discover the excitement

Click here first if you are interested in attending an Aerobatics course, but did not learn to fly solo at 1st RC Flight School.
Unless student and instructor followed a comprehensive training program, most pilots simply "react" to what the plane is doing and learn by trial-and-error. Reactors typically wait to see a deviation before it occurs to them that a correction is (or was) needed. Considering the compound effect a deviation has on the rest of a maneuver, their skills tend to plateau at a point where reacting to deviations after the fact is already too late to perform any maneuver very well. If persistent, those who do get better at correcting deviations require great amounts of time and expense to do so. Reactors tend to make 3 to 4 times more control inputs than what the maneuvers require when flown optimally. The pilot who is continually making inputs has little opportunity to be thinking about or receiving instruction on how to become a better flyer. A high quantity of inputs also increases the likelihood of errors and inconsistent results. To make the most of every minute on the sticks, the pilot must learn to control the airplane. Controllers execute each maneuver using predictable commands with the airplane following along. When a deviation is encountered, they take that opportunity to determine why it occurred, and from that point forward they are able to anticipate the appropriate corrections to prevent that deviation from happening, before it happens. In other words, they are "ahead of the airplane". Controllers fly with less effort, make fewer mistakes, enjoy greater consistency, and thus present fewer instances for the wind to exploit mistakes. 1st RC Flight School Aerobatic courses provide pilots of all skill levels the opportunity to learn the techniques utilized by the elite 1% who precisely control the airplane, ensuring a more enjoyable and successful hobby, even in the wind.
aerobatic courses
Courses run May through September, with each class running Monday-through-Thursday. (Aerobatic courses are 4 days because aerobatics are more quickly learned than learning to fly solo.) Aerobatic classes begin Monday 9:00 AM at the flight school's training site. Map Class sizes are held to 2-3 people so each person receives plenty of hands on experience and personal attention. The planes and all equipment needed during the course are provided by 1st RC Flight School. Aerobatic lessons are taught using the same DAS System crawl-walk-run format used in the Solo Course to produce maximum results in the least amount of time: A. You will be systematically exposed to the techniques shared by the best aerobatic pilots—traditionally learned over long periods of time—from the start. B. Each maneuver will be broken down into sequential steps and first practiced in its rudimentary form to facilitate ease, consistency, and your ability to think ahead of the airplane. C. Once each maneuver has become routine, we will build in the natural progression of refinements and/or add new maneuvers. With the experience of training hundreds of aerobatic pilots to draw from, Dave Scott will be able to pinpoint the cause and advise the solution to overcome any trouble spot you may experience along the way, with minimal interruption in your overall progress and confidence. NOTICE: To progress and succeed in our Aerobatic programs, you need not have practiced extensively beyond Solo. You will find that doing the maneuvers is not hard when things are done in their proper sequence. It is perfecting them that takes practice along with an organized training approach and a foundation built on good habits.
Aerobatic Course Descriptions
Refresher/Phase I: Fundamentals will be reinforced, yet in the interest of maximizing total learning, we will practice as much of the Sport Aerobatics program as is practical in order to, among other things, make general flying, especially landings, seem easier and happening slower. Sample of Contents Phase I. Sport (Basic) Aerobatics: Basic looping and rolling maneuvers will be first practiced individually, and then assembled into a continuous aerobatic sequence of one maneuver after another. Progressive variations will be added to the maneuvers as we go. Sample of Contents Phase II. Precision (Intermediate) Aerobatics: Additional precision is applied to all Sport Aerobatic maneuvers. New maneuvers are added, with the emphasis throughout the week on anticipating the proper uses of Rudder to prevail over both wind and engine torque. The result is that pilots are able to maintain an uninterrupted sequence of maneuvers in any condition and enjoy the heightened satisfaction of a flight very well done. Sample of Contents
Phase III. Advanced Aerobatics: Inverted flight, knife-edge, slow rolls, and using rudder to put the finishing touches on all maneuvers. Snap rolls, spins, and vertical maneuvers with options on the up and downlines. 3D Lomcevak, rolling turns, and much much more. Sample of Contents
Note: While 4 example courses are listed here, all aerobatic courses are custom tailored to the skill level and goals of each pilot.
Typical 4-day schedule
Day 1. 9:00 A.M. Ground School start at the flying field. 4-day agenda discussions and setting preliminary goals. Flight evaluations: Reinforcing good fundamentals and correcting any bad-habits. Establishing a parallel foundation and positive control feel.Practice looping and rolling maneuvers, and multiple maneuver combinations. Session review and planning tomorrow's itinerary. Finish approx. 2:00-3:00
Day 2. 9:00 A.M. Ground School start at the flying field. Review of the previous day and current objectives. Assembling maneuvers into a continuous aerobatic sequence.Introducing new maneuvers. Routine practice to develop automatic inputs, timing, and confidence. Session review and planning tomorrow's itinerary. Finish approx. 2:00-3:00
Day 3. 9:00 A.M. Ground School start at the flying field.Review of the previous day and current objectives. Solo Aerobatics: Less walking you through, and more coaching personal key points. Focusing on areas needing extra work.Adding applicable refinements. Session review and planning tomorrow's itinerary. Finish approx. 2:00-3:00
Day 4. 9:00 A.M. Ground School start at the flying field. Review of the previous day and current objectives. More Aerobatics practice. Adding variations to certain maneuvers.Optional: Experience flying a more advanced model type. Session review and planning home flying objectives. Finish approx. 2:00
1st RC Flight School has numerous types of electric and gas aircraft to suit every skill level. You are welcome to bring your own airplane, but it is not crucial. Good aerobatic flying is achieved through good planning and an emphasis on controlling the plane instead of reacting to it. While one plane might require more or less elevator than another, the steps that make up the maneuver remain the same. Therefore, whether you fly our planes or your own, the instruction will be equally effective (assuming that when you return home, before anything else, you adjust the controls to match your skill/comfort level and the type of maneuvers you perform). If you bring your model and use a radio other than Spektrum, if possible, we ask that you bring a 2nd transmitter setup as a trainer box. This will enable us to train without reservation or fear of crashing until skills are learned. More importantly, it allows a seamless transfer of control back to the instructor for demonstration purposes.
The right training can make an incredible difference in your flying. You can be certain that after investing in a week of aerobatic training at 1st RC Flight School your confidence and skill will be elevated to a point that traditionally would have taken months or years (if ever) to acquire on your own!
Notes for Enrollees: We strongly suggest that you acquire the appropriate training manual(s) for your skill level prior to the course to familiarize yourself with the terms and techniques that will be used in your training. Manuals Page Weather: While no one can control the weather, efforts will be made to conduct double sessions to build up flying time if rain is forecasted, or to make up for rain delays. We do not take a lunch break. If you bring snacks, we recommend that you keep them light to avoid the fatigue that typically follows a normal size lunch. Cold drinks are a must in the summer time. The flight school does not provide a cooler at the field because students usually prefer to arrange their own coolers the night or morning before training. Bring enough clothing for a variety of weather. Average May temps: 50 degrees (morning) 65 degrees (afternoon), June: 50-75, July: 60-85, August: 60-80, September: 50-70. A hat is recommended as well as insect repellent. Sunscreen and sunglasses are necessities!
NOTICE to aerobatic students bringing their own planes
  • The school met or exceeded every expectation. I notice steady improvements each time I fly and this is something I just wasn't experiencing prior to your courses.
    Daniel Hammon. Bountiful, UT
    I want to thank you for a wonderful week of education and flying. I enjoyed your fresh style of instructing, with the basic building blocks to help us overcome the years of bad habits. I believe your program is a great value and very useful to anyone that really wants to quickly take their flying to the next level.
    John Moschini. Oakville, ONT
    Your building block teaching process and fundamentals first approach really helped me to learn quickly and see that I could become a good aerobatic pilot. This class has been a wonderful experience and your guidance has instilled a real sense of confidence that I would not have found trying to learn it at home.
    Darrell Decker. Harwinton, CT
  • I honestly didn’t know how you were going to exceed my expectations in the aerobatic class in comparison to the quantum leap in the basic class a year ago, but you did. Advertising Premier R/C Flight School doesn't begin to describe how great your instruction is.
    Jim Hahn. Bernumwood, WI
    The aerobatic school has been the best time investment I've made in years. I appreciate your professionalism and your ability to individually tailor the instruction to the student. You succeeded in establishing the foundation that every pilot needs to be successful.
    Mike Anthony. Naperville, IL
    I gained the knowledge to know how to correct errors, and also instilled "fun" back into the hobby. Your additional input on equipment, maintenance, etc. will be very helpful and cleared the air of a lot of misunderstood information. Your school has gotten me off the ground in the right way.
    Paul Moore. Plymouth, MN
  • I know the four days with you have replaced many years worth of frustrating trial and error learning. Most pilots think the next plane or radio will make them fly better, but I knew investing in training with you would pay for itself many times over.
    Glen Spaulding
    It was a wonderful week, filled with more accomplishment than I could have imagined. I now have enough to practice and master to keep my flying days full for many years.
    Doug Crowne. St. Agatha, ONT
    The basic aerobatic course served as a great foundation for the future. I now fly "with purpose" and not just to burn fuel. Because of your instruction and insight, my flying this season has improved by leaps and bounds. 
    Howard Kelley. Montgomery, MA
  • Thank you so much for a great week! The amount of learning each day went far beyond my expectations. I’ll never forget how quickly I went from making twenty or more corrections while trying to maintain a parallel line to only needing two or three. Boy does that ever make flying easier!
    Cal Wick. Monchanin, DE
    You will be pleased to know that back home I have put your manual and school knowledge to work. My rudder control is improving with every flight, and I'm staying ahead of the airplane. Thanks for all your help, and saving my reputation at the field.
    Tony Biach. Silver Cliff, WI
    The school was without doubt the finest training seminar or short course I've ever taken. Those 4 days rejuvenated my interest and desire to improve. You are an incredible teacher, who mixes the right amount of enthusiasm with an enormous knowledge of flight.
    Herb Carpenter. Plattsburgh, NY