ON THE SAFE SIDE
Ready to Solo?
by Jim Tiller,
Insider Safety Column Editor
Just as in
full-scale aviation, an RC pilot’s first solo is a
memorable milestone. To have your prized airplane
leave the ground, tear though the air, and then
return safely to earth—all under your control—is a
moment that no pilot forgets.
As we all know, RC pilots reach that milestone in
many ways. Some, supremely overconfident, leave the
hobby shop with an armful of equipment, go straight
to the park, and throw their new purchase into the
air.
Others
think an hour of simulator instruction is plenty. I
remember a story about one prospective flier who had
flown the simulator awhile and then had a couple of
buddy-box sessions from an instructor. The next
weekend he went to a public field without his
instructor. Despite offers of assistance and
warnings to the contrary, he decided he could do it
on his own. As you can imagine, his next flight was
a short series of over-controlled gyrations ending
with his new trainer in pieces a hundred feet from
the runway.
I also
know of a situation where an instructor told a
student he was ready to solo without the buddy-box
well before he had mastered the proper skills. In
this case, both the student and the instructor did
their very best to salvage the situation, but once
again, the student’s new trainer ended up not far
from the runway and the discouraged pilot going home
to fix the damage.
Three
things happen as a result of these training
incidents. First, there is the inevitable crash (or
crashes) that could surely injure someone. Second,
even if the newbie keeps at it long enough to be
successful, they have probably learned a lot of bad
habits that could still make them unwelcome or even
dangerous when they fly at organized events or club
fields. And last, but most serious, many quickly get
frustrated and quit the hobby altogether.
There
is little we can do about the guys who are bound and
determined to do this without an instructor. In most
cases, they have been told by the Local Hobby Shop
(LHS) and other fliers that they should ask for
help. We can only hope that they will learn and
accept safe flying practices when they join us at
the field.
But
let’s look at the bright side of this issue. Most of
those interested in RC flying see the value of
instruction and seek us out for help. Most are great
learners and take instruction well. But they still
face the anxiety that goes with the first solo. Most
students are in the middle of the confidence
spectrum—not overly timid and not overly bold. And
if they tell you they are ready to solo, they
probably are.
But
how does the instructor know for sure that his
student is ready to solo? Many will tell you that
they just know the student has the skills to
succeed—after all they have been there through the
instruction process. I have no disagreement with
that, because that is how I have instructed in the
past.
Recently, I talked to a few fellow fliers who are a
little more formal in that evaluation. Just as in
full-scale flying instruction, they have a checklist
or check flight that their prospective soloists must
master before they wean them from the buddy-box.
Here
are some suggestions that you might want to make to
your instructors, if they are not already doing
them:
1. We
all know the student has to be able to make a safe
landing. That’s number one on everyone’s list. But
what do you require in preparation for touchdown on
the runway? Can he correct for crosswinds using the
rudder and still make the runway? Does he set up the
proper glide and adjust the touchdown point with the
throttle? Can he make both right- and left-hand
approaches to your runway?
2.
Here’s one directly from full-scale flying
instruction. At altitude, pull the power back to
idle on the buddy-box. Can your student find a good
glide angle and make a dead-stick approach that
would result in a successful landing?
3.
Give the student a task to do, such as flying a
figure eight, and then have him announce each part
of the maneuver before he makes it. Can he make the
airplane go where he says it’s to go?
4.
Using the proper field safety rules, can he
assemble, fuel, start, and shut down his airplane
without assistance?
5. On
takeoff, can he keep the airplane in a straight line
down the runway and maintain that course and
direction until the first turn at a safe altitude?
6.
Once again from full-scale flight instruction, put
the airplane at an odd angle or orientation and then
hit the trainer switch. Does the student make the
right corrections to bring the airplane back to
straight and level?
7. Fly
the model quite a ways out and then hit the trainer
button. Can your student get it back over the
runway?
How well should your student do on these informal
tests? Whatever the student does, it should be
conducted “with the successful outcome of the
maneuver never seriously in doubt.” I borrowed this
quote from a full-scale instruction manual as well.
Many
clubs have a formal instruction manual they give
their students at the outset with this and other
goals as check off items inside. That is a great
practice. If your group does not already have a
training syllabus for new pilots, feel free to use
my club’s as a starting point (rcpropbuster.com/downloads/Rapid%20City%20Propbusters%20New%20Pilot%20Handbook.pdf).
We did
not create this document ourselves, but like many of
you, gleaned parts and pieces from others over the
years.
Good
instruction does not happen by accident, and good
instruction will prevent accidents. It will also
make pilots who are welcome at any field and are a
credit to the modeling community—hopefully for many
years to come. Q
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