RC Flight Instruction
Flight training tasks leading to successful solo flight
By Dave Drake

1)  Trim aircraft for straight and level flight with the help of an instructor.

2)  Understand the “normal” pattern location, plus take off and landing directions with wind.

3)  Fly a straight course one side of the normal pattern.

4)  Make a level turn of 180° at either end of the pattern.

5)  Make two consecutive level turns of 90° at either end of the pattern.

6)  Complete a full pattern.

7)  Learn to place your airplane where you want it, not where it “wants” to go.

8)  Change the pattern direction as warranted by wind direction.

9)  Trim aircraft for straight and level flight by yourself.

10)  Practice throttle control to descend.  Hold a level or very slight positive pitch.

11)  Practice runway line-ups.  Plan your base leg turns to aim the airplane upwind over the runway.

12)   Experiment with stalls at a comfortable altitude.  Learn when they occur, how to recover, how to avoid them when necessary (landing).  Learn airplane’s symptoms when approaching a stall.

13)  Practice descending approaches with smooth pitch control and go-arounds when over the center of the runway.

14)  Learn take offs, including rudder control to control torque and proper climb out procedures.

15)  Perform simple loops, rolls, and other maneuvers at a safe altitude to learn to handle your plane in unusual attitudes and proper recovery techniques.

16)  Learn how to determine your airplane’s direction if you become disoriented.

17)  Master the flair and the landing (hardest part of flight training).  Learn smooth, delicate control of all functions.  Learn to modulate power to control descent.  Learn to “steer” for direction with rudder and keep wings level with ailerons.

18)  Remember to steer on the ground using your rudder, NOT the ailerons.

19)  Learn cross wind take off and landing techniques.

20)  Develop correct reaction to keep plane away from pit area if it gets off course during a landing approach.

21)  Learn to taxi in cross winds using flight controls to keep plane from tipping over.

22)   Fly entire flight with multiple consecutive landing, take offs, and/or touch-and-goes on dual controls without instructor’s assistance.

23)   Fly as above with single radio and instructor in pilot box with you.

24)  SOLO!