Advice on Teaching Young Kids to Fly

[Dangerous Dan]

I have been in the hobby off ond on for 21 years, with only being real active the last 5 years. I have 3 Kids a 7yo girl(Ciara) and 5year old Boy Girl Twins(Bailey and Riley). I figure it is high time to teach them to fly.

My plans are to start them out on the Sim(G2), then eventually move them to the buddy box when they have proved themselves on the Simulator. As for a plane I plan on Buying a Goldberg Eagle 2 Kit(I built one when I was a Kid). They are going to help me build it from the opening of the box to the maiden. I also plan on letting the pick out the covering scheme. It might be funny looking Spiderman/Brats/Strawberry Shortcake Hybrid.

I sennt off for their AMA and started getting them on the Sim this week. The twins just bury the sticks until the plane crashes the 7YO is doing ok. I started tapping her on the right sholder to move ailerons right, left sholder aileron left, and tap her on the head for up elevator. It seemed to work se was able to land a few times.

I know there are 5-6-7 year old kids out there that are proficient flyers. I just need some tips and success stories so I can get my 3 younguns in the right direction.

[Temptation]

I think getting young kids involed in this sport is awesome. Especially if you compete is some way. The reason I think competition is important, is that they will be around some really great proffesional people.

I believe as soon as their little fingers can reach the sticks, they are ready to start flying, if they are interested (that is the key). My son is 11 months old now, and he has been an AMA member for 11 months. He is also a member of one of the clubs I am in. He loves watching r/c plane videos, playing with the transmitter, and turning the props on my planes. He is very interested, and does fly on the simulator. He also moves the sticks on the transmitter, and knows that he is the one moving the control surfaces on the plane.

More power to you for wanting to teach them to fly. Don't get frustrated. Let them learn at their own pace. Let them do it when they want to, not when you want to. I have learned that is very important. They will let you know when they want to play. Don't ever think your kids are to young, or not smart enough to do something, they can sense that. Reward them for doing good, by telling them they did good. They need that feedback, it fuels them. Let them crank the fuel in and out of your planes when you go to the field. Let them be as involved as much as they want, but no more that what they want. It will pay off in the end. Remember you are doing this for them, not you. Your fun is just a biproduct of them having fun. Don't ever forget that. These kids are so smart it isn't funny. So many adults don't realize how smart young kids are. They are little sponges, they can learn a lot more than we can in a shorter amount of time. Kids are wonderful, and so much fun. Everytime you do something with your planes let your kids know. It takes longer, but let them help with things. I found that the most important thing and hardest thing to teach them at 11 months, is how to be gentle with everything, but he is learning. My son can walk around at the airfield and he knows to stay away from other peoples planes. He will walk up to a plane, and stop at a safe distance from it, and just stare at the plane. He knows better already. People are amazed. He knows where to stand when a plane is being started, and where not to stand. He can't even talk yet, but he can understand certain things.

Have fun with it. If your kids take to it, you will never regret it, and neither will they. Hand to eye cordination is a good thing to learn. They will learn disipline, they will learn how to deal with people. It will be great. Everybody wins. Get them involed in competition as soon as they are ready. They will learn to respect other peoples property.

Now, i'm not saying they can't learn this stuff in other ways, but this is fun for everyone.

Keep us informed on your childrens progress, I am sure others will enjoy hearing about your adventures also. Once my son starts to get involed in a serious way, I will share it with the Giants as well. I am expecting him to start flying the summer of 2008. Stay tuned.

Mike Darr

[Dangerous Dan]

I started letting them help disassemble my Dalton. They each have a job cowell screws wing bolts rudd and stab covers etc. They seem to really enjoy helping. I let my 7yo lock the ramp door on the trailer and she did not enguage the latch. Lucklly everything was tied down. I drove yo miles and the door only opened the last 1/2 mile.

[Shawn Berkheimer]

I found that with my boys it was better to go the electic route. They are intimidated by the noise of a glow engine. The biggest advantage of the electic is that when the urge hits them we can be at the local HS in 5 mins. remember kids have short attention spans and if it takes 1 to 1 1/2 hour of loading, driving and setting up thier minds may have moved on to something else.


Shawn

[Biff]

Best advice I've gotten is from my pop. Don't ever push! Let them do it if it's their passion. In my dad's case it was trying to keep me doing OTHER things. Balance is key to life in many ways. It sucked then! When I went to Cub Scouts or drumming lessons, all I wanted to do is fly. Kinda like having steak for dinner all the time. Even a good elk backstrap would get old after a bit.

My son is almost 3 and is CRAZY about flying the sim, working with my tools in the shop and going to "Tickle Tree" (Triple Tree). He also has a Mr. Microphone and announces dinner, mommy's horse riding events and anything he can. My hope is that QuiQue's oldest son will be an announcer and Collin (my son) will be a World Champion pilot!! As long as he finds his own passion and behaves as a gentleman, I'll be down with it!!!

Glad you're passing the hobby to the next generation!!

[Temptation]

I agree with variety. You can not just fly model airplanes. This will also help them in making up their own minds by being able to explore other things.

There is one other point that I think is very important. This was told to me by Andrew Jesky, and I haven't really put much thought into it until he told me this. Young childred (let's say under 7 years old) think it is cool to hang out with Daddy. They will want to do whatever Daddy does. Until they are around 7 years old, they won't really know what they want to do. So, basically if they continue with the hobby for years after they reach the big old 7 then it's a good bet that they will continue with the hobby. Then after that, we have to be prepared for when they become teenagers, and know more than we do.

I think it is cool that you let them work on your Dalton, but I think now you know that it is also important to double check their work .

We are planning to go to Joe Nall next year as a family. My wife (Cindy) my son (Elliott) and me. We will be bringing some planes, and I am sure Elliott will have the time of his life. He will be 1 1/2 years old then. Should be a lot of fun.

I am glad to here that you are interested in getting your childred into model airplanes. I have seen to many times at my local field where some of the members will bring out there kids (some as old as 15) and they just don't think they are smart enough to be involved in model airplanes. That in my opinion is a big mistake.

Mike Darr

[Dangerous Dan]

They are all eager to learn especially the 7yo Girl.

What technique should I use on the Sim? Should I just turn her loose on it? She wants me there with her, but I don't know If I should put my fingers over hers or just talk her through it. The tapping on the sholders and head seems to work.

I am also thinking about installing the futaba pilot assist module in the trainer we build is this a good idea?

Also I am trying to teach her to use thumb and finger I am a thumbs flyer, but I have heard thumb and finger is better if you initally learn that way.

As a side note I let my 7yo girl call for me at the SC regional IMAC championship, when she turned and said"gentelmen we will be flying our sequence left to right" I was so proud. I told her that without her help I would not have won the trophey so the trophey is on her dresser.

[red_z06]

I believe if they are pre-teen, the plane to train them on is 3d aerobat rather than our usual high wing trainer. This is especially true if they started out with a sim. 3D aerobat in most cases amplify your inputs and show the most dramatic result when compared to old trainer. We need for the plane to right itself up easily but to them there is no such thing. It is just natural for them to be in inverted as upright.

They would have more fun with very precise high powered airplane than say pt40 in G2.

Prior to engaging them in sim, I would take them to the field often and get them used to how planes are flown and where. This would encourage them in their understanding in how and where to move the sim plane when they get to it.

If they are too young to understand the directions, let them figure them out on their own. It seems they discover the effect of throttle stick first then elevator/aileron and lastly rudder.

Make them understand flying over a pit area is far worse than crashing.

As few here have stated, let them go at it on their own pace.

Good luck and please post progress videos.

[Temptation]

The simulator question is a tough one. Maybe you should just turn her loose for awile to let her get a feel for things. Teach her what does what and let her have at it. She will figure it out on her own. Once she gets a feel for it, then you can start to coach her. I think it may be to early for coaching at this point. I just let my son have at it right now, and I am amazed as to how well he actually does. Now, keep in mind my son can't talk yet, so I don't have many options at this point.

That is very cool that she called the direction at a contest. That is the stuff that sticks. I am sure she felt so grown up and important at that contest. You telling her that you wouldn't have placed without her help is priceless. Sounds like you are one hell of a Dad. Keep up the good work.

My son is by far the best thing that ever happened to me. I can't wait to get home from work everyday to see him. Leaving in the morning is hard. I just love being there when he wakes up in the morning. Unfortunatley I only get to see that on the weekends.

When we turn on the computer in the morning, and my son sees the monitor power up, he runs over to the desk and starts jumping up and down. This means one of two things. He either wants to watch an airplane video, or fly the simulator. He loves watching Andrew Jesky's freestyle from the Masters a few years ago. He goes nuts while watching it. If you ask my son if he wants to watch his airplane video, he runs over to the computer. It's pretty funny.

When I am working in the shop, he has to be in there with me. He always has to have some sort of tool in his hand, while pretending that he is doing something. Most of the time I allow it, but sometimes I am doing things that he can't be around. You need to be ready to grab him at all times, you just never know what he is going to get into.

Mike Darr

[RCBOZO]

dntmn,

I have a son that is 8 and my daughter is 6. My son has really shown an interest in flying this summer. I think most of his interest was brought on by another boy in the club his same age that soloed this summer.

I think for my kids the simulator is a game, I think that they "respect" the real plane more.

Find a time that know one is at the flying field, or ask that know one start or fly while the kids are flying.

I like to put my thumbs over first time flyers especially. After I feel comfortable that they are not going to see how hard they can push the sticks, I step behind them. I then give them verbal directions for the right stick only. I ask that they do not release the sticks and that they make very small, slow movements with the sticks. I offer them the option to use fingers or thumbs, most use thumbs like their father does.

Take your time. Most kids do not have enough attention spans for much more than 10 minute flights. If you notice that there flying ability is diminishing (silly mistakes) and they have been up a while land it and try it again latter.

I have been using my sons trainer as a barging chip to get his chores done around the house
If he neglects to do his chores he doesn't get to fly.

[toprudder]

All great advice!!! I especially agree with Mike Darr.

I've flown off/on for over 30 years. I got out of the hobby in 1997. I had bought a trainer for my son, Matt, a couple of years ago, but he showed very little interest until last year, when he was 11. He was actually interested in building WWII static models first. When I knew the local club was having a flyin, I took him there since I knew they would have some WWII planes flying. That is what got him hooked.

When I first started training him, I pushed him a little to try to get him flying more. THAT DOES NOT WORK. I backed off, and let him tell me when/if he was ready to fly. He caught on very quickly.

Simulator time is good. I started him out with FMS (free on the internet) just to teach him left/right and also lining up with the runway for landings. Once he mastered that, landing the trainer was no problem. I then got a better simulator (Reflex) and both of us learned 3D together. Once he outgrew the trainer, I got him a Jerry's Big Boy, and then a foamy. Kids LOVE foamies, and we flew ours at a local soccer field. Man, I wish there was such a thing as foamies when I was a kid. The closest thing to it was control-line.

Earlier this year, we went to Joe Nall -- WOW. Sensory overload! There we found out about the Youth Masters, which we also attended and in which Matt flew. At the Youth Masters, he did very well in the Basic class. Later, he entered his first IMAC contest, with a borrowed plane, and did well there also.

I feel now that he has a hobby that will last a lifetime. My only worry is if he will make it through the teenage years without losing interest. I think he might make it, with a little encouragement.

Keeping a variety of interests is good, I think this prevents burnout. Matt plays guitar and baritone, and is pretty good at that, too!

I can say that I have the best relationship with my son that I've ever had. We have a common interest, and he is doing really well with it. I got back into the hobby as a result of my son's interest, but you know, it is really HIS hobby now. And I LOVE it!

Bob R.

[Temptation]

Bob, that is an awesome story. It is great that you and your son have a commmon interest hobby. That is one of the things I love the most about this hobby. Our kids can do it at the highest level at a very young age. There isn't any restrictions as to what they can do, as far as rules go. Not to many hobbies have this advantage.

As for you son losing interest during his teenage years, that's a hard one to predict. I started flying when I was 11 years old. Once I discovered cars and girls, the planes took a backseat for awhile. Now keep in mind, my Dad was not very involved with what I did at this point anymore. I was pretty much on my own as far as hobbies went. My Dad got me into r/c airplanes, but I don't think he was prepared for how much I would fall in love with it. Due to the lack of support from my parents it was not hard for me to lose interest in r/c during my teenage years. Once I finished school and got a good paying job, I was able to get back into the hobby. At this point I was able to afford stuff I have never been able to before. My point here is, if it's in his blood, he may take a break, but he will get back into it when he is ready. Some kids never miss a beat, and manage to maintain the hobby through their teenage years. This all depends on the individual and the enviroment they live in.

This stuff really make me happy. I just love watching young people get into this hobby. I just started coaching a new kid at my local club. He really impressed me with his flying, so I asked him if he wanted to fly my 40% Carden Cap 232. He said yes, but he can't afford it if he crashes it, so he was going to pass on the offer. I explained to him that if I asked him if he wanted to fly it, it would be my problem if he crashed it, not his. With that being said, I took off the plane, gave him the transmitter and he flew it around for about 7 minutes, then I landed the plane. He was a changed kid after that. Now I feel sorry for his parents . This kid is great, and has a ton of respect others. His parents are raising him right. I have helped a few kids out in this hobby, and got them involved into competition. This kid takes the cake. He has all the right stuff. His attitude is awesome. I am not sure of his age, but he may be 16 or under. I am going to encourage him and his partents to attend the Youth Masters next year if he can. I will go with him if I need to. Seeing this kid so happy after flying my Cap just made my day. I am going to continue working with this kid. I am going to do something that is new to me when working with kids. I have learned from the past. I am going to have a meeting with his parents and him before any coaching starts. We are going to make sure he understands how important school is, and that he does well. Bad grades, or just plain messing up in school...No coaching from me. I also want to coach him on ATTITUDE, which is one of the primary reasons I want him to attend the Youth Masters. This kid is really talented, but most of all his attitude is just awesome. I am also just amazed with the amount of respect he has for others. I fell if love with the kid. He is very outgoing and willing to help anybody. The biggest thing about him that caught my attention is that he knows when to talk, and when to shut up, and listen. The kid listens more than he talks. I believe this is the reason God gave us two ears and one mouth. We need to listen twice as much as we talk. Next summer is going to be great for this kid. I will be taking him to some of the local pattern contests. I also plan on taking him to our Pattern judging seminar. By the end of next summer his flying will have improved greatly. I am really looking forward to this.

Mike Darr