The New Age of Electric R/C

>landing gear hard, and the incredible amount of
As a kid growing up, I mostly tinkered with R/C carsmomentum that was generated in those brief seconds
and trucks. But almost 20 years ago, as I was nearingcaused the plane to flip end over end a couple of
the end of my teens, I got an itch to start flying . . . Nottimes before coming to a complete stop.
sure where this new venture would take me, I headedI rushed over to that shiny new part of my soul, which
to my local hobby shop to buy my first R/C plane.now looked old, battered and filthy. Dirt from the field
The Realization of a Dreamfilled the cowl and had made its way into the
Since I was probably old enough to hold a transmitterengine’s muffler. The landing gear was severely
in my tiny hands, I have been an avid fan of radiobent and the engine would have to be completely
control hobbies. As a kid growing up, I mostly tinkeredbroken down, cleaned, and tested before there would
with R/C cars and trucks. But almost 20 years ago, asever be another flight. I gathered all of my gear, picked
I was nearing the end of my teens, I got an itch toup my plane, and left the small field that was supposed
start flying. Actually, I wanted to buy an ultralightto have been my field of dreams. It was there that my
aircraft, but not having an extra $10,000 put a hold onairplane was supposed to defy logic and gravity. It
that idea. I would need a substitute that was morewas there that I was to take this composition of wood
economical for a young man of my age. Not sureand glue and metal and master the elements as it
where this new venture would take me, I headed tosoared through the late afternoon skies. It was here
my local hobby shop to buy my first R/C plane.that my new plane would see its first and its last flight.
Upon entering the hobby shop, I was overwhelmedComing to Terms
with choices. How many channels, what size engine,Twenty years later I still have that little orange plane. I
what type of radio, do I get a kit or already assembledhave since repaired the damaged landing gear, but the
model? After getting some advice from the salesmanplane has never left the confines of my home. After all
behind the counter, I settled on a 2-channel kit trainerof the hours I poured into creating that beautiful little
that ran on a Cox .049 glow fuel engine.aircraft, it was too horrifying to contemplate what I
When I got home, I immediately opened the kit as Iwould do if something worse, a crash resulting in
was anxious to get started. Inside the box werecomplete destruction, ever occurred. So, I protected
dozens of pre-cut balsa and plywood sheets, woodmy creation, keeping it from possible harm.
blocks and the building plans. I again found myselfTwenty years later I now also own my own Internet
overwhelmed when I opened the plans for the airplane,hobby shop, RC Hobby Explosion. But times and R/C
which looked a lot like an architect’s blueprints.hobbies have changed dramatically. Now the beginner
Ready for the challenge, though, I set up my workhas options that weren’t available on my fateful
table, got my hobby knives, glue, and accessories andday. Today, novice pilots don’t have to spend
embarked on a project that would, unbeknownst to100 or more hours building a trainer to learn to fly. They
me, throw many curves before completion.don’t have to worry about the know-how
For the next several weeks, I spent hours each dayneeded to operate fuel-based glow engines. We are in
working to build my first aviation masterpiece. Precisionthe age of electric R/C, and there are literally hundreds
was everything — every piece had to beof ready-to-run electric R/C airplanes that can be
flawless and I trimmed and sanded each to match thepurchased for less than a hundred bucks and require
specifications perfectly. During this time, I waslittle more than the charging of a battery. Parts are
introduced to terms like roll, center of gravity, trailingeasy to get and inexpensive for these planes, so a
edges and stiffners. I learned how to install radiocrash may hit your rainy day fund for a few bucks, but
systems, balance the plane, and apply MonoKote®it won’t put you in therapy.
covering with a sealing iron and heat gun. When thatDon’t misunderstand me, though: Kit planes and
long-awaited day arrived and my bright orangefuel-based engines still have their place in the R/C
2-channel aircraft was ready, I had logged a total ofworld, but they are much better suited for pilots who
almost 140 building hours. That plane had bonded withhave earned their flying wings and can comfortably
me and became a part of my soul. The engine andtoss into the wind a creation that has bonded in some
radio had been tested, so it was time for the final stepway with their sensitive psyches. That said, with the
- my first test flight.advent of more powerful electric engines and
A 4-Second Definition of “Simple”high-quality lithium polymer batteries, even many of the
I carried my gearbox, fuel bottle and shiny new airplanepros are gravitating toward electric R/C. This
to a small open field just behind my neighborhood. Mynewfound power has brought on a whole new
hands were shaking. I was nervous partly because Igeneration of larger-scale electric aircraft. As this
was venturing into the unknown, but also because Itechnology develops, electric R/C will continue to take
was about fulfill what had developed into a dreama bigger share of the R/C market. Pilots like less mess
— a dream that had become a near obsession,and clutter, which translates into more time doing what
occupying every moment of my spare time.they love most - flying.
I took a few minutes to re-test my radio and then IFortunately for me, I never gave up my dream of
filled the fuel tank, hooked up the battery to the glowflying. What started as a child is a part of me, and I
plug, and started the engine. After adjusting the reednow pass this love onto my kids and my customers.
valve and setting the speed, I picked up my plane, heldAnd hardly a week goes by that I don’t have a
the transmitter in my left hand and gave the plane afascinated customer ask me for advice on what is a
toss into the wind.great first plane. Fortunately for them, I have much
I have played the next 4 seconds over in my mind amore experience now and a multitude of options to
thousand times or more. What I had envisioned as theoffer that the salesman I bought from twenty years
simple flying of an airplane quickly turned into aago didn’t have. Hardly a week also goes by
disaster. When I tossed the plane into the wind, Ithat I don’t have a customer buying parts tell
pointed the nose too high. A small gust grabbed theme his emotional airplane crash story. When I hear
plane, taking the plane into a perfect loop. I have sincethese stories, I am always taken back to my sad day
learned that loops are fun, but they are not to bein the small field behind my house. But I am comforted,
executed when the plane is at an altitude of less thanknowing that most of my customers aren’t
15 feet. I pulled back fully on the left stick, trying withtaking their nose dives and poorly executed loops as
my limited expertise to pull the nose up as the planeseriously as I did mine. They know that repairs are
came out of the loop. But the ground caught thecheap and just a few shipping days away.