Who else here flys RC?

[Tweener]

Just wondering how many of the other members here fly RC?

Currently in my hangar:

2 Hobbico Superstar EP ARFs - one with ailerons, one without - both in need of repair. (These were my "learner" planes and taught me that if you don't have power to climb after takeoff DO NOT ATTEMPT A TURN. :o )

4 Great Planes Firebats (OOP - sold for $30.00 on closeout) - 2 scrapped for parts, 1 modified with landing gear and a brushless motor (damaged in fire last year, in need of repair) - 1 still in box. Video of the geared version here: http://www.rcgroups.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=11946&nocache=1

1 fun fly Estes single channel rudder only ducted fan jet. In service.

1 Cybird P1 ornithopter. In service.

1 Chinese HX Bird ornithopter, undergoing extensive modifications for reliable flight.

1 Hangar 9 Alpha .40 trainer RTF - In service. (My first glow engine plane.)

1 Hangar 9 P-51 Mustang PTS RTF - In service. (Added flap servo, removed speed brakes, replaced stock 3-blade prop with a 11x6 2-blade - this baby really smokes now! :cool: )

[ghrocketman]

I have flown R/C since 1979 at age 9, 1.5 years after starting rocketry.
I have around 6-8 planes in flyable condition and probably another 20+ kits on the shelf.
The club that I belong to is the Holly Cloud Hoppers in Holly, Mi....I was one of the original founding members of this R/C club, which resides on land leased from the state....we have a really nice strip that is about 750'x250'.
Typically, when I get a chance I fly Pylon (racing) airplanes or Pattern (precision aerobatic) airplanes.
With all my other summer hobbies (Texas hold-em poker both in-casino and online, rockets (which I can fly in my backyard),boating, jet skiing at the lake cottage, target shooting, and musclecars) , I only get the chance to fly about 1-2 times per year anymore.
Some of my planes include a Sig Kobra, a 1/4midget Cosmic Wind, a Doubler II, a Bridi UFO, a Tiporare, a RCM Terrier powered by an OS Wankel, a Spectrum, and a Curare.
Always wanted to get into turbines, but have not had the time required to safely do it.

[CPMcGraw]

Just wondering how many of the other members here fly RC?

I've been flying off-and-on for about 16 years. Nothing currently flyable, but I'm working on a Sig Senorita and a scratch-built 1/4 scale J-3 from Sig plans. My last flyable was a Sig 1/6 J-3 with a Saito 30. Slow, scale-like, and very quiet; had to bring it straight down the runway to hear that motor at any setting below full throttle. Got another one of those still in the box; I want a Saito 40 for it this time, same crankcase as the 30, but more power. I'm debating about electric for the Senorita.

[Tweener]

I'm debating about electric for the Senorita.That can get pretty expensive if you go with the brushless motor and LiPo batteries. The $30.00 Firebat kit I modified had $200.00 in the motor and speed control alone, so I opted for a 10 cell NiMH pack for power. It's mostly all wing, so the weight wasn't much of an issue except that if you watch the video of the maiden you can see my approach was way too steep. I was used to the unmodified version gliding in well with no power and this one needed to come in about 1/8 throttle to settle down smoothly. :D This canard aircraft is one of my favorites. Since it's a pusher prop and the rear of the fuse is about right for a 24mm engine mount, I've considered trying this as a boost glider. ;)

[Aeronautical]

Oh sweet, sounds like fun. I've always wanted to fly RC, but never had the chance or the money for that matter. I'll stick with just rockets for a while.

[snuggles]

I own a HobbyZone SkySurfer Paraplane(electric) I have had it for 3+ years now .It's a hell of a lot of fun to fly. real forgiving. I can throw it in the car, take it up to the school and be flying in less than 10 minutes.
Mark T

[tbzep]

I've done some R/C flying. My trainer was a Sig Fazer (fun fly). :D People look at me funny when I tell them that, but they don't realize how slow I can fly a fun fly. Who cares if it doesn't right itself? It lands slower than those heavy ARF trainers!

I stopped flying partly because whenever I went to the club, nobody was ever there. I flew for about 6 months once every two or three weeks by myself and kinda got tired of it. Whenever I did something I thought was cool, nobody saw it. Whenever I was about to do something stupid, nobody was there to warn me about it. Whenever I forgot something, nobody was there to loan me theirs. I got back into motorcycles about that time also, so I spend all my free weekend time riding now.

I do all my hobbies in a rotating on-off fashion. I'll cycle back to R/C one of these days.

Built & Flown:

Sig Fazer
Sig Ultimate Bipe
Sig Somethin' Extra
Zagi

Partially built:
Sig Kadet Senior with lots of mods
Tower Kaos
Scratch from online plans Su-do-khoi
A foamie with foward swept wings...forgot the name.

ARF Morris Top Cat, never opened.

Here's some of my finished planes from about six years ago. Clicky (http://bellsouthpwp.net/t/b/tbzep/RC/index.html)


P.S. I have an opened but not built Klinberg Rocket Wing and an AstroBlaster. :D

[Tweener]

I've done some R/C flying. My trainer was a Sig Fazer (fun fly). :D People look at me funny when I tell them that, but they don't realize how slow I can fly a fun fly. Who cares if it doesn't right itself? It lands slower than those heavy ARF trainers! :eek: Wow, I've heard of people that had trained on a 2nd or 3rd type plane, but this is the first time I got it from the horses mouth, so to speak.

[hawkshobby]

We have a BIG collection of RC.

Marks's first RC was a Carl Goldberg Ranger on a single channel escapement when he was 12.
His first control line was a Cox P-51 Mustangs when he was 9.

The ones we have that are built ...just to name a few
Mustang -- House of Balsa
Oreginal - Phaeton Bi-plane --Balse USA
Phaeton 90 -- Balsa USA
Force 1 -- Balsa USA
Dumas Trident Pattern Plane
Smoothie -- Balsa USA
Sr. Falcon -- Carl Goldberg
Buster -- Carl Goldberg --Control Line
1/2 built -- Sopwith Camel - I'm building
Concept 30 -- Helicopter
Small Electric Helicopter

Some of the plans we have are:
Mustang ---Multi & different scales
Fokker --- Multi & different scales
B-25 Mitchel
Cosair
Stuka
SR-71 Blackbird --- Over 9 foot long ---My personal favorite. One day I will build this...well with Mark's help of course.

All told over 200 different plans.
And at least 100 kits from small control line to 1/4 scale P-51 Mustang

On day we will have to invetory these to find out exactly what we do have. Right now they are sitting in storage due to our business totally taking over the house.
Loretta

[Bob H]

I have flown R/C on and off since about 1971. I learned to fly on a Carl Goldberg Falcoln 56 using an OS Max .25 and a Heathkit radio that I assembled myself.

I had a variety of equipment from a single channel Ace Pulse Commander, 2 channel Kraft system and a couple 5 channel systems from MRC and World Engines.

I prefered smaller models and never had an engine larger than .40 size. One of my favorites was a Guillows BF-109 converted to single channel with a Cox PeeWee .020 engine.

In the late 1980's my club lost it's field when the land was sold for development. The new club field was a couple hours away so my flying was cut drastically.

All of my radio gear became obsolete and illegal in 1991 when the FCC restructured the radio frequencies into what is in use today.

About the same time, I bought some land and started building a house so my R/C radio gear was not replaced and the R/C hobby went onto the back burner.

About 3 years ago I bought a Hitech 3 channel radio and a Mini Piper park flyer and that's what I fly on an occasional basis. There is an R/C club that flys about 1/2 hour away from me but I'm not sure that I want to get back into glow fuel powered airplanes.