We will talk RC airplanes here!

[TwoShadows]

Seeing how there are a few airplane fanatics on this forum I feel we should provide a thread for that topic right here. Somewhere there are photos of me and my son and TKO with our first planes but I can't seem to locate them right now (must come with age?)
Both TKO and I have joined a local flying club and I went out to watch TKO fly this evening. I am still waiting for my AMA membership number so I must be a spectator until it arrives. While I do have other places to fly it is nice to finally have a safe well established area for flying. Will have to keep you guys/gals posted and when I do finally get Pappy's Corsair ready for it't first flight I will see if TKO can get a good photo while the plane is still in one piece! I/We have only a few weeks of good flying weather left before the harsh realities of cold weather sets in but TKO and I have decided only the wind may stop us as a little cold is not going to do it! Guess we will find out what cold weather will do to an electric plane!

[TwoShadows]

I might add the fact that my wife flies a Blade CX2 helicopter and I have two AH-64 Apache helicopters due in by Wednesday this week. One for my little guy and one for me to crash here in the house in bad weather!!! A man has to keep all options open should the weather turn bad but until then I will fly the friendly skies with everything I have on hand!

On a sad note, we had an emergency evac helicopter go down a couple of miles from my house last weekend after doing a community relations gig at a local rural fire department. They lost the whole rotor and mast within a minute after taking off from the local fire station. All three on board perished in the resulting crash and fire. Helicopters are very unforgiving when something goes wrong.

[Nighthawk]

Well guys, I don't know squat about RC planes, but I love aviation, and especially the F4U Corsair, and the old F4 Phantom. Both planes were way ahead of their time. Have you guys seen any of the videos on the F4U on you tube? They're awesome! Specially the FG-1D video.

[TwoShadows]

If you want to see videos check out Hanger9 and pick the RC plane of your dreams. Hold on for the ride as those guys can fly!

[Nighthawk]

I checked out Hanger9, the Sukhoi Turbo Prop 6-22-07. It was AWESOME!

[AdamL]

Well guys, I don't know squat about RC planes, but I love aviation, and especially the F4U Corsair, and the old F4 Phantom. Both planes were way ahead of their time. Have you guys seen any of the videos on the F4U on you tube? They're awesome! Specially the FG-1D video.

I don't really know much about RC planes either. But we are really into aviation around here. The F-4 Corsair is my favorite older airplane, followed closely by the P-51, followed by the P-38 and F-6. The F-4 Phantom was awesome when it came out. But more modern I love the F-15 and of course the F-18. The B-2's based here in Missouri are pretty awesome too!

I was a few hours away from getting my pilots license when I was 18, but I kind of got too busy working and whatnot. My brother is a pilot, mechanic, and crash investigator, and also testifies in court as an expert witness on aircraft. He goes all over the world investigating crashes. We all got into aviation because of my dad's love of flying. He volunteered for the airforce during Vietnam because he wanted to fly F-4's but he couldn't pass the physical.
Ok, I"m done rambling

[scottishmoney]

I have NOT done RC planes, but oh sooooohhhh tempting.  I am an aviation enthusiast, and one of my hobbies outside of numismatics is aviation.  Pre 9-11 I used to fly on a lot of older aircraft, the oldest of which was a 1929 Ford Trimotor.  I still would love to fly in a B-17 and a C-46, but these days it is harder to get flights on those.   

[longnine009]

I had a control-line model called the Viper. I think it was from Sterling. But it had a full body (I hate profiles) and I believe a 24" wingspan and ran on a Black Widow .049. I spent a whole night once trying to find a kit or the plans to that plane.

I did fly under the Eiffel Tower upside down in a P-51 a few time. But that was Microsofts European Air War.

[TwoShadows]

Well guys I can tell you there is a "RUSH" like you have never felt before after you put your first bird in the air. I have seen nerves come out of nowhere and sweat roll as you wonder (and enjoy) just how in the world you are going to get that bird safely back on the ground. Minutes seem like hours and the rest of the world disappears for those minutes your money and dreams are flying overhead. Nothing quite like the first time you set it back down safely.
I made up my mind, in the beginning, I was NOT going to let that plane beat me and oh how it tried! I have gained confidence but still get "Buck Fever" every time it goes up. Have found nothing like it so I guess I am hooked.
All you need is the desire and an open field to experience an amazing feeling. Technology has really changed this sport as one can now buy a RTF (ready to fly) plane with everything needed to fly within an hour. (Must charge the batteries and test the unit). After that it is just learning. Also a great number of new planes are foam and can really take a beating (ParkZone and HobbyZone) and parts are readily available and affordable. Believe me I know! But, the RUSH is there and still remains after two months of flying or trying to fly. If is wasn't for gravity I would be a pro by now!!!

[scottishmoney]

There is just this part of me that needs to feel the thrill of actually flying something, but being a part of it, ie actually getting that adrenaline rush when you loop and roll etc.  Of the A/C I have flown the best was a Pitts 260, a little sport model.  It is the ultimate to fly, with a high power to weigh ratio and very manoeuvrable being that it is a biplane.

The RC stuff sounds thrilling, but cannot be quite as fun as the real thing.  At least my wife would let me buy an RC, but not an A/C(we have been there before.)

[longnine009]

There's also a large number of aircraft model  clubs in Australia. Apparently the Aussies know how put all that wide open space to good use.   

[scottishmoney]

Oz is a great country for aviation enthusiasts in general, lots of great A/C there.

[TwoShadows]

How in the world am I going to convince my wife I need something else to keep up with the Aussies?

[longnine009]

I've been wanting to build a control-line 1/2A scale P-47 Thunderbolt for years. Even if it means converting an R/C kit. So far it's beem impossible to find one unless it's an electric.  House of Balsa has them but they're only stand off scale. 

It's not easy being hard headed. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:061020-F-1234P-022.jpg

   

[scottishmoney]

We have a local RC club here, and I have been to their static exhibits, just a bit weary of going to their meets where they fly them.  Have seen too many videos of RC crafts flying into spectators automobiles

Or worse:

RC Crash - Funny!

[longnine009]

I believe most R/C fliers carry "oopsie-daisy" insurance through the AMA.