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Introduction
Recently I saw this manual listed in the Worth a Closer Look section of Model Aviation's January 2008 issue and thought it would be a great review subject. We all want to fly better and learn a few tricks, and with SEFF right around the corner, what better time to add a few new maneuvers to impress my flying buddies?
From the back cover
Featuring the flight training techniques developed during the instruction of over 1200 students at 1st U.S. RC Flight School, Park Flying 1-2-3D guides flyers step by step through each phase of becoming a better pilot with unparalleled efficiency. Concise lessons and hundreds of illustrations with matching control stick diagrams make learning easy and fun, while special features help pilots bypass common mistakes by focusing the pilot’s attention on controlling what the airplane does instead of reacting to it. “Section 1: Learning to Fly” covers the essential planning and control techniques required to take off, trim, turn and maneuver (with and without ailerons), and land. “Section 2: Basic Aerobatics” guides flyers through the 10 aerobatic maneuvers that instill the skills needed to get more fun and excitement out of your RC flying. “3D Stunt Flying” details the specialized airplane and control setups necessary to fly 3D, together with the flying techniques required to perform more than a dozen thrilling 3D stunts. Whether you are looking to quickly learn to fly your parkflyer with control and confidence, aspire to fly better aerobatics, seek the intense thrills of 3D flying, or all of the above, Park Flying 1-2-3D has you covered every step of the way.
About the Author
Dave Scott grew up in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, home of the Experiemental Aircraft Association and the world's largest sport aviation convention and airshow. He began flying RC at the age of 9 and has accumulated over 10,000 hours of flying experience. He has worked in the development of several full-scale aircraft and has designed nearly 50 radio control planes. He is a licensed pilot and active full-scale aerobatic competitor. In fact, he won the first full-scale aerobatic contest he entered with the highest percentage of points at the contest. Dave founded 1st U.S. RC Flight School and has professionally trained more than 1200 pilots in over 12,000 hours of instruction. His accelerated RC flight training programs have resulted in 98% of his Primary students achieving Solo in less than a week, and 100% of his Aerobatic students achieving in only days what traditionally takes years. Dave is deeply influenced by his experiences with full-scale and believes that model airplanes should be flown and instructed with the same professionalism and realism. He continues to formally instruct 60 people each summer and develop training materials for all levels of flying. When he isn't competing, writing his latest book, or instructing, Dave thrills crowds with exciting RC aerobatic demonstrations at full-scale airshows and large RC events.
Teaching us how from start to finish
Park Flying 1-2-3D is a "how to" manual on the essentials of flying, and that is the sole focus. The manual does not cover motors, batteries, radios, etc. The actual flying techniques are where I wanted to spend my time, and besides, you can get tons of information on motors and such right here on RCGroups! The manual is laid out into three sections, and even if you are comfortable with the basics of flight it is recommended that you read all sections.
Here is a detailed breakdown of what is covered in each section: Section 1 (Ground School and Learning to Fly) Covers terminology and describes the flying techniques required to perform the three major phases of solo flight: Takeoff, turning and maneuvering and landing-concluding with a few mild aerobatic maneuvers suitable for simple electric airplanes. Section 2 (Basic Aerobatics) Describes the essential control techniques required to perform various loops and rolls. Refinements are added, and then components of the loop and roll are assembled and rearranged to accomplish several exciting new aerobatic maneuvers. Section 3D Details the control setup methodology required for 3D "stunt" flying, along with the intricate flying techniques required to perform a variety of 3D maneuvers, while bringing to the forefront the critical solutions to overcome the trickiest aspects of 3D flying in half the time.
First Impressions
I liked the fact it was spiral bound, allowing me to flip it over as I studied a maneuver and making it easy if you have a flight sim to lay out the book in front of you to practice a maneuver you just learned. Another thing that stood out to me was the fact that Mr. Scott includes a view of the sticks on the transmitter and how to manipulate them to complete the maneuver that is being instructed.It is a huge benefit to see this as part of the instruction. The manual does a good job in providing a graphical representation of the maneuver. Mr. Scott also does a nice job of teaching a maneuver and then building on that maneuver as you progress through the manual. An example of this is the roll. We begin by learning the basic aileron roll, then to the refined horizontal roll, consecutive roll, basic 4-point hesitation roll and finally the refined horizontal 4-point roll . I found that just because you know how to do a certain maneuver doesn't mean the manual cannot help you do it better. One example of this for me was with the horizontal roll when you add down elevator to keep the plane level. I found that I was not consistent, and sometimes I would have a nice roll, while others turned into more of a barrel roll. I was able to remedy this by using the following technique from the manual: "A good bump of down will produce a level roll without the bump being obvious. If the bump forces the plane off heading, it was either too large, or more likely, held in too long. Note: Flyers who attempt to base their down elevator input on watching the plane will end up holding the elevator in too long and effecting a barrel roll with a loss of heading and altitude." The 3D section of the manual has some good information on 3D airplane features and control setup. Being a sport/pattern flyer mainly, I have just recently started to use expo and some programmable mixing and Mr. Scott touches on these topics as well as setup tips for 3D flying foamies. I have been practicing some of the 3D maneuvers in the book on the sim and am looking forward to transferring them into my "bag of tricks" out at the flying field.
Conclusion
This manual does a good job delivering on its objective, that being a "how to" manual on the essentials of flying. A beginner will find this manual helpful as they continue to build on their flying skills and can grow with the book and a more experienced pilot can use it to learn some more difficult maneuvers as well as further refine the maneuvers you already know, as I did. The illustrations of the transmitter sticks are a great help in understanding what inputs must be given to complete the maneuver. I would not hesitate to recommend Park Flying 1-2-3D to anyone who would like to become a better R/C pilot. Last edited by Angela H; Mar 02, 2008 at 07:57 PM.. |
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Mar 04, 2008, 07:56 PM
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#2 |
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Worthless Nut
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Honor MI
Posts: 2,196
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I just wondered if you thought the price of the book and the info it contains is worth it?
I hope so since after reading your review, I choose to order it and see if it will improve my flying and teach me how to do some basic aerobatics. My club calls what I do, or attempt "Orrinabatics" since they are so crazy they used my name for them rather than some other words which probably not be used in any forum. Conehead Orrin Eldred Honor, MI |
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Mar 04, 2008, 09:12 PM
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#3 | |
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Freedom isn't Free,Thank a Vet
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,238
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Conehead,
I found the book to be helpful to my flying and I think the review with the excerpts from the book give you a good idea what to expect. I think it was worth it and would like to know your thoughts when you get it. Quote:
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Mar 04, 2008, 10:05 PM
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#4 |
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Worthless Nut
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Honor MI
Posts: 2,196
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Doctor Who,
thanks so much for your reply. I have been flying my old G-2 for years, I lost a year because the dang computer it was loaded on, couldn't find it, then I found the first disk, reinstalled it and low and behold I can now fly. So I hope with this book, I can learn to fly on the sim and not lose as many planes as I have in the past. The best part about being on RC Groups is that you can ask questions, no matter how off the wall or out of the box as I have been known to do, someone takes you under their wing and helps you out. That is what makes this sport/ hobby so great. Experience doesn't matter, someone will answer your question, give you an honest opinion and then you have to make up your mind. Decisions, decisions, always decisions. Thanks so much, I will let you know. Conehead Orrin Eldred Honor, MI. |
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Mar 17, 2008, 05:20 PM
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#5 |
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Worthless Nut
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Honor MI
Posts: 2,196
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Dr. Who,
Well my book came and I sat down to read it. I checked it out, then got the sim working. I have been trying to learn to hover and with little success. I then used the sticks they way this book recommends. I still don't understand the push pull, but I will get there. I can't hover yet, but I did find that I was flying a lot smoother, I didn't seem to over correct much as I used to and yes I still put it in the ground, but so far I think my confidence in the way I handle the sticks is much improved. I guess I was not taught to handle the sticks the way this book tells you to do it. I have tried to remember some of the people I have watched flying and if I am correct in my memory, many of them fly with their fingers and thumbs on the sticks. I have been flying an Edge 540 in G-2 on high rates. So in past I was all over the sky, now it seems like I am not all over like in the past. So I guess this book has helped improve my flying skills. I have noticed my loops to be better, I have gotten a couple of good tail slides in, not many, but a couple, in the past it was 0. Rolls seem to be more positive and so that is a big plus. So as soon as I get to the later pages, I hope to see more improvement. Conehead Orrin Eldred Honor, MI. |
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Mar 18, 2008, 10:30 AM
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#6 |
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Freedom isn't Free,Thank a Vet
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,238
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Conehead
Thanks for the reply. Glad to hear you are benefiting from the manual. |
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Mar 18, 2008, 11:58 AM
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#7 |
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Worthless Nut
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Honor MI
Posts: 2,196
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Now if I can only figure out what KPTR means I will be all set.
Conehead Orrin Eldred Honor, MI. |
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Mar 23, 2008, 05:35 PM
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#8 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Goldendale, WA
Posts: 28
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Kptr
Quote:
(baffled me for a while also) |
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Mar 23, 2008, 10:47 PM
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#9 |
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Worthless Nut
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Honor MI
Posts: 2,196
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Thanks,
I will write it down in the book. Did I miss it in reading or is that one of those alphabet soup things that "everyone" knows.!! Conehead Orrin Eldred Honor, MI. |
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Mar 31, 2009, 06:55 PM
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#10 |
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Fly long and land softly
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Madison, Alabama USA
Posts: 3,941
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Old thread, I know.
I just today bought this book at my LHS, and I intend to read and to use it page by page, whatever works, to improve my flying. Under normal circumstances, I tend to fly one or two of several different planes on a given day depending on the current weather and of course, which planes are flyable! For this learning experience, I'm thinking that I probably need to pick one plane, perhaps my Multiplex Acromaster, and use it religiously. I'd appreciate hearing what approach people succeeded with this book using - what worked for you! The first major "thing" I see in it is the suggestion to use two fingers vs just the thumbs on the transmitter sticks. That in and of itself will be a big change for me. Jim |
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Apr 01, 2009, 05:16 PM
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#11 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 16
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Last edited by Murray_CYHZ; Apr 01, 2009 at 05:22 PM. Reason: Double Post |
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Apr 01, 2009, 05:20 PM
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#12 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 16
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I just received mine today! I too would like some more input from others who have read/used it. It seems to be written in a very straight forward and easy to understand way.
Since I have "very little" prior RC plane experience, I thought it would help me (before I pickup any bad habits). I purchased G4.5 a couple of weeks ago, and I "think" this book and the sim work well together as a training aid. As far as the finger/thumb control question goes; I find that it is natural for me to use just my thumbs, but I followed the advice of the author and use both. It is a little awkward at first, but now that I am used to it, it make perfect sense when following the method of control presented in the book... bank, neutral, elevator, for instance. I feel MUCH more in control of the sim after following the method of flying presented in this book. I hope that feeling transfers to actual flight as well! I have purchased several planes (E-flite Apprentice, E-flite T-34 Mentor, HobbyZone Super Cub, 3 x FlightZone SkyFly 2(s) and support gear. So, for a "newbie", I have a bit of an investment to protect!  BTW, how about a review of One Week to Solo by the same author? Murray Last edited by Murray_CYHZ; Apr 01, 2009 at 05:25 PM. |
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Dec 01, 2009, 08:03 AM
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#13 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 5
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One Week To Solo Manual
One Week To Solo manual
By David Scott Accelerated Primary Flight Training The central Solo techniques that all good flyers use are brought to the forefront and systematically assembled to enable beginning R/C pilots to achieve Solo in the shortest amount of time. Learn more.... $24.95 Add to Cart Does anyone know where to buy this book online and download the book online? Thanks DP |
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