Just a short survey to see how many remote control pilots are out there. I have been flying them for about ten years now. I taught myself to fly them which is a very expensive way to go... Over the years I've accumulated 32 planes in the hanger. Everything from small electric backyard flyers to 8ft. wingspan Cessna 182 that runs on a weedeater engine... The firat time you make a fll circle of the field it takes a weekto wipe the smile off. These aremy stress relievers. Anyone else fly these... If not, besides your truck, what are your toys???

 

I have RC cars, they don't have as far to fall when I screw up

 

I cannot get my brain to switch to the other side. When they are coming back at me. So no. I would be to dangerous.
Now! Gardening and landscaping really relaxes me. A couple of beers and some horseshoes with friends works also. I'm Basically a mellow guy who doesn't need much.

 

I flew (crashed) my buddys R/C plane. He got the plane airborne then handed me the controls and I immediately crashed it into a skylight. I've always wanted to give it another try, and was wondering if one of the inexpensive park flyers would be a good way to learn.

 

I wouldn't mind getting into flying them,but I wouldnt know where to start.

 

I used to play a bit with an RC plane, ran out of time and moved away from my own personal airfield, 4 acres laid out in a line.

RC cars are cheaper to keep running. Every flight with my RC was a few weeks of repairs and parts.

Two funny stories... First flight, I was following instructions to the book and on my first take off it was beautiful. Went up and then when I tried to turn, the plane went wild. SO I had to straighten it out. Tried to turn again same wild maneuvers. Since I was in the heat of the moment and not thinking, the palne went higher and higher almost out of sight and every time I tried to turn it back to the field It went wild. Suddenly on one turn I could barely see, two planes???!!. Then I heard an engine screaming and one of the planes plummeting to earth while the other fluttered like a feather. The screamer crashed in the field next doors. I found it after searching awhile. The tail was sticking up like a cross in a grave yard. The front of the fueselage was buried in soft clay maybe 6 inches. Turns out I forgot the last step of "by the book" During my taxi testing I had just 2 or three rubber bands on the wing, just like th book said. In my excitement I forgot to put on the other 8 or so rubber bands before takeoff. I guess every time I turned, the wing was popping off the fueselage and thus causing the wild maneuvers.


A new prop, new carb, some plywood and trim work and I was ready for my next flight.

THis take off I was ready, all rubbers on the plane. My son who was about 3 or 4 was with me and excited. The neighbor lady was there too. We took off. Slow and easy. A tight turn to the left to circle my field. Couldn't turn tight enough. Oh nuts it was going behind the trees, Waaaah, crash bam thud. Then my son popped up and said "SOB, it went behind the f'ing trees". "Uh I don't know where he learned that", the neighbor lady was not impressed., my son was. I stuck to RC cars.

The replacement for the plane is still partially assembled and waiting for son #2 to take over. It is one of those plastic corrugated board kind, Indestructable they say.

If you want to learn get a buddy to teach you, doing it yourself is expensive and embarrassing

JIm Henderson

 

If you are wanting to get into these the park flyers are perfect to learn with as long as you stay away from the 2 channel stuff and balsa. Start with a 3 channel "foamy". Go with elecric motor. If and when you do crash it , it can be fixed in a hurry with 5 min. epoxy and packing tape. Back in the air in 20 minutes... The trick to controlling them when they are coming back at you is to move the "stick" toward the low wing. Try It... You'll Like It... Happy flying...

 

Or as we say, "Put a stick under it!"

I've been doing it for over two years and still have a lot to learn. I still have my first airplane but have crashed two others since. Good thing I don't have that problem with the real ones.

 

How true that is.



My 78" wingspan, scratch-built Sukhoi SU26m aerobatic:

 

I started flying RC airplanes 9 years ago. I also taught myself to fly. Only good thing about that was, I also learned how to build, and rebuild models.

I have an even 18 flyable models now. I am really getting to like the electric models. I have three, with two being park flyers, and one 50" Edge 540 that is just a blast to fly.

My biggest is a gasser, 30% Yak 54. It also is a fun flying plane. A buddy of mine and I are going to get into float flyers this spring. I think I will do a small Cub like a hanger 9 or something.

This is a good hobby for stress relief. I have had a lot of fun with it.

 

Ive got a couple RC helicopters, does that count? I chose the heli because I really have no place to take off/land a plane. These things sure get expensive quick though.

 

I've got a few planes on floats. A 6 ft. wngspan Beaver, 4 ft. Cub, 4 ft. 180 and a 5 ft. trainer. By far the most fun wih these is flying on floats. Winter flying on skiis is also a blast... Love your plane rocketscience. The small heli's are available ready to fly right out of the box now for about $250. Not an unreasonable price for the amount of fun to be had flying them.
There is indoor flying at a local scool gym here on thurs. nights. Its fun to watch all the different folks trying to avoid all the others... Lots of crashes!!! But like they say, "Thats entertainment".

 

I bet you could win AFV;s $10k with a video of that

 

Sweet ...very sweet

 

Amen on that one. I don't know which I had a bigger problem learning - thinking backwards while controlling an R/C plane coming straight at me or learning to fly from the right seat.