The 3DRCForums -Discuss Anything Thread-

[dth7]

I really don't mean to sound arrogant. I sure am not any awesome pilot by any measure. I am however very confident in basic flying. I flew with some degree of fear of wind for years. If you wait for still days you will be doing a lot of waiting. I dont expect the 90 y/o with a 3 channel quaker to put it up in 20 mph wind. I have just always thought 10 mph or less is for everyone. Gusty winds suck are the worst. I smacked up landing gear blocks several times landing into the wind and it dropped to (what seems like) zero for a second! I think any 3d pilot should have a foamy to bust out and play in the wind! Just too much fun.

" I think any 3d pilot should have a foamy to bust out and play in the wind! Just too much fun"- EDIT- ANY pilot.
I too do not want to come across arrogant or cocky but the whole paranoia of wind is sililar to the prejudice of 3D. It's an unknown and our human nature makes "unknown" bad for some reason. I'm not a psychologist (maybe one could weigh in- they would have lots of business between fears and addictions here!). The EPP foamies put those fears and unknowns in your face with little risk so I promote them all the time to all people. Flying indoors is another good skill builder since walls REALLY create a flying box! I want everyone to get the most out of their hobby experience and it bums me out when you go to the field or an event and you see people being so timid when it comes to wind (light to moderate wind not crazy). I shouldn't push it too much because it does open up the skies for those who do fly in it.
We have a saying at work about real crappy weather (low ceilings and vis, high winds, etc) days on the weekends- "keeps the riffraff out of the skies". In my point here I'm trying to launch the riffraff! Fly when you want but don't spend a season waiting for a perfect day, they are few and far between. Another side note- I don't think anyone in this conversation is talking about "new" pilots. We're talking about the ones who come to the field every weekend for static displays- fly that bad boy, you're bumming it out just sitting there!

 

[dth7]

I heard a great (well not great but it crystallizes our "issues" with FOGs). An IMAC and 3D pilot was inquiring a new club that specifically prohibits any 3 D flying. During the conversation if IMAC and other flying the member reiterates "No 3D". A moment later leans in and says quietly "hey, what is 3 D anyway?"
EXACTLY! That which we know not we mock and prohibit. I say man up and learn something new and explore the unknown. You don't have to love it or even like it but don't limit someone else from enjoying it. "Nobody puts 3D in a corner" If Wilbur and Orville felt that way we'd be using RC bicycles.

 

[ghoffman]

This time of the year with mud wherever there is no snow on the ground, the Crack Pitts on 3S is about all I fly. The only limit is if the wind is faster than it is capable of flying. Last week, the wind was strong enough that I had to tack to get it back to me.

 

[dth7]

This time of the year with mud wherever there is no snow on the ground, the Crack Pitts on 3S is about all I fly. The only limit is if the wind is faster than it is capable of flying. Last week, the wind was strong enough that I had to tack to get it back to me.

!

 

[alawson999]

My personal favorite wind day optical illusion is a Knife Edge Hover

If it is zero groundspeed, to the unenlightened, it is a "hover", right?

I used to do some RC slope soaring in the Texas Panhandle in my younger days - as the winds come up, those old skills and reflexes come to the surface. Power slope soaring without the slope! (and with much more agile airframes now days)

 

[alawson999]

I kinda wish I could change my forum user name to 3DFOG - just to make the point.

Old guys are NOT a lost cause - most just need a little encouragement

When they say quitely "hey, what is 3D anyway?" try this;

"PULL" dont "PUSH"

"Best way to explain it is to show you. let's talk while I burn thru a battery or two"
"Here is what you know and recognize -Here is how that translates into XA - OK, now let's slow it down, balance gravity with thrust and this is how it becomes 3D"

If you convert a couple of them, they will take the venom out the the "3D luddites"

Never forget that we all will be FOGs to someone, someday

PULL don't PUSH (back)

;-)

 

[3dNater]

Nice tip. Im pretty lucky here. Plenty of old guys but most of them are fine e with 3d flying. Maybe it is just that there aren't a lot of us that do it and the ones that do are respectful of the other pilots.

 

[alawson999]

Perfect!

One of my clubs is dominated by retired guys - all very friendly to pilots for obey the rules ( county park, so the rules are strictly AMA parkflyer rules)

I am pretty lucky as well, as I am the #2 skilled 3D pilot - the #1 guy is a freshman in college - we have the age range bracketed, but the fascination with XA/3D is clearly the same.

Other than occasionally being asked if I "Glued the Rudder on upside down" when I spend too much time inverted - to which I reply "It is a special order kit"...

I do get a little hostility in other venues, but I have chosen to look at these as a "recruitment opportunity" rather than a personal attack.

 

[amstd7]

Enough said- "The wind is your Friend"

 

[ryan_m]

Our club is funny... back around 2006 when I started into 3d our club was dominated by older guys. Many flew somewhat aerobatically and did more than just fly circles, but nothing close to 3d. I was not well received at first when flying 3d. But I already had a decent relationship with many of them as I had been a club member for 2 years and was just starting into 3d. By using those relationships and being respectful of others I got the club to tolerate the 3d just fine.
Then a few years back as the "Leadfeather Yak" epp planes were exploding in popularity we had a few older guys see us flying those at the indoor events. And so some got scratch built and flown outdoors. And one of the older guys got one and loved it. So he scratch built a number of them for the other guys, but in modified designs. A bunch of P-51's and such were born as homebrew EPP designs. Flew well. And it got the older guys trying to hover them! They had a ball with them since they could crash and keep on flying. So now we have a bunch of older club guys who actually dabble at 3d a bit and don't mind it at all.
Foamies are a great way to get the interest up in 3d flying!