christchurch and district model flying club

Diary of a Flyer,

Episode 7: the First Lesson

The Story so far. B Leonard Wise has bought a second-hand Spitfire and after many trials and tribulations has got it to the flight line. Refusing any help he tries to take off but over-corrects and the plane flips over and crashes. He is then offered a training flight with the Club’s Trainer.

This is it then. I realise that I might have been a bit ambitious to start with the Spitfire and will probably need one or maybe two lessons on an easier plane before flying my repaired Spitfire. Walter and the Teenager were bending over a large high wing aeroplane and I walked over to them. Firstly Walter told me you need to join the Club so we are all covered by insurance. Insurance for what I replied, I am already insured, House insurance, Car Insurance Life Insurance. You are not catching me out like that. I noticed that Walter looked up at the sky then he asked me what do you think would have happened if you had got the Spitfire off the ground, it had gone out of control and crashed into the people on the flight line injuring and maybe killing someone. It could cost you hundreds of thousands of pounds and your normal insurances would not cover that would they?

I got his point, some more money needed. several hundred pounds I expect, I hope it is not as much as the Golf Club subscription. Well then I said how much will all this cost me. Walter said the Club Subscription and Insurance £31. How long for I ask a week, no he said for the year which ends in December. I filled in the form and paid up in cash. What a bargain I thought. How much are the lessons, expecting to be done for some more money. Oh, said Walter if you can persuade someone to teach you they are usually free. When you go Solo a bottle of wine would go down well.

I can see this Hobby is not as expensive as I thought. By the time I had paid up Walter and the teenager had got the engine started. Today we will just fly, next time we will have a session on engines he said. They handed me a Transmitter which was attached by a cord to one which Walter held. I have the Master transmitter said Walter and I can over rule you

rs.

Recognise this?  David Boddington fans will remember the Sky Rider trainer, which Leonard is learning to fly.- Ed

The teenager carried the plane out to the flight line, and put it down, Take off into the wind said Walter, off we go. The plane went slowly down the runway I pulled back the stick and up it rose, straight as an arrow. A bit of a left turn then a large circle to gain height, instructed Walter so I did that and round it went until it was up high and to my right. I was feeling particularly proud of myself to have done all that, and I told Walter so. You have not been flying it he said I have. But said I, Ihave been using the control sticks. I know said Walter but so have I. Now you canhave a go. Its all yours, try to keep it straight. I was a bit put out I must say but I thought I must humour him so keep it straight I will. Unfortunately it would not go straight. By the time I had got control it was turning towards me and the left wing just went down so I, being a quick thinker put the stick to the right only to see the plane start to go over on its back. Try again said Walter. And he put it back straight, just waggle the wings a little bit so you can get right and left of the plane not of yourself. Remember when it comes towards you they are reversed.

I did as he said but there was obviously something wrong with the plane because it kept going all over the place. However after many tries I managed to get to fly fairly straight some of the time. Then it started to go all over the sky again. You have had enough for your first flight, said Walter you are over correcting all the time now. Hand the transmitter to Mike, who was the Teenager. He is learning as well. Mike took it and the plane s suddenly started to fly straight and turn as requested. They then tried a landing, I was a bit put out because I was not permitted to do that but kept quiet and watched and listened. Walter kept saying keep the wings straight keep the wings straight.

I must say that it gave me a slight feeling of pleasure when he messed up the landing and Walter had to take over at the last moment and go round again. I would like to try a landing I said. Would you, said Walter as he took the plane up again, my mother used to say something about running before you can walk but you can have a go if you like.

I confidently took over the transmitter again. I will now show the teenager Mike and the others how I can land which is obviously easy. Just keep the wings straight and it lands itself.

This time I will show them.

To be continued...

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