Teaching someone to fly
Chris Mulcahy
cspaced@gmail.com
Learning to fly RC helicopters is a challenging and rewarding exercise. Teaming up with a more experienced pilot can ease your flying practice.
Conversely, experienced pilots can gain a new appreciation for their flying skills by teaching newer pilots what they know. As with most things in life, a little determination and perseverance, plus some knowledge, can go a long way.
There are a number of ways that you can receive knowledge from or impart knowledge to other people. Simply talking about it can be a big step in the right direction. As a newer pilot, you can learn how more experienced pilots push themselves out of their comfort zones to get a grip on a new maneuver. As an experienced pilot, you can remind newer pilots that we all started out where they are now, and that there is a light at the end of the tunnel!
I’ve heard new pilots say time and again that they’ll never be able to fly a certain way. I try to make them understand that we all started in the same place!
A saying started going around in a group of friends that I fly with: “I remember my first flight!” It’s something we throw around when one of us is flying in a less-than-spectacular fashion—a friendly jab to keep us on our toes. The thing is, I really do remember my first flight, and it wasn’t pretty!
I was by myself in my backyard and fired up a little Norvel engine, lifting my helicopter up into the air. It immediately scooted over to the side of the yard and decapitated an unsuspecting garden gnome. It then proceeded to beat itself up on the ground because I had no idea what I was doing. Of course, knowing what I know now, there were a few red flags right from the get-go.
What I should have done was visit a local flying club and ask for an instructor.
I should not have tried to fly for the first time in such a confined space, and I really should have put the gnome in a safe spectator area.
After recovering from my mishap, with a freshly rebuilt helicopter, I found out where the local flying club was and I went for a visit. I teamed up with one of the club’s helicopter pilots, and in a short amount of time, I was able to hover comfortably. With his guidance, I knew what to look for and how to react. A little knowledge sure does go a long way!
Now that I’ve been flying for a while (16 years), I try to return the favor by helping new pilots when they are learning how to fly. Whether it is verbally by having a conversation, helping on the simulator, or actually buddy boxing with someone, I get a lot of satisfaction out of seeing new pilots progress.
If you are a newer pilot, you might wonder what “buddy boxing” is all about. Simply put, it allows an instructor to instantly take control of the model that a student is flying
by utilizing a second transmitter. The instructor has the primary transmitter and the student has a secondary transmitter. The transmitters are paired together, either with a cable or by a wireless connection.
The instructor can give as much or as little control to the student as he or she deems is required by holding a switch or a button. If the student gets into
trouble, the instructor can release the switch or button and instantly regain control of the model. This gives the student a safety net, and helps remove some of the “pucker factor” that we all feel when learning new maneuvers.
This process can also be used when a more experienced pilot wants to try a new maneuver. Having an experienced pilot back you up when you are trying something new is a great way to relieve
some of the stress. If you lose the model in an unusual attitude, your buddy (hopefully!) can help save the day.
Simulators are a great way to teach others how to fly. Most simulators allow you to show your control inputs on the screen. This is a great way to show a student how certain maneuvers are flown. You can demonstrate a maneuver then let him or her try it—
all without the risk of losing a model (or horribly disfiguring an innocent garden ornament).
Talk to new pilots and help whenever you can. New pilots, don’t be afraid to ask for help or advice!
SOURCES:
International Radio Controlled Helicopter Association (IRCHA)
www.ircha.org
