I Just Got My Membership With A Flying Club

[Derek]

Thanks Tony! I hope so, too! I'm a bit afraid though. I've heard some "horror stories" from other people that have joined flying clubs with a bunch of older members. Don't get me wrong...I've got nothing against flying with older guys. Many of them will probably have much more flying experience than me and I'm sure that I can learn from them. The part that bothers me is the possibility that some of them (or many of them) are just stuck in their ways and they'll try to "come down on me" for being more aggressive or more aerobatic...or perhaps the big one that I'm afraid of is that they'll come down on me for buying my beloved "Chinese crap", lol.

I just hope it doesn't come to that and I hope they give me a fair chance. I'm a safe flyer. I don't care if it's my little $50 delta wing or if it's my Trex 600 Pro DFC....I'll plow my model into the ground before I let it damage property or injure another person. I'm just looking for a safe, and fun, place to fly and I really like the long paved runway that the club offers.

Hopefully I can get passed this hurdle and then I'll share some video of the flying club.

[pvolcko]

I should be clear, my closing comment about retired guys and odd schedules and stuff was mostly tongue in cheek. My club is operated by a good group of people, many of whom are retired and fairly spry. But there are stories about clubs out there (usually small, low membership ones) that are very difficult to get help and cooperation from.

It sounds like you're getting some attention and should be cleared for solo use of the facility soon, Derek.

[Derek]

Im suppose to meet up with an instructor next week. A quick range check and preflight check and then I should be good to go. I have confidence in my flying. I have confidence in my models.

[Vipertech13]

I would give them one more try and after that money back or if it was me and I showed up and nobody there, put her in the air! You paid for it!

[pvolcko]

Yeah, if there's no one there, just go for it. If they complain, then someone was there and they could have signed you off.

[ken jackson]

Once I pay money I'm flying. My new club is smaller and not a lot of people even on weekends. They like it pretty calm before a lot of guys come out to fly. I've only joined two clubs in my 4 years and I certainly have to say I've never had a negative comment. Some of the old guys probably think I'm a little crazy with the aerobatics but this is my hobby and I'll do it my way. Don't let anyone alter how you fly because in most cases the guys complaining have lost their confidence and are just jealous. Some just won't risk breaking their stuff but it's all about the guy who has his bird in the air. Not the spectators.

Ken

[Derek]

Once I pay money I'm flying. My new club is smaller and not a lot of people even on weekends. They like it pretty calm before a lot of guys come out to fly. I've only joined two clubs in my 4 years and I certainly have to say I've never had a negative comment. Some of the old guys probably think I'm a little crazy with the aerobatics but this is my hobby and I'll do it my way. Don't let anyone alter how you fly because in most cases the guys complaining have lost their confidence and are just jealous. Some just won't risk breaking their stuff but it's all about the guy who has his bird in the air. Not the spectators.

Ken

OOOOOOOOOO, I like that! Well said, Ken!

[Stambo]

I hope you get it sorted Derek, looks like a great place to fly.

When I first started flying multirotors and FPV, I knew very little so I decided to check out the local flying club.
I checked their web site for a flying day, picked a nice day with lots of sun and very little wind and me and one of my current flying buddies headed out there. There were 4 older guys there with 72mhz radios and scratch built, fuel powered balsa models.
They talked to us a bit but as soon as we mentioned multirotors on 2.4 and FPV they pretty much lost interest.
So did we and we have not been back since.
With multirotors, helicopters and light weight foamies becoming so much more popular, the need for sealed runways or immaculately mowed and prepared grass has diminished greatly.
With all the RTF multirotors and foam planes on the market and dwindling member numbers these clubs should be encouraging any and all flyers to a safe environment where they can be taught the rules and safe flying practices.
Unfortunately that is not the case, as Paul said, some of the older members are a bit set in their ways.
They may look on the newer technologies as a threat when we could learn so much from them.

[Derek]

In my mind...flying rc's is flying rc's. One style is no better than another. Some are more "awesome" than others. Some are more costly than others...but flying is flying. I just hope that the guys will accept my quad stuff, my helicopters blade farts, and my Chinese powered scratch builds.

[DOG]

As long as they don't have their own little click you should be fine. Just tell them "It's a bird". Should be allow to fly anywhere.

[pvolcko]

The foamies benefit more from the well kept grass and paved runways I think. Much more susceptible to tip overs and wheels catching in tall grass.

Helis and quads not so much important where landing or taking off, but having big, open, insured area to fly is a great benefit, to say nothing of having people to help teach and learn with.

If your club options don't have people using the latest stuff, I can understand begging off. But consider that you might be able to teach them something too. And their being cold to the new fangled gadgets may simply be a lack of exposure or not understanding what is interesting about it. If you have a buddy to fly with, maybe join up for a year anyway and see what happens. If they're still disinterested or hostile at renewal, skip out. Worst case you get to explore a new field for a while fpv.

[Derek]

The foamies benefit more from the well kept grass and paved runways I think. Much more susceptible to tip overs and wheels catching in tall grass.

Helis and quads not so much important where landing or taking off, but having big, open, insured area to fly is a great benefit, to say nothing of having people to help teach and learn with.

If your club options don't have people using the latest stuff, I can understand begging off. But consider that you might be able to teach them something too. And their being cold to the new fangled gadgets may simply be a lack of exposure or not understanding what is interesting about it. If you have a buddy to fly with, maybe join up for a year anyway and see what happens. If they're still disinterested or hostile at renewal, skip out. Worst case you get to explore a new field for a while fpv.

Very true, Paul! Sounds good to me. Im suppose to meet with the instructor this week. After that, I can come and go as I please.

[pvolcko]

Sorry I was replying to Stambo's post. Thread jack!

[Derek]

So, today is the day. As long as the weather cooperates, ill be meeting the instructor at the flying field this evening. I will be taking my reliable Blue Cub STOL, Tree 600 Pro DFC, and my ECHO 290 quad. I will see if my Dad will go with me and run the video camera for me.

[pvolcko]

Ask if the club has a photography/video policy. Some do. The policies are usually more about preventing non-members from recording without permission, but would be good to ask just to be sure.

[Derek]

I can't imagine that there is a photo/video policy because I've seen pictures of their fun fly events, taken by current members...but I will ask.

[Derek]

Nothing but good news to report!

I picked up my Dad, on the way to the flying field. I asked Dad to bring his still pic camera instead of the video camera because the wind was blowing strongly and I was just afraid that the wind would drown out any sounds in the video. The instructor that agreed to meet me at the flying field was actually the semi pro, Shane, from my LHS. I'm glad it was him because I know him pretty well.

The wind was whipping around near 20mph. I've never flown in this kind of wind. I was happy to see that Shane had brought two of his helicopters to fly, as well (Trex 700 Pro DFC and Goblin 380). I had taken my Trex 600 Pro DFC, my ECHO 290 FPV quad, and my Blue Cub STOL. The wind was far too much for my Cub, Shane agreed, so I never pulled it from the truck. I set up my FPV tripod and quad. Shane explained to me "where I can fly" and "where NOT to fly". He explained to me the barriers by the runway. Besides that, he told me to have fun. Shane really likes my quad and the fact that I scratch built it. Time to fly! Despite the near "constant" 20mph winds, I get the quad off the grass and I'm having a good time. I noticed, immediately, that I needed to tilt the quad forward more in order to gain any distance while going into the wind and then I turn the quad around and it screams down field with the wind. What a wild ride! It was fun! A few passes around the airfield and I bring it down to land. I did have my Mobius recording, so I will get that video posted as soon as I can.

Shane flies his Trex 700 and puts on a great little show including an autorotation from probably 100 feet up. It was great!!! I fly my 600 next. I wasn't real comfortable with the high cross winds. Normally, I like the wind to my back. Unfortunately I cannot control the wind direction, I lift off. Several passes left and right, several forward and backward flips, some nose in hover, and a few big loops. After one of the loops, I hear Shane say, "Nice!" I take that pretty highly, coming from him. I come in to land with an autorotation, of my own, from about 3 feet, lol.

Shane flies his Goblin 380 and puts on a great show. Screaming headspeed and super sonic downwind passes, lol. What a great helicopter!

I ask Shane a few more questions about "this" and "that". We go over the Pilot's Checklist, provided by the club, and Shane gives me 100% approval. No, he did not see me fly my plane today but he said that he has seen me fly planes before and since I just proved that I can fly heli's and quad's....planes are the easier side of it.

So...I am officially a club member of the Fort Wayne Flying Circuits flying club. It's located about twice as far as my usual flying spot but the club field is a "club field" with a paved runway, short grass runway, benches, access to electricity, bathrooms, etc. The only video that I have from today will be the flight video from my ECHO 290 but you should be able to see a lot of the club site. Dad said that he took over 400 still pictures (and I believe it, lol). He sent the pics to my email. I'll sort through them and I'll post some of the pics that will include my quad, my heli, Shane's heli's, and some of the club grounds.

To end the story....I'm a happy dude!!!

Also, Shane says that there should be no troubles at all with someone taking pictures and video while at the club field. Shane also gave me the approval for night flying. I want to do that so bad, lol.

[Vipertech13]

Well there you go! Congrats bro. I had no doubt about your skills! Night flight is awesome! I have been doing some with a simple build called the cheap-n-easy it is a blast!

[Derek]

Well there you go! Congrats bro. I had no doubt about your skills! Night flight is awesome! I have been doing some with a simple build called the cheap-n-easy it is a blast!

Yeah, I was probably just "making a mountain out of a mole hill". I don't know how soon I'll get to it, but I'd like to make a midwing plane that is loaded with LED's. That would make for some fun LOS night flying.

So...yes, I will probably still fly at my usual spot but you will also see me flying at the rc club field, too. How cool is that!!! There is a fun fly event, coming soon, called "Monster Mash". Lots of large rc planes. I missed it last year but I think I can go this year.

[Derek]

Here are some pics from yesterday at the club field during my testing.

The Club Sign

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Instructor Shane and I looking over the test paper

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Setting up my ECHO 290 quad

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...some goofy looking dude with goggles on

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ECHO 290 quad going into the wind...17mph+

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Shane's inverted Trex 700 Pro DFC

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Setting up my Trex 600 Pro DFC

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My Trex 600 coming out of an impressive large loop

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Nose in back flip

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Landing...what a gorgeous machine!!!

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