How long to overcome the fear of flying?

[Mart61]

I was just wondering how long it takes to overcome the fear of flying?

I'd say probably it'll never happen.

As a grown man (I'm 48) I still get the shakes if I've not flown for a while. On asking the good people of this forum and several of my club members, even the more 3D pilots, they too get the shakes when flying a new heli, or a newly repaired/upgraded heli and also if they've been a few weeks out of the air.

[Tim Procter]

Hi all,

I was just wondering how long it takes to overcome the fear of flying?

Its not the fear of flying so much as the fear of the wife getting to know how much the crashes cost.

[tonystevens]

Not sure if you ever loose the fear,myself it just gets more comfortable flying it.
If it didnt scare you abit it would become boring and unexciting so i say bring on the fear!

[coptermanic]

Nice one Tim!!

As Paul said, there is absolutely no replacement for stick time. And try to be constructive with what you are doing. Like, try a minute or two of 45 left side facing, give yourself a break with a bit of "normal" hovering, then try a min or two of 45 right side facing, followed by another break. I try to set myself goals too. After all, it is very easy [!!??] to just go out and fly about and wazz around.

Anything new, try on the sim first, and get to understand the required orientation and stick inputs before trying it for real.

HOWEVER,

wish I could practise what I am preaching!!!!

My downfall is not enough stick time to give me confidence to do for real what I can do in the sim!!!!

[Tim Procter]

My downfall is not enough stick time to give me confidence to do for real what I can do in the sim!!!!

Like many more Mike.

Actual stick time in the field is second to none, Even avid sim users still have fear when out flying for real.

The real answer as you rightly quoted Paul saying is "get out and fly"

[Smoothound]

Like many more Mike.

Actual stick time in the field is second to none, Even avid sim users still have fear when out flying for real.

The real answer as you rightly quoted Paul saying is "get out and fly"

There speaketh an expert.

Only have to look at Tims timeline to see how much stick time counts for...Just don't ask what his fuel cost

[Mslater]

Still scares the c*** out of me. Been flying over 12 months - last 3 months I got the angles down as best I could and feel quite happy around the field.

The question was how do you get the confidence to do that...

I had a couple of lessons, the security of an expert pilot able to take control in an instant allowed me to explore my fears and weakness.

Having identified the weakness - loads more sim work - another couple of lessons.

It's much more enjoyable and costs less than crashing

[max2741]

the way i did it, once i was comfertable with hovering i then just kept pushing the boundrys a bit further, fly forward a bit turn right turn left etc, kept at a fair hieght and if i got into trouble just went strait back to a hover.

[jwatts007]

Still scares the c*** out of me. Been flying over 12 months - last 3 months I got the angles down as best I could and feel quite happy around the field.

The question was how do you get the confidence to do that...

I had a couple of lessons, the security of an expert pilot able to take control in an instant allowed me to explore my fears and weakness.

Having identified the weakness - loads more sim work - another couple of lessons.

It's much more enjoyable and costs less than crashing

Could not have said it any better, get tuition early on.

[pvk333]

yeah the fear of failure (crashes)is allways going to be on your mind a little when flying no one wants to really crash I still shake a little after flying when doing something new with my trex 600esc I guess its human nature all I can say is take it slow feel comfortable with what your doing dont push it fear can be good it can make you more safe to, good luck we all do crash part of the hobby

[debrooker]

keep persevering it will get easier.

[Brian Gifford]

There speaketh an expert.

Only have to look at Tims timeline to see how much stick time counts for...Just don't ask what his fuel cost

How true, Phil! If anyone wants to improve in this hobby, then they could do an awful lot worse than to use Tim as inspiration. Not only does he put the stick time in, but whatever setbacks he has, he just repairs the damage, and goes on flying!

Now, as Mike said, I need to practice what I preach!

[hedge]

How true, Phil! If anyone wants to improve in this hobby, then they could do an awful lot worse than to use Tim as inspiration. Not only does he put the stick time in, but whatever setbacks he has, he just repairs the damage, and goes on flying!

Now, as Mike said, I need to practice what I preach!

Due to its configuration I have a very small back garden flying space, with my Blade 400 I can do little more than hover tail in at about 1m for fear of it getting blown into:

Conservatory
Tree
Work Shed
Me

The flying space is probably a little under 4m x 4m, would you class this as worth while stick time or would you recommend the sim?

Thanks for your help.

[Hangar-7]

To conquer the fear (of flying) you've to experience the fear - sounds very profound but I think it's from a Batman series .... true tho...

Cheers