Each column is written by an average pilot and recounts a lesson that pilot learned from an experience. Subjects range from flying into bad weather, taking off with mechanical problems and numerous other “dumb thumbs” actions.
Student Pilot’s Logbook is the same concept. But in addition to lessons learned from errors, we think most pilots would also benefit from learning how another pilot solved a particular learning or flying problem.

This column belongs to you, our readers. Both experienced and student pilots alike will benefit from the lessons you learned from a particular experience, from a “dumb-thumb” piloting error or from the way you solved a particular problem.

Contributions to this column are open to all student pilots and to all those who had such an experience during their student pilot days. Please contribute via e-mail with a maximum of about 700 words. Up to 4 photos may be included as well. Put “Student Pilot Logbook Submission” in the subject line and please include your name, address and phone number for our records. All personal information will be kept confidential, even your name, if you so wish.

The e-mail address for Student Logbook contributions is:
EditorSptAviator@aol.com

We will publish all suitable submissions as soon as possible. You will be helping other student pilots by sharing your experiences. And you will learn from their submissions as well.

-----------------

I started in RC flying when I was 13, building a Great Planes Trainer 40 with my dad from a kit. The radio used in this plane was an Airtronics 4 channel type and was made before trainer cords came around. So "the hand-off " was standard practice. The field we flew at was an hour from my house, so my lessons were few and far between.

On the 10th flight, my little Trainer 40 encountered what the NTSB might classify as "structural fatigue," (due to my expert building skills). That was the end of my plane, engine and my flying days.

Fast-forward 17 years. I move to the eastern, central part of Utah. I am told by my wife (no kidding, my wife!) that there is a flying field close to our house. So to my surprise, it is the best flying field ever.  Out to the field I go with a brand new Super Star 40 RTF in the back of my truck. At the local club, I meet a nice fellow named Jim, who is the vice-president of Desert Wings. Jim tells me he would have no problem teaching me to fly.

Here is the part of the story that might be useful to someone else. Due to a birth defect, I can only use one stick at a time. Jim tells me it won't be a problem and teaches me a way to make quick transitions from one stick to the other. From the first time in the air and on up to my solo flight, I sat at a table and flew. That way I didn't have to hold my radio (now I use a radio tray, I call my popcorn tray). Jim was a very good instructor, always calm and reassuring, working with my situation and helping me to figure out ways to over come certain obstacles, as did other members in the club.

I started flying in Oct of ‘02 and soloed December 7th of that year. Now I have a stable full of airplanes and can fly them all. Most of all, I have discovered the great joy that this hobby/sport has to offer (and some of the disappointments) thanks to the help of Jim and other members giving of their time and talents. If a person wants to get into this and has the will, there are ways. It can be done!

Chris Rigert

Dear Chris,

It is stories like yours that keep the rest of us going and trying harder. Sometimes, we think model fliers, like Jim and yourself, are some of the better folks in this world. They certainly seem to be anyway. Congratulations on all your achievements.

Ask your friends out there about single stick transmitters. The rudder, aileron and elevator controls are on one stick with the throttle lever on the right side panel of the transmitter. They were once very popular and can still be found for sale in swap-shops and on e-Bay.

Editor

-----------------

When I was a teenager, flying fascinated me. On my 17th birthday I took one of Cessna's $5 flying lessons advertised in the magazines at the time. I built a couple of balsa and tissue models including a Cub for which I designed and built a 3-channel radio control. Despite the plane's inherent stability and small control surfaces, I managed to pretty completely destroy it. The first flight landed in a bush and didn't do too much harm; the second flight was more destructive. My available time and enthusiasm languished for the next 35 years.

Finally, while visiting last Christmas and seeing the models my brother-in-law and nephew had been playing with, the bug bit me again and I went shopping. After browsing the local hobby shop and doing some on-line research I settled on the Zagi-FiXX from Trick R/C. I was hopeful that the resilient foam airframe and relatively low flying speed would get me through the early trials without too much trauma.

I bought the full combo with radio, battery charger, extra batteries, extra props, etc. knowing that my time is still precious and having everything I needed would help me get going quickly. The assembly went quickly and easily in one evening. Following the instructions to trim the ship using short test glides, I stepped into the backyard the next afternoon. Sadly I put a few more dings in the fine smooth finish on the FiXX than I'd expected. I went searching for a large open space to fly (not easy in tree-covered
north Florida). I found a clearing in a large green space owned by the city a few miles from my house. The space is kept clear by occasional tractor mowing, which leaves the grass about 4-6 in. high. That seemed ideal for protecting my fragile craft from my novice skills. I began again with glides, and then moved on to short powered hops, each of
which ended in thumps and often cartwheels. I quickly learned that the foam wasn't as tolerant as I'd hoped and many times I was forced to repair major cracks and breaks in the wings, wing tips, nose, motor pylon, etc. Fortunately CA type glues do not attack the foam so repairs are quick and strong. 

When I finally got to the point where I could keep it in the air for more than five seconds I began to explore turning since the trees bounding the open space were always an imminent presence. Many more impacts with earth, trees, and power lines (did I forget to mention those?), and cracks followed. One flying day ended with a treetop landing. Luckily when I return the next morning the plane was sitting on the ground under the same tree essentially unharmed. 

After finally getting beyond my hideously embarrassing ability I moved my flying to another, more public, open space in the same park. This was a grass covered, tree bounded area about the size of 6 soccer fields. It is mostly open but has a few low, freestanding bleachers scattered about. Early experiences on this field were encouraging though I did learn to concentrate my flying in the upwind part of the field after another treetop landing.

At about this point, the original foam airframe was so sad looking that I decided to buy a replacement foam core and move the equipment into it. As my wife pointed out, I had effectively spent $75 for flight training. Unfortunately it wasn't long before I cracked the new foam by catching a wingtip on one of those bleachers. My piloting ability continues to grow rapidly in spite of the less than idea flying conditions the last few weeks. Every time I've had a chance go practice, and it wasn't raining, it has been at least breezy. Today the wind was nearly 20 mph above the treetops and, though the wind at ground level was probably no more than about 5-8 Mph, gusts were very common. I find I'm much more willing to move the control stick further and faster as I gain confidence that I might actually be moving it in the right direction to maintain control instead of increasing the angle of impact as was so often the case in the early going. Last week I actually did a loop, sloppy though it was, that was intentional.

In retrospect the FiXX probably wasn't a good choice for a self-teaching plane. Some further online searching turned up an online model shop selling many different "park flyers" including the FiXX. They also include a skill level rating and they list the FiXX as intermediate. NO WONDER it doesn't do all that self-correcting, "take your hand off the stick and let it right itself" stuff that seems to be one of the distinguishing characteristics of good training planes.  I should have read more before leaping I suppose.
I got my AMA card last week in the mail and I have my application and check to the local, AMA chartered R/C club ready to mail. I look forward to checking out their flying field and seeing some real flying skill in action. It has been about 5 weeks and I've been bitten badly it appears! I love it!

Richard Feezel
Tallahassee, FL  32309

Mr. Feezel picked about the hardest way to becoming an accomplished RC pilot that exists. Not many would –be RC fliers would have been as determined and persistent as was Mr. Feezel. Most would have junked the first Zagi and taken up model trains. RC flying is a learned skill. It is an easy skill to learn but, as with most skills, it is easier to learn when someone already having that skill teaches you.

Not only is it easier to learn with an instructor, but also the self-taught pilot never learns many important skills and much know-how until that pilot starts flying with other pilots. You can’t teach yourself knowledge that you didn’t have to begin with. That means the self-taught pilot has two steep learning curves to climb instead of a single, gentler, one. Even Sport Aviator can’t pass on every bit of knowledge and experience (but we try).

The Zagi is a good flying wing, fun-flyer. But most instructors would not consider it as even a good second aircraft. It is a great third aircraft however, after the new pilot has learned to perform most basic aerobatics with an aerobatic trainer. The Zagi responds quickly to control inputs and, while it has gentle flying traits, it was never intended as a basic trainer.

Mr. Feezel is to be congratulated on learning as much as he did on his own. Hopefully, his club learning experience will build on this skill base and he will be willing to share this second part of his modeling experience with us in a later submission. Ed.