| The Realization of a Dream | | | | times before coming to a complete stop. |
| Since I was probably old enough to hold a transmitter | | | | I rushed over to that shiny new part of my soul, which |
| in my tiny hands, I have been an avid fan of radio | | | | now looked old, battered and filthy. Dirt from the field |
| control hobbies. As a kid growing up, I mostly tinkered | | | | filled the cowl and had made its way into the engine's |
| with R/C cars and trucks. But almost 20 years ago, as | | | | muffler. The landing gear was severely bent and the |
| I was nearing the end of my teens, I got an itch to | | | | engine would have to be completely broken down, |
| start flying. Actually, I wanted to buy an ultralight | | | | cleaned, and tested before there would ever be |
| aircraft, but not having an extra $10,000 put a hold on | | | | another flight. I gathered all of my gear, picked up my |
| that idea. I would need a substitute that was more | | | | plane, and left the small field that was supposed to |
| economical for a young man of my age. Not sure | | | | have been my field of dreams. It was there that my |
| where this new venture would take me, I headed to | | | | airplane was supposed to defy logic and gravity. It |
| my local hobby shop to buy my first R/C plane. | | | | was there that I was to take this composition of wood |
| Upon entering the hobby shop, I was overwhelmed | | | | and glue and metal and master the elements as it |
| with choices. How many channels, what size engine, | | | | soared through the late afternoon skies. It was here |
| what type of radio, do I get a kit or already assembled | | | | that my new plane would see its first and its last flight. |
| model? After getting some advice from the salesman | | | | Coming to Terms |
| behind the counter, I settled on a 2-channel kit trainer | | | | Twenty years later I still have that little orange plane. I |
| that ran on a Cox .049 glow fuel engine. | | | | have since repaired the damaged landing gear, but the |
| When I got home, I immediately opened the kit as I | | | | plane has never left the confines of my home. After all |
| was anxious to get started. Inside the box were | | | | of the hours I poured into creating that beautiful little |
| dozens of pre-cut balsa and plywood sheets, wood | | | | aircraft, it was too horrifying to contemplate what I |
| blocks and the building plans. I again found myself | | | | would do if something worse, a crash resulting in |
| overwhelmed when I opened the plans for the airplane, | | | | complete destruction, ever occurred. So, I protected |
| which looked a lot like an architect's blueprints. Ready | | | | my creation, keeping it from possible harm. |
| for the challenge, though, I set up my work table, got | | | | Twenty years later I now also own my own Internet |
| my hobby knives, glue, and accessories and embarked | | | | hobby shop. But times and R/C hobbies have changed |
| on a project that would, unbeknownst to me, throw | | | | dramatically. Now the beginner has options that |
| many curves before completion. | | | | weren't available on my fateful day. Today, novice |
| For the next several weeks, I spent hours each day | | | | pilots don't have to spend 100 or more hours building a |
| working to build my first aviation masterpiece. Precision | | | | trainer to learn to fly. They don't have to worry about |
| was everything - every piece had to be flawless and I | | | | the know-how needed to operate fuel-based glow |
| trimmed and sanded each to match the specifications | | | | engines. We are in the age of electric R/C, and there |
| perfectly. During this time, I was introduced to terms like | | | | are literally hundreds of ready-to-run electric R/C |
| roll, center of gravity, trailing edges and stiffners. I | | | | airplanes that can be purchased for less than a |
| learned how to install radio systems, balance the plane, | | | | hundred bucks and require little more than the charging |
| and apply MonoKote® covering with a sealing iron | | | | of a battery. Parts are easy to get and inexpensive |
| and heat gun. When that long-awaited day arrived and | | | | for these planes, so a crash may hit your rainy day |
| my bright orange 2-channel aircraft was ready, I had | | | | fund for a few bucks, but it won't put you in therapy. |
| logged a total of almost 140 building hours. That plane | | | | Don't misunderstand me, though: Kit planes and |
| had bonded with me and became a part of my soul. | | | | fuel-based engines still have their place in the R/C |
| The engine and radio had been tested, so it was time | | | | world, but they are much better suited for pilots who |
| for the final step - my first test flight. | | | | have earned their flying wings and can comfortably |
| A 4-Second Definition of "Simple" | | | | toss into the wind a creation that has bonded in some |
| I carried my gearbox, fuel bottle and shiny new airplane | | | | way with their sensitive psyches. That said, with the |
| to a small open field just behind my neighborhood. My | | | | advent of more powerful electric engines and |
| hands were shaking. I was nervous partly because I | | | | high-quality lithium polymer batteries, even many of the |
| was venturing into the unknown, but also because I | | | | pros are gravitating toward electric R/C. This |
| was about fulfill what had developed into a dream - a | | | | newfound power has brought on a whole new |
| dream that had become a near obsession, occupying | | | | generation of larger-scale electric aircraft. As this |
| every moment of my spare time. | | | | technology develops, electric R/C will continue to take |
| I took a few minutes to re-test my radio and then I | | | | a bigger share of the R/C market. Pilots like less mess |
| filled the fuel tank, hooked up the battery to the glow | | | | and clutter, which translates into more time doing what |
| plug, and started the engine. After adjusting the reed | | | | they love most - flying. |
| valve and setting the speed, I picked up my plane, held | | | | Fortunately for me, I never gave up my dream of |
| the transmitter in my left hand and gave the plane a | | | | flying. What started as a child is a part of me, and I |
| toss into the wind. | | | | now pass this love onto my kids and my customers. |
| I have played the next 4 seconds over in my mind a | | | | And hardly a week goes by that I don't have a |
| thousand times or more. What I had envisioned as the | | | | fascinated customer ask me for advice on what is a |
| simple flying of an airplane quickly turned into a | | | | great first plane. Fortunately for them, I have much |
| disaster. When I tossed the plane into the wind, I | | | | more experience now and a multitude of options to |
| pointed the nose too high. A small gust grabbed the | | | | offer that the salesman I bought from twenty years |
| plane, taking the plane into a perfect loop. I have since | | | | ago didn't have. Hardly a week also goes by that I |
| learned that loops are fun, but they are not to be | | | | don't have a customer buying parts tell me his |
| executed when the plane is at an altitude of less than | | | | emotional airplane crash story. When I hear these |
| 15 feet. I pulled back fully on the left stick, trying with | | | | stories I am always taken back to my sad day in the |
| my limited expertise to pull the nose up as the plane | | | | small field behind my house. But I am comforted, |
| came out of the loop. But the ground caught the | | | | knowing that most of my customers aren't taking their |
| landing gear hard, and the incredible amount of | | | | nose dives and poorly executed loops as seriously as I |
| momentum that was generated in those brief seconds | | | | did mine. They know that repairs are cheap and just a |
| caused the plane to flip end over end a couple of | | | | few shipping days away. |