Part 2 - Some questions for you.

Well done, you have cracked the basics!

 

A few questions you need to answer honestly before we can move on to Part 3.

• Can you confidently turn the model (left and right) without the loss of height? Maintaining the same height with the model not climbing or descending during the turn is most important. With the model keeping the same attitude in flight it will keep the speed constant. Practice your turns out on the slope. When you can turn left and right without much change in attitude then you are moving in the right direction. Try 'S' turning across the slope. This involves the model turning down wind (towards you) and then returning into wind. Both these aspects may well cause the model's attitude to change. Keep practising these 'S' turns and get used to the model flying briefly down wind .... but only briefly. 
• You don't want the model hurtling past you and behind the slope. You need to get to a point where you can maintain a steady flying attitude constantly while manoeuvring your model around the sky. Generally a constant attitude will provide you with a constant flying speed. 
• Flying speed and ground speed are two very different things as most of you will already know. You can sit your model into wind and it could be completely stationary but turn the model downwind (towards you) and your ground speed could be your flying speed plus the wind speed so be careful because it can quickly be heading for somewhere behind the hill. You now have control of your turns in both attitude and speed which will benefit you massively when trying to land. 
• How about when the model is flying towards you? When the wing drops coming towards you it requires opposite controls to bring that wing back up.  Move the aileron/ elevon stick over to the direction of the wing which has dropped. (You are looking at the model and the left wing is dropping so move the aileron/ elevon stick over to left and the wing will come level).  This exercise will become automatic over time and your subconscious will take over. 
• This idea is to split your flying into bite size chunks. Master, or at least feel confident with each chunk and then move onto the next one. Don't try to bring it all together without all the building blocks in place. If you learn well at the beginning you will be a better pilot further down the line.
• Every time you go flying try to split your flying into the above chunks. Be self critical and try to work out what needs practice. If it all needs practice go back to basics and work up from there. Come and ask one of the club Instructors for some help. Again, we have all been in your exact position and we have all experienced the problems you may be encountering. Subconsciously we are learning every time our fingers are on the sticks so each time you fly think of what you need to practice and do exactly that - PRACTICE! 
• Have a chat with the other guys who are learning on the slope. They may well be having issues with the same thing you are.  Share your experiences. See how they got over their problems.

Nobody expects you to be a master at the basics before moving onto the landings but the more experience you have, the more confidence you have which will ultimately help big time when moving onto the landings !

Time to move on to Part 3 ...............