Fixed Wing

[3DJIM]

The Bmfa diagram clearly shows you the direction to fly the '8'
From left or right the crossover is always away from you.

Jim.

[MartinM]

Thanks all that have chipped in !!! I will have another go with auto zoom off, no scroll wheel on my mouse so what keys do the same ? Ctrl arrows makes it point up and down to the grass I think !! I know when taking off it flew past the screen as you lost sight of it for a while !

Dead stick landing have some of the same problem, once high your not sure where the grass strip is !

Who can film their fig of 8's for me and send me the file ?

I fly a Boomerang trainer and a Western Cougar.
Thanks

Martin

[kevinh]

sorry i was getting confused when saying going away from you i thought straight in front of you figure of eight.

[Biggles]

Sorry, but that's taking "safety" to an unnecessary extreme

no maneuvre should be exited with the model pointing at you or the crowd due to what could happen with model or radio failure......the plank figure of eight is flown tail flying away from you not nose towards you. Remember the A is only to show basic level of control.....we have 2 examiners at my local field and I have seen this test done many times even though I have no interest in fixed wing I kinda paid attention.

Height wise must be a safe height but not so you cant see it so 75-100 ft is reasonable.

remember this is BMFA guidlines and 3d is not something that the bmfa really get invovled in thus you can scratch the flying towards yourself at the masters...this rule seems not to apply to 3ders....LOL

Going back to the plank 8 this is how it seems to go.........take off (obviously), as you approach from left (or right) make the turn going up the transmitter aerial, fly straight, then right back up the aerial, turn left and back around . Jobs a gud n!!!!! think that makes sense.

[Disc]

Thanks all that have chipped in !!! I will have another go with auto zoom off, no scroll wheel on my mouse so what keys do the same ? Ctrl arrows makes it point up and down to the grass I think !! I know when taking off it flew past the screen as you lost sight of it for a while !

Dead stick landing have some of the same problem, once high your not sure where the grass strip is !

Who can film their fig of 8's for me and send me the file ?

I fly a Boomerang trainer and a Western Cougar.
Thanks

Martin

My advice is go practice at the site...

The simulated dead stick is basic and if you have to you can use power if you must...

Basically you do an approach on tick over and at about 6ft over the strip you power out and go to the next manouver.

[MartinM]

Ok. I was told you are told to cut power up wind and circuit back to land, but I take it he knows your Ok to get back Ok. I do find the real thing glides longer than the sim but that could be me ! I will print off the A test notes from the BMFA.

Martin

[Disc]

Ok. I was told you are told to cut power up wind and circuit back to land, but I take it he knows your Ok to get back Ok. I do find the real thing glides longer than the sim but that could be me ! I will print off the A test notes from the BMFA.

Martin

you'd think they would know you can get back but your to leave the engine on tick over and you are allowed to use power to SAVE the model or get it back to the strip if required.

It is not a true dead stick landing.

It can be hard to tell if a model will get back, I've put one in the pilots box before now, It ran on the ground infront of us and just stoped in the Box with the guy I was teaching. I've even had to send them out from the landing area then back in to get it to land on the strip and not over shoot it.

But yea you have to be highish when you do this, and to be honest its not hard.

Practice a bit at the Site the Sim will not not feel right. Plus the wind will make a big diffrence and at a site depends which way you have to land as well.

[Janek]

I detect the scent of stale urine

[Thomas]

I detect the scent of stale urine

LOL, has been for a while


Every plank landing I do is dead stick, thinking about it every take off is too

[MartinM]

IF the weather picks up both fig of 8's and dead sticks will be on for the weekend but you have to line up with your buddy lead and catch someone to take you up that's why I am getting as much stick time in on the sim !

Martin

[Disc]

IF the weather picks up both fig of 8's and dead sticks will be on for the weekend but you have to line up with your buddy lead and catch someone to take you up that's why I am getting as much stick time in on the sim !

Martin

Personelly doing the 'A' on a buddy lead means nothing.

You need to get some flights solo before the 'A'

If you can take off fly around and land ask if you can not be on the buddy lead ask if the instructor can stand say 12ft behind you and ready to come to your aid if required.

I do this with all my stundents flying fixed wing when there ready to solo I am always stood a bit back ready to help if required.

If you engine ever cuts remeber to keep the model moving do not let it slow down to much or they just stop and drop. Always land into wind if you can turn the model to do so.

Take off engine cuts just let the plane go straight unless theres a danger to people and float it in.

[MartinM]

Thanks, I have had about 9 flights now and I am taking off and landing. After the freedom of flying the helis it's like going back to school till I get the A FWing.

Yes I will be asking when I can go solo but it is early days as some have been learning for ages and still not taken a test !

Heli flying first must be a good help / stepping stone !!

Martin

[warboysastro]

Good luck with that. I've been flying fixed wing for donkeys years, but never bothered with certificates.

They have a 'wings' scheme instead in Australia. Might look into that.

Cheers - Rob

[MartinM]

We can fly a heli solo if your just doing your work for taking your A test (no up high or 3D) but fixed wing we have to be on buddy first then solo providing you have an A fixed wing tested person standing with you. My A heli don't count !! cry cry