On 2/17/2015 6:50 PM, Keyser Söze wrote:
On 2/17/15 5:22 PM, Mr. Luddite wrote:
On 2/17/2015 5:10 PM, Keyser Söze wrote:
On 2/17/15 4:37 PM, Mr. Luddite wrote:
On 2/17/2015 12:25 PM, Abit Loco wrote:
On Mon, 16 Feb 2015 20:18:55 -0500, "Mr. Luddite"
wrote:

On 2/16/2015 7:54 PM, Keyser Söze wrote:
On 2/16/15 7:08 PM, Mr. Luddite wrote:
On 2/16/2015 6:31 PM, wrote:
On Monday, February 16, 2015 at 12:25:26 PM UTC-5, John H. wrote:

The big difference between simulators/real airplanes and RC
airplanes
- in sims or
real planes, the nose of the plane is in front of you. With an RC
plane, at least
part of the time, the nose is pointed at you. That means the left
and
right controls
are reversed. This, I believe, is what causes the most
problems, at
least for me.

Another related difference is that pilots in a real plane has a
seat
of the pants, first person view. Not so with RC.

Something that helps newbies to RC is that when the airplane is
flying
towards you and the controls are reversed, your can turn your
body so
the transmitter is faced the same way as the plane, but look back
over
your shoulder at the plane. That way the stick moves to the
right,
the plane moves to the right. It's a crutch, but with some more
stick
time it'll come naturally.



I don't think there's much at all in common comparing RC flying and
flying a real airplane. Speed scale is totally different. Turns
and maneuvers are not anything close to being realistic to
flying an
airplane.

I see it as a fun hobby for many but to compare it to actually
flying
an airplane it isn't even close.



What happens when your toy plane crashes? It breaks.
What happens when a real airplane crashes? Death and destruction.





True.

I've seen some large RC planes that appear to be very realistic in
flight, maneuvers, take-offs and landings but the smaller ones I've
seen people flying are way out of scale to anything real. They can
do turns, climbs, etc. that would cause a human pilot to pass out
or worse.

The bigger ones fly slower, maneuver more slowly and look much more
realistic.

The smaller ones, depending on the configuration, can fly slower,
maneuver more
slowly and also look very realistic. My Apprentice, with its
tremendous wing area,
can stay aloft at little more than a walking speed.

Something like this, on the other hand, requires some speed just to
stay aloft.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?featur...&v=uN5BD4e55hE

I am not knocking those who enjoy the RC hobby thing. I just don't
think you can come close to comparing it to actual flying.



Why not? Granted, you're not in the airplane, but other than that
what's the big
difference?

Well, I've done both. Again I am not knocking your RC hobby but you
really cannot compare the two. Like I suggested in a different post,
go take an introductory flight lesson. Then you can compare for
yourself.





This is really funny stuff...thanks, Luddite. And remember, driving
that RC boat in a swimming pool is just like driving a real boat through
a ferocious inlet. I mean, what's the difference?



This is a common debate between RC pilots and those who hold a pilot's
license. Like I said before I don't knock those to enjoy the RC thing.
It's fun for many but it's a totally different experience.
Sure, there are similarities in the respect that both have wings
and go up in the air. But that's about it.

I did all of my flight instruction in a Cessna 152. After I soloed I
flew the 152 and a 150 quite a bit. I did the cross country phase and
final check flight for my ticket in a Cessna 172. All the Cessna's were
high winged aircraft.

After a while I wanted to try something different, so I arranged for a
checkout flight in a Piper Warrior which is more powerful and low
winged. Felt like I was flying a Boeing 747 by comparison.

That all said, I am glad I did it but I also realized I am not a
"natural" pilot who enjoys the stresses of flying. I like boating much
more.



When I worked for the teachers union, I got to fly around a bit in one
of its regional airplanes, a King Air. I remember once the pilot let me
sit in the second chair while he was landing at LaGuardia. If I had any
thought of taking flying lessons, that experience changed my mind. Too
much going on with the plane, the radio, other traffic, et cetera. I'm
sure flying a model plane is "just as difficult."




That's exactly why I lost interest in flying. I thought it was going to
be relaxing and fun but I found it could be stressful, especially on
weekends when all the student pilots were in the air. The little
airport I flew out of (Plymouth) is an uncontrolled airport, so watching
for and communicating with traffic was constant.

I still go down and fly two or three times a year. My medical expired
long ago, so I always go up with an instructor. I usually just fly the
pattern several times, practicing landings, then get bored and go home.

On Tue, 17 Feb 2015 20:20:59 -0500, "Mr. Luddite"
wrote:

I still go down and fly two or three times a year. My medical expired
long ago, so I always go up with an instructor. I usually just fly the
pattern several times, practicing landings, then get bored and go home.

===

To me the best part of flying in a small plane is sight seeing on a
nice day. You're close enough that you could fly out over the Cape
and on to Nantucket or the Vineyard. I used to have friends in
Stamford, CT who would sometimes fly out to Nantucket for Sunday
brunch on a nice winter day.