Crash, bang wallop and crappy pictures.

This post is about my experiences getting back into control line (albeit from the Dark Side!)  and the trials and tribulations ensuing.

This is not intended to be a negative post, as this morning, I flew six sorties with the ACE+ and four with the Wizard. This is a tale about my learning experience and so, although some may see my efforts today as a disaster, I enjoyed it and I think anyone seeing a 61+ old bloke dining an impression of slipping on a banana and banging the back of his head on the ground would have too!

It is a little difficult flying solo with no observers and so to some extent I am finding it difficult to assess what I am doing wrong. The Ace+ is easy to fly level but a little fast and I have not yet managed a wing over. The first four flights today were to try and get me over the dizziness.  I found that keeping the plane in the tree line stopped that but one I was into the sky - if I didn't concentrate on the plane - I could feel the dizziness starting.

Anyway, on the fifth flight I got more aggressive with the roller coastering but had an uneasy feeling about it. Now excuse my simplicity here but you have to remember that my eyesight is not too good and a profile slabby thing thirty five feet away is not easy for me to see - even if it is bright yellow.

How do I explain this? Gentle ups and downs and I seem to be in control - when I increase the angle, I am fine with the ups but the downs seem to be not under my control. The lines seem taught but I seem to have to overdo things to prevent a nose dive.

Now here I am using a GoPro strapped to my noggin. It doesn't have zoom and I can't see the view finder. So excuse the production



There was no wind today but the ground was very wet. The plane hit the ground before I slipped on the imaginary banana skin so no excuses.

So onwards and upwards. The motor mount was in a dubious condition but has now been repaired. That is a tough little aeroplane.

Now for the Wizard.

Before I post the event - I must stress that the weather for me was ideal warm (for England), not raining, no bright sun and no wind at all.

By the time I started flying the Wizard - the big boys were coming into land. See as they were at 8,000ft - I don't think they will be reporting near misses.

Four good take offs and four good landings. Here is one of them.



Felt more in control with the Wizard.

But



Nice doggy came to commiserate! Time to call it a day. Battery mounts shattered and motor busted. All repaired now!

I haven't a clue what I did to cause the sudden nose dive!

However, what I notice with the Wizard was that on several occasions, and for no apparent reason, it wobbled. Flying nice and straight and then a wobble. Either line side wing dropping or outside wing lifting. Different places every time and not on every lap.

It wasn't my imagination and when I looked at my videos I couldn't see it. So I got one of them and slowed a section to 1/8 speed. At about 5 minutes (slow speed) you will  see the Wizard flanked by the trees and wobble. Not easy to see in the video but the best I can do. It took me ages to work out how to slow the thing down and You Tuv=be plays around with the uploaded videos.



Now for all those reluctant to fly control line - if I can do, so can you! I will show my escapades - Warts 'n all - but, take note, I enjoyed myself spinning around even if I did prang two planes. They are both repaired now.