confidence
Technology has made RC flying easier than ever before. However, just because a person can fly, it does not mean that they are flying correctly. This becomes evident when pilots regularly damage their planes, struggle with wind and inconsistent landings, etc.. Unless student and instructor follow a comprehensive training program, pilots resort to "reacting" to what the plane is doing and learning by trial-and-error. Reactive pilots wait to see deviations before it occurs to them that corrections are needed. Considering the compound effect that deviations have on everything that follows, reactive fliers typically make 3 to 4 times more control inputs than what the maneuvers require when flown optimally.
Pilots who are continually making inputs have little opportunity to be thinking about or receiving instruction on how to become a better flyer. Their skills tend to plateau at the point where reacting to deviations after the fact is already too late to perform any maneuver really well. If persistent, those who do get better at reacting require great amounts of time and expense to do so. However, their struggles tend to reappear when winds blow above 10 mph, or when new planes and maneuvers are introduced.
1st RC Flight School courses feature the techniques utilized by the elite 1% of pilots who precisely "control" what the plane does, aka, "the ones who make it look easy". 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 correction 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 Solo Courses offer pilots the opportunity to establish a solid foundation built on good habits, ensuring a more enjoyable and successful hobby, even in the wind.
solo course details
Courses run May through September. Each class runs 5 days, Monday through Friday. Class sizes are held to 3-4 people so each person receives plenty of hands on experience and personal attention. The best part of training with other similarly motivated pilots is the feedback and experience that you can use to further benefit your own practice. It also eliminates the "rookie" or subordinate feeling felt in a club of experienced flyers or when dependent upon recreational club instructors and their schedules.
Students train at the flight school's private flying site utilizing our One Week To Solo syllabus developed over decades of professional instruction. The planes and all equipment needed during the course are provided by 1st RC Flight School.
We utilize the "buddy" system: You control the airplane with a transmitter wirelessly connected to the instructor's transmitter. The instructor can instantly take back control (but only when absolutely necessary) so that you can focus on learning with less anxiety until your skills have increased. You'll also have much more time to think through and recover from your own mistakes, thus learn from them and build confidence in your control skills to return home with.
You will be flying larger trainer aircraft that make it easier to see how the airplane responds to correct and incorrect control inputs. Larger planes also tend to be more stable in windy conditions, making it possible to effectively train in the winds that ground most fliers, and thus build confidence to fly in wind when you get back home. FYI: The principle effect of wind is NOT that it causes a lot of deviations. Rather, it tends to exaggerate mistakes and weaknesses in peoples' flying that they can otherwise get away with in calmer conditions — further emphasizing the importance of proper training.
No trial-and-error here...
Training will begin Monday at 9:00 A.M. with Ground School located at the Shawano Municipal Airport conference room (map), where we will discuss:
1. Previous experience.2. Your goals in R/C.3. Uses of transmitter controls and effects.4. Overview of the 5-day sequence of instruction.5. The DAS System key elements to accelerated Solo.
After an approximate 2-hour Ground School we will relocate to our private flying site where we will spend the rest of the week flight training free of distractions.
Instruction will begin with Dave Scott demonstrating procedures designed to bypass common errors and enhance your practice effectiveness. (Consider that when a pilot applies his or her control inputs correctly to begin with, the need for additional corrections is less likely, leaving more time to focus on learning and thinking ahead to what you'll do next.)
That's what the DAS System is all about: Taking the techniques attributable to the best pilots who fly with the greatest ease—traditionally learned over long periods of time—and systematically applying them to the student pilot from day one.
1. Previous experience.2. Your goals in R/C.3. Uses of transmitter controls and effects.4. Overview of the 5-day sequence of instruction.5. The DAS System key elements to accelerated Solo.
After an approximate 2-hour Ground School we will relocate to our private flying site where we will spend the rest of the week flight training free of distractions.
Instruction will begin with Dave Scott demonstrating procedures designed to bypass common errors and enhance your practice effectiveness. (Consider that when a pilot applies his or her control inputs correctly to begin with, the need for additional corrections is less likely, leaving more time to focus on learning and thinking ahead to what you'll do next.)
That's what the DAS System is all about: Taking the techniques attributable to the best pilots who fly with the greatest ease—traditionally learned over long periods of time—and systematically applying them to the student pilot from day one.
Preparation...Professionalism...Proven Results
Confidence hinges on advancement, but you can't gauge success without first defining it. So each flight lesson is explained in terms of what we're going to do, how we're going to do it, why it is done this way, i.e., where it will fit in the scheme of your solo and better flying in the future.
The way the training is structured, achieving good landings and your first Solo won't seem like hurdles, but more the result of everything that you had been practicing leading up to them. Once Solo is achieved, we will then break down your flight in more detail in order to refine it.
With the experience of training thousands of pilots to draw from, Dave Scott will be able to quickly formulate strategies to overcome any trouble spots that you may experience along the way with minimal interruption in your overall progress and confidence. No other source can provide you this level of experience and personal attention.
Students say that one of the most important features of retaining the services of the flight school's professional flight instructor is the absence of feeling bothersome or imposing when asking questions. Not only will questions be encouraged, each answer will be supported with a reason WHY.
Of course one of the biggest advantages of our training course is the concentrated day-after-day practice. The combination of concentrated training, a proven system, personal attention, constructive exchanges between classmates, and reliable equipment all add up to your best opportunity to quickly start enjoying the endless rewards of RC flying!
The way the training is structured, achieving good landings and your first Solo won't seem like hurdles, but more the result of everything that you had been practicing leading up to them. Once Solo is achieved, we will then break down your flight in more detail in order to refine it.
With the experience of training thousands of pilots to draw from, Dave Scott will be able to quickly formulate strategies to overcome any trouble spots that you may experience along the way with minimal interruption in your overall progress and confidence. No other source can provide you this level of experience and personal attention.
Students say that one of the most important features of retaining the services of the flight school's professional flight instructor is the absence of feeling bothersome or imposing when asking questions. Not only will questions be encouraged, each answer will be supported with a reason WHY.
Of course one of the biggest advantages of our training course is the concentrated day-after-day practice. The combination of concentrated training, a proven system, personal attention, constructive exchanges between classmates, and reliable equipment all add up to your best opportunity to quickly start enjoying the endless rewards of RC flying!
Notes for Enrollees: We strongly suggest that you acquire the ONE WEEK TO SOLO manual prior to the course to familiarize yourself with the terms and techniques that will be used in your training.
If you have a laptop with RealFlight installed, we highly recommend that you bring it to practice on between sessions.
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!
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!
While the flight school's primary emphasis is on flight instruction, there are many opportunities to discuss RC equipment operations to ensure that you have the practical knowhow to go along with your new flying skills. You'll also be able to observe what brands of equipment hold up best under the constant use and abuse of daily training, and thus can be expected to provide outstanding performance and reliability for the individual flier.
To understand what the school's equipment is subjected to, here are a few 1st RC Flight School stats:
Number of pilots trained:......................Over 2200Number of flights:.......................................Over 42,000Actual flight time:.......................................Over 12,000 hrsNumber of landings:.................................Over 80,000Age range of students: from 7 to 87; average age: 55
To understand what the school's equipment is subjected to, here are a few 1st RC Flight School stats:
Number of pilots trained:......................Over 2200Number of flights:.......................................Over 42,000Actual flight time:.......................................Over 12,000 hrsNumber of landings:.................................Over 80,000Age range of students: from 7 to 87; average age: 55
- The course totally exceeded my expectations. I now have the confidence that I am totally in control of my plane. The DAS system just can't be that simple, and yet it is!!! Feel free to have anyone who wants confirmation of your courses worth to email me. I will tell them that it is the best $ I have ever spent in the hobby.Steve Storman. Harrington Park, NJI went flying today for the first time since taking your course. Despite 15 to 20 mph crosswinds, I wasn't near as nervous as I was before your course. I did 6 landings and took my plane home in good shape. It seems so easy when I fly like you taught me. I'm having a ball now.Gerald Jefferies. Robertsdale, ALDave Scott is a SUPERB teacher, with "nerves of steel" and a relaxed manner that leads to early confidence in flying. Prior to each flight Dave would explain exactly what we were going to accomplish and why. The student's only concern is to learn, and have fun while learning.Tony Fassi. Palm Beach, FL
- I've got 30 flights in since the course with no repairs. Money well spent! Flew one day in approx. 20 MPH crosswinds without any trouble. A scant breeze after the course. I will highly recommend your school to any student pilot.Kevin Klaus. Hardin, ILDave has almost unlimited patience. His manner and calm reactions to any flying situation is one of the keys to the success of the students. It was well worth the investment and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to learn to fly properly.Brad Moss. Cleveland, OHWhat a difference after attending your basic course; I’m now relaxed and having FUN. All the subsequent flights to date have been uneventful. The flying has been great and all of my landings have “floated” in, straight down the center of the runway! Some of the flights were even easy, it’s WONDERFUL.Mark Bennett. Indianapolis, IN
- Dave is quick to recognize the strengths and weaknesses of each individual and work with them to make them successful. I He has the patience of Job and the teaching wisdom of Solomon. I don’t believe there is another RC instructor that could even come close to his quality of instruction.Perry Tamarra. Snohomish, WAAfter flight school I went to the field and flew four solo flights. The club "die-hards" were still not convinced until later that day when I took off and landed with no difficulty in 20 mph winds. They were amazed as this would have been deemed a "no-trainer day". Your school is invaluable for people like me whose time is important.Tony Graham. Jasper, ALWhat a great week. I thought flying in 30 mph winds was the highlight, until Friday when we greased nearly every landing. I’ve begun teaching others your techniques and it has been a real joy to watch them go from crashing to nailing their landings. You are the master!Mike Rudney. Philadelphia, PA
- I flew all day Friday after the course and greased 9 out of 11 landings. Saturday I flew with an old friend who was amazed at my improvement and overall confidence. I showed him a few things that you taught me and his flying improved immediately.Jeff Wallach. Dallas, TXAfter the wonderful week at your school, I arrived at my field and the flags were almost horizontal. My takeoffs were perfect and my landings were something to behold. Thanks to your classes, I now have confidence in my flying ability, and in being able to fly in winds that make the field undesirable for others.Jim Kropelin. Lewiston, NYThe Monday after the class I was at my field making beautiful landings! Your calm demeanor and proven system, coupled with your dedication and personality made flying easy and fun! My skills have improved exponentially, thanks to you!!!Don Fletcher. Louisville, KY
- The Avistar seemed like a brand new plane after the course. I am no longer behind my plane and have a new found confidence flying it. When the winds pick up I'm the only guy at the field who flies with no incidents. I cannot express my sincere thanks enough for all that you have done for my flying.Eric Tadlock. Kingston, TNYour instructions, coaching, patience and willingness to modify the curriculum to fit my needs was an incredible experience for me. I was blown away at all we were able to accomplish in such a short amount of time. My coworkers are doomed to hear about this incredible experience for years to come.Tim Black. MITI just wanted to say thank you for your great instruction. I flew three solo flights one week after your school! I am so excited to finally have independence from the buddy box! Thanks to your instruction I am no longer afraid to fly!Dale Smith. Ann Arbor, MI