Beginner with piper cub any advice?

[chipnkim]

I have bought a Dynam piper J3 cub 1245mm 4ch. Any tips would be helpful. Is it a good trainer? Things I should look out for? I'm as green as it gets.

[wolfewinde]

It would be best if you find a more experience pilot to fly her and get her trimmed out for you.

If not, I would cut your throws down to 65% and set your expo at 35% if your radio allows that.

Good luck

Wolfe

[chipnkim]

Thanks

[FlyingMonkey]

As mentioned by wolfewinde

http://flitetest.com/articles/expos-dual-rates/


Before you fly, make sure the controls move the way they should.

Find where the balance point is under the wings, and make sure it's correct.

http://flitetest.com/articles/balancing-your-plane/

Don't rush to get into the air, and once you do, let it climb gradually up to a hight that will give you room to recover from mistakes you will make while flying. Closer to the ground is not safer.

The plane is not a car. You can't turn it flatly. You'll tip the plane a little, then apply up elevator. Once you've turned to the direction you intend bring the wings back to level.

When flying towards yourself, move the aileron stick to the lower wing, to bring the plane level.


http://flitetest.com/articles/learni...n-a-simulator/

http://flitetest.com/articles/tuff-trainer/

http://flitetest.com/articles/the-bixler/

[chipnkim]

These guys are awesome! I had not heard of them, Thanks

[solentlife]

My answer ? Put the model down or hang it from ceiling so you can admire it .....

Get out and find the local Flying Club and introduce yourself ... FIND the experienced pilot to maiden / fly the model for you and then teach you to fly.

The model should be a good machine to learn on - but until it's sorted by someone who knows how - it's an accident waiting to happen in your hands. Sorry to be blunt.

Why ? It will probably veer of course on ground, you will haul it off deck and she'll yaw to one side - usually left ... cartwheel and that's end of your day. You don't have the knowledge to counter any of it ...

Get a Simulator package ... forget FMS - that's old hat and not worth installing even though it's free.

I use RC Planemaster, comes with USB Tx that is similar to a real model Tx. It has a J3 Cub in the download section of online site ...

There are other Simulators - most costing a lot more ... and each to his own. Yes graphics may be better, but at end of day - I'm looking for a flying experience that leads to assisting to get the REAL model of the ground.

So do yourself a favour ... Get a Simulator and crash that a 1000 times ... save the Cub for the day you can have chance to take it home in one piece.

[chipnkim]

It seems that is the right way to go thanks

[prof_fate]

You need to learn many things to the point you can do them without thinking about it - just react.

Get a champ and on windless days go fly - it's cheap, easy to fly and hard to break as it weighs nothing.
Another option is an mCX heli -it's a coax indoor only critter but you will teach your thumbs what to do.

These have worked for me - I can keep just about anything in the air and not crash it - taking off isn't too hard either. Landing...well, that's a different story and I"m working on that. Not sure my issue - over thinking, wind (i like blaming the wind for everything), or a spacial relationship thing. I don't think it's nerves.

THe other advice is good stuff - have an 'expert' fly the plane so you know it flies correctly, then when you fly get high - there's nothing to hit up there and lots of time to recover from oops, which will happen.

[solentlife]

You only have to go on Youtube to see the maiden flights of Pilots / Models .... the typical haul of deck, model flips to left ... pilot left standing wondering what went wrong ...

If you want to practice trimming a model ... with a simulator it's easier than you think.

Load up the simulator ... Tx has all trims centred as it should be- old school coming out there ! - ... model if flown now would be fine and trimmed. So how to upset the simulator and produce more loike real life maiden ?

Exit simulator. Put trims over to extremes on TX ... now load up simulator. once loaded, centre all trims. NOW try to fly the sim model .... The Model will be out of trim based on the start up reading of Tx ...

The above is even not a bad thing for "experienced" flyers to practice sometimes !!

[zerodrag]

I use to own one of these and found it was very underpowered, especially on takoff. I recommend getting an experienced pilot to check it over and fly its maiden, as too much to go wrong especially on takeoff if underpowered.

[AEAJR]

The Wisdom of the Flying World, right here for you.

I have listed them in the order I would suggest you read them.


> Six Keys to Success
http://www.wattflyer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18

> THINGS TO CHECK ON AN RTF
> http://www.wattflyer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26372

The Importance of Range Checks
http://www.wattflyer.com/forums/vbglossar.php?do=showentry&id=34


> WHO IS FLYING IN YOUR AREA?
> http://www.wattflyer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1443

Learning to Fly Toward Yourself
http://www.wattflyer.com/forums/vbgl...howentry&id=22

EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT ELECTRIC POWERED FLIGHT
http://www.wattflyer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31368


> Dual Rates and Exponential Explained
http://www.wattflyer.com/forums/vbgl...howentry&id=26

[Fishbonez]

I definitly agree with the above post. AEAJR is most wise. If it were not for his posts I would still be scratching my head. Especially read the post about flying and stayng upwind. Good Luck and most of all have fun because when you get the bug you instantly become an addict. RC Flying is definitly my drug of choice. Nothing better Here is a look of my few flights before reading AEAJR advice
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efdLH...d9AUAAAAAAAaAA

[chipnkim]

Thanks alot, It is great how much folks are willing to help a Greenhorn.

[chipnkim]

I love hearing your wife "land land .. OOHH.." on the vidio. Thanks

[Fishbonez]

Well actually its my daughter. She was always full of confidence. As I am sure you are aware I fly HZ Super Cub which I think is the best trainer. I highly recommend it. This is a video of the day I actually had a successful flight the same day I finished reading all af AEAJR advice.

Minicam on "Flirting With Disaster" my Super Cub LP

Definitly read AEAJR and fell free to ask all questions even if you think they are dumb we all have had the same questions. I continue to ask plenty of questions.

[AEAJR]

Glad to hear my posts helped a few people. That is why they are there.

Read the posts then ask away. We were all rookies once and we will be happy to help.

[Rodneh]

If you do not heed the advice given above and decide to try it yourself, do take the time to do the following:
Make sure that it is a little nose heavy, i.e. balance as far forward at the foremost suggested point and make sure that there is some toe in on the main gear. Even then, take offs might be quite exciting. Once in the air, the Cub is not the best trainer but will suffice if you have an experienced instructor give you a hand.

[AEAJR]

I don't know the Dyam Cub.

The HobbyZone Super Cub is an outstanding first plane but what is true for one Cub may not be true of another.

If you read other threads about "Cubs" remember that they are all different planes and have little in common other than their general shape.

[cyclops2]

ANY short nosed plane is a handfull compared to longer nosed planes. The CUBS are shortnosed. So just because they have a lot of wing DOES NOT make it more stable.

Cubs in general NEED a very experienced pilot to check it out on THE COG location.