Any R/C Airplane Enthusiasts?

[AHarris]

I used to be big into R/C planes and still have a bunch of radios, engines, planes, etc stored at my house up in the U. P. Now that my son is getting old enough thinking about getting back into the hobby.



Some of my planes include:

1. Sig 4 Star 40

2. Sig Kommander (old!)

3. Wanderer II Glider

4. Sig Fazer 3d

5. Numerous gliders including a Great Planes Spirit

6. Ultra Sport 40

7. Balsa USA Stick 40

8. Futaba PCM 1024, Tower Hobbies, other radios

9. O. S. , K & B, Enya, and Super Tigre motors



I was active in this hobby from the mid 80s until my kids became toddlers (once that happens you basically kiss your hobbies and the rest of your free time goodbye for a while). Been out of the hobby now for about 6 years now.



If there are any active RCers reading this, what are the best sites for good forums and the latest developments?



Probably will be renewing my AMA membership too and getting in the local Shreveport R/C club once things settle down a bit.

 

[sarj]

I still have my radio and plane. Now that I think about it, that plane hasn't even seen air yet. Been to busy, and it's still up in the garage. I've never done power... strictly gliders on ridges. I started with a high-start on an open field to get the feel of the stick, and to stay away from crashing into others, then I went to ridge flying. I have a nice 100 foot west facing ridge that will keep a glider up longer than a battery will last. I prefer ridge flying because of the quiet, and the finesse of keeping the plane in the air with no power. Nothing is cooler than looking down on your plane coming out of a dive and going into a roll, and then bringing it up and so tight into the ridge that you can reach out and touch it as it goes by. A lot of finesse to fly a ridge with four or five other planes in the air with you. It's pretty cool.



I haven't looked for any forums, and like you, have gotten pretty busy over the years. I'm old-school on planes as well, building ribbed wing construction instead of the prefab stuff. There are some pretty indestructible wings out there to learn with, but it just encourages reckless flying... kind of a two-edged sword. You learn to respect the investment and craftsmanship of building your own plane, but destroying 50 hours work in an instant can be disheartening for a kid learning to fly after he buries the nose.



I think it'd be a great hobby to share with a kid. It would teach him plenty. I did a little web research when I was looking for my last plane, and I remember it was out there, but I don't remember any good forums. Sorry I don't have any good info for you, but if you found the best R-C shop in the area that deals planes, they'd steer you to the best local spots and you'd probably meet some local fliers that way. The best info I ever got was on the ridge. Good choice, and good luck with it.

 

[p-Bar]

I'm not totally active, but have some forums marked at home, we are away at the moment. Electrics are the big craze right now. ARF's are big seems no one has time to build, but I love that part of it. I will post them for you when I get home. Also the new radios a lot of guys are using are the 2. 4 ghz you don't need a channel board for these. pretty cool

 

[AHarris]

Sarj that ridge soaring sounds like fun... always wanted to try that. Last time I had my gliders up, in 2004, (using a hi-start) I had my old Bird of Time up for 45 minutes riding thermals on a calm day near Colorado Springs, Colorado. Brought her down with the spoilers for fear I might lose battery power. Had her up so high she was just a little speck in the sky. There is nothing more relaxing than a glider on a calm sunny day.



I'm going to get a Sig Kadet another Balsa USA Stick 40 and build it then teach my son to fly on it.



I don't really care for the ARF or RTF stuff. Building the planes and working with the wood and monokote is half the fun. Not only that, the traditional stick and rib planes fly much better.