stages of learning

[ciurpita]

after reading and learning from the forum over the years, the same topics reappear as new people join the group. i was wonder what the typical stages of learning are.

it seems that you start out with questions about CG position and stability, then decalage or wing incidence, airfoil selection, wing planform, tail sizing, ... i'm guessing that the advanced are using drela's AVL stuff and other tools like xsflr for design. i'm sure this list is out of sequence, and is hardly complete.

[vintage1]

Actually most of us just learn enough to achieve what we want.

Like at the weekend I maidend a plane..it was patently nose heavy (*for a change) sdo I dragged out the formulae and the spreadsheet..and worked out it ought to be a fair bit back. Repositioned the pack, got it there, and yes, it flew about like what I expected. I don't actually care why it works. I just wanted to fly the damned thing.:D

[gouch]

Stage one: Learn that it costs a heap to get started with all the gear you need to fly

Stage two: Learn that they don't crash too well, back to stage one, then to stage 2, repeat three or more times, then go to stage 3

Stage three: Learn that you now find that you want to fly a different discipline of plane.......back to stage one, then move straight to stage 4

Stage four: Learn that you are hooked on ALL types of RC flight, so, you guessed it,......back to stage one!

Stage five: try and work out how you ended up with so much RC stuff cluttering the workshop, whilst never adding the total dollar value.

And during all of this, try and learn all the things you mentioned to a level that you are happy with :D

cheers
Paul

[ghoti]

Start Fly with cheapest airplane. That makes it highest wing loading. Crash a few times then upgrade to LiPO's and then to outrunners lightening the wing loading and making it flyable. We do it bass ackwards and many can't leap the hurdle. The unskilled are trying to fly the most unflyable planes.
Bill

[Tom Harper]

Fish,

It's all a matter of motivation.

The cost of crashing eventually motivates one to investigate the cause.

[JRuggiero]

...or to bail out of this hobby. Its requirements for success are very demanding. You either have the motivation to carry on, or think otherwise for the security of your wallet and piece of mind.

Jim R

[Russ[]]

I hope this hobby will help me get away from my other one. Moding my BMW, a 7500 dollar car with 10k of parts on it. This seems much cheaper and time consuming, now I can afford it, Last time I thought about R/C planes was in 5th grade, 8 years ago, now 500 dollars worth of flying gear to get started isn't as much as it was then.

[Ground Hugger]

I have a question guys where do I find the formulas for CG. I have searched everywhere can you help? :confused:

Thanks Ground Hugger

[vintage1]

I have a question guys where do I find the formulas for CG. I have searched everywhere can you help? :confused:

Thanks Ground Hugger

search the scale forum. Theres a thread on it somewhere. I got it off Gordon Whitehead in Flying Scale Models, and he got it from somewhere else..anyway I wrote a spreadsheet you enter stuff into, and someone did an even better online on in Javascript.

I've forgotten the formula, but who cares? Ive got a spreadsheet!

[ciurpita]

try about 5% mac forward of the neutral pt


http://ciurpita.tripod.com/rc/notes/neutralPt.html

[harveyweewax]

I have a question guys where do I find the formulas for CG. I have searched everywhere can you help? :confused:

Thanks Ground Hugger

try this:

http://adamone.rchomepage.com/cg_calc.htm

Regards,

sven