Sometimes things just don't go to plan... and it can get a little testing. Here's how to get over the hump.
You know what it's like - you get your gear together, pack your R/C airplane in the car and trek to the field. It starts to rain - Perfect.
You get yourself together and wait for a better day. The perfect weather arrives: crisp, clear and windless. There isn't a cloud in sight. You charge your batteries, get everything together and, finally, you are ready for launch. Almost instantly, the plane tip stalls and rips out the motor, ESC, FPV gear, battery and totals the airframe. Reality hits like a poorly trimmed chuck glider.
The R/C hobby is a hobby of extremes. You can experience incredible highs with successful maidens but also pleanty of facepalm moments. This is always going to be the case with a hobby where things are likely go wrong. Of course, sometimes crashes are absolutely hilarious... but sometimes all you want to do is get a successful flight in!
"Aviation is the branch of engineering that is least forgiving of mistakes"
- Freeman Dyson
Take a Break
It may sound mad, but taking a few weeks off flying can actually be a great way of stopping any chance of frustrations occurring. Put away your transmitter and hang up your aircraft. After a while, you'll be itching to get back into the air and try again.
Start a New Project
Stop flying and instead begin a new big build or a project you've wanted to try for a long time. Get excited about the new challenge and take your mind off the string of crashes or other frustrations you've experienced recently. Work towards a goal and find fulfillment in the journey, not just the end result. Here's a great warbird project from one of our community members.
Try Something New
Another thing you could try is completely switching to a new style of R/C aviation that you haven't previously tried. If you're a performance EDF pilot, perhaps try building an FT Mini Scout and having a go at a completely new style of flying. This opportunity can open up avenues of flight you never realized might be enjoyable.
Keep a 'Simple' Plane in Your Hangar
Frustrations can occasionally stem from trying to run before you can walk. Sure, you may be perfectly capable of pulling off some great medium range FPV flights from time to time, but the complexity of these operations can invite the occasional thing to go wrong, be it a piece of hardware frying or you simply forgetting to turn your camera on.
Minimalize your gear and try and create the most straightforward experience you can. Our recommendation would be to get yourself something like an E-Flite UMX Timber (perhaps the best RTF RC bush plane out there right now) and fly it whenever you get a calm day. Power up your TX, slap in a battery and fly. Keep it simple, keep it fun.
Fly with Friends
You knew this was coming: flying with other people is, without a doubt, the best way to experience the R/C hobby. Friends can help you out when things go wrong. Equally, if you see a grounded flying buddy without an airworthy plane, you can always lend them one of yours. Here's a video of Josh Bixler and myself getting into all sorts of predicaments with a STRIX Nano Goblin.
Flying (no pun intended) can have its highs and lows, but let's keep trying to enjoy the peaks and minimize those times when everything goes south. Laugh, learn and have lots of fun.
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Article by James Whomsley
Editor of FliteTest.com
Contact: james@flitetest.com
YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/projectairaviation
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