Did you fly RC before full scale? Help or hindrance?

[teookie]

I'm saving money to get my PPL. Also reading and generally educating myself about flying "real" airplanes. I think it's safe to say that an RC background is helping a little bit with some of the basics, but how much help is it?

Those of you who flew RC before you started flying full scale, was your experience in RC helpful? In what ways specifically? Were there any areas where flying RC was no help at all? Did you have to relearn anything you thought you already knew from flying RC?

Thanks in advance for your response!

[N726AC]

Yea, it helps, helps a lot ! Just understanding the general physics involved in flying RC translate well into full scale,,,and vice-versa.

[jwilliams]

Very good questions. I started flying RC in 1978, got my PVT license in 1984 and eventually my CFII and started flight instructing in 1987. Did the charter thing, commuter airline thing and I am now a pilot for a major airline for the past 13 years. I think flying RC helped in my initial flight training, more so in understanding nomenclature, procedures and general aerodynamics. Once you get past some of the initial stuff I would say it won't help much more and I cannot think of any area where RC hurt my flying career. I still fly RC 2 - 3 times a week and still enjoy it immensely. Hope this helps and if you have any other questions I will be happy to help.
Jeff Williams

[sweetpea]

What really helps is racing R/C cars on a track other than oval. This teaches you left/right and left/right head on (which is backward). Made the transition to planes easy for me.

Of course I had flown a few full scale planes already and played hundreds of video games with "Pilot" controls also. I was in Navigator/EWO training in the AF when I first picked up R/C planes. I soloed very quickly.

[mikaelmiki]

it makes the world of difference, made it easy for me to get a pilots license, its just like a big rc plane you are inside

[Extra nuts]

I flew full scale with my old man since i was tiny, it helped me learn to fly RC planes when i started for whatever that's worth. And i aint so tiny anymo.

[teookie]

Good stuff. Glad to hear the RC background helps a bit. Can't wait to start, wish me luck saving up enough dough!

[mike bodiford]

It helps a lot, it saved my ass on my second solo landing, hit hard an had to shove to power to keep her from stalling. It came as a reflex from all of my bad rc landings. Good for over all understanding what flight is all about.

[Tired Old Man]

I've found the two to be mutually supportive, though my experiences have been that flying r/c before full scale is a lot more helpful that full scale first. The full scale first folks have a devil of a time learning r/c because they are no longer in the cockpit with all the various references to help them out.

I fly both full scale and R/C, and an instructor with both.

[aeroparts]

	Quote: Originally Posted by N726AC
	Yea, it helps, helps a lot ! Just understanding the general physics involved in flying RC translate well into full scale,,,and vice-versa.

I fully agree, and If you fully understand how to take off land a full scale taildragger in crosswind on tarmac and grass, you will have a lot of help with your RC flying.
I have seen a lot of skilled IMAC flyer's flying perfect sequences and even pilots at the Scale F4C WC flying, and when it comes to landing they stop flying the plane in one way or the other and I don't think they understand what they are doing wrong before it was to late, but when you have seen it from the inside and got the feel of it its a lot easier.
/ Lennart

Did fly RC first, but the biggest help I have had from flying something else have been my glider pilot experience, I think its very good way of learning to fly in the right way.

[jmoesdad]

i find rolling harriers keep my reactions honed, similar to when i eat my crew meal in turbulence.

[Tired Old Man]

Awww, come on. That crew meal (military) is only a sandwich, a piece of fruit, a bottle of water, and perhaps a small container of this or that. The turbulence must be pretty bad not to be able to handle that little box

[teookie]

Ok, so I have another question for those of you who flew RC prior to full scale.

Power. Did the 152's you learned to fly in feel grossly underpowered because of your experience with RC? Were you ever surprised at how much power there WASN'T? Did you have to adjust at all to accommodate it?

Thanks!

[mike bodiford]

Re: Did you fly RC before full scale? Help or hindrance?
Ok, so I have another question for those of you who flew RC prior to full scale.

Power. Did the 152's you learned to fly in feel grossly underpowered because of your experience with RC? Were you ever surprised at how much power there WASN'T? Did you have to adjust at all to accommodate it?

Yes it was very under powered. My instructor was over weigth, so we had to leave ssome fuel out to take off. It was summer and hot took 10 min. to get up to 1000'.
Tryed to go to 10000' one time only got to 9500' would not go any higher. The 152 is grossly under powered, but the Beachcraft sporty is even worst.
good luck

[TimDavie]

Knowing RC helps a ton. If you work at it, you'll save 10 hrs. or more getting your PPL.

you don't really care about the differences in power/weight....YOUR FLYING! I have a 150 Aerobat, no it doesn't hover. I have to dive to get speed before I do anything..... but who cares

http://www.youtube.com/user/extrakat.../1/UXY-TJ7gpOs