It's a great way to get a good setup at a low cost, but just make sure everything works good!!!! Competing in somthing like IMAC or Pattern is by far the best way to improve your flying. Not only are there people there to help, but the contest atmosphere alone improves your flying a huge bunch. The benefits will slowly come in to play so just stick with it and set your goals high.

I know exactly what you mean I used to work in a hobby shop also. That was another thing that brought a smile to my face; helping the folks there too.

[krashmaster81]

Well put, Scott! You've definately described a side of the hobby that often seems to have lots of glamour and glitz in a way that really brings home the reality of it all. I think the attitude you have towards the hobby is a very healthy one and should help you do well! It seems that you already have excelled! Keep it up . . . in the air!

-Matt

[F3AFlyer7]

Matt:

Thanks a ton for the kind words! I think the most important thing about this side of the hobby is just that, its still just a hobby! The reason we all got involved with this sport is because it's FUN, and when it stops being fun, why do it? That's somthing I think everyone should always keep in mind no matter wether they fly a trainer to a 40% Extra. I think fun is somthing this site is centered around and that's why I love it so much!

[3DkId]

ive been flying for about 1 year so far
well now every time i go out to the field i allways will hover lower and lower allmost everytime i will hover 5 feet lees till lastpast week i went flying and i hit the grounf with the wing i dont think i could get lower than that so i feel real good when i go flying and its my distraction of everything else
!! keep it uo F3A !

[yooki]

Scott: great insight!

Wonderful write-up, it's always interesting to hear about somebody's else experiences, especially when they relate so closely to my own

Can't wait to meet up at the nats.

Brett

[krashmaster81]

Scott,

You are welcome! And you've hit the nail on the head . . . this is a hobby, we do it for fun . . .let's keep it that way! Sometimes I wonder why I got into this when I'm building or reparing, but when the plane is in the air, the pay off is great!

[YaKs are BeSt]

well I guess when your sponsered you have to try real hard to make their product look good and that involves doing whatever your doing at the tope level,

i kinda alwayse thought of it that way.........

[F3AFlyer7]

	Quote: Originally Posted by 3DkId
	ive been flying for about 1 year so far well now every time i go out to the field i allways will hover lower and lower allmost everytime i will hover 5 feet lees till lastpast week i went flying and i hit the grounf with the wing i dont think i could get lower than that so i feel real good when i go flying and its my distraction of everything else !! keep it uo F3A !

Awesome dude!!! That's the way to do it. Now start doing the same thing with different maneuvers and perfecting those just as you have with the hover. Every maneuver is just as important as the other, and I think the thing that distinguishes the top pilots from everyone else is that not only can they do every maneuver in the book, but they can also do it like it's second nature! That is one of my personal goals, to be able to do everything without the fear of crashing or making it look horrible.

Brett:

Yup I'm sure you're going through exactly what I'm going throug. Can't wait for the NATS this year it's going to be crazy!