Radio Control Anybody???

[Scramblin]

Still have my Kyosho Inferno 1/8 scale buggy in the garage.  It's almost 20 yrs old now but still in nice shape.  I get it out once in a while to impress the kids, but not often because parts are getting real hard to come by.  I also have one of those Big Swamp Buggies, which is an airboat I built as a kit about 10 yrs ago.  That thig is a real kick in the pants to drive, it's about three ft long w/ an 060 airplane motor on it.

[Easyrydr]

Im big into R/c planes and getting into helos. ALL electric. less mess, less noise, less money. I am a member of rcgroups.com. If you go to their forums/electric airplanes/scratchbuilt foamies theres plenty of free downloadable pdf plans for simple planes you can build from foam you buy from lowes (blue fan fold foam or also called bluecor.) Its about 35 bux for 25 sheets. comes in a big accordian looking bundle. and usually it takes 1 sheet to make a simple enough plane.
 I have some videos of scratch built planes and some inflight video on youtube search for dave dodd  the ones labeled blue baby and fighter cat are homemade out of this foam. they dont take up much space and the batteries are cheap and recharge quickly. if you need more info just ask

[dadmomh]

In response to your question about maintaining interest....I have NO idea.  But when DH got into RC airplanes, all the $$$$ of woodworking equipment suddenly became invisible.  He is obsessed with his planes and loves it.  Me....not so much, but he's always wanted to do this.  He's up to 5 planes - all fuel, not interested in electric.  Actually, being an excellent woodworker has been a huge benefit - he's had a LOT of rebuilding to do.  For quite a while, trees kept getting in his way!  The other benefit is the club he's in - has brought a "social" connection to this new hobby.  So he loves his flying and I love that he's happy with it. 

[JD and Beastlet]

The last time I had a real R/C car was in my teens... I built a Tamiya Hornet buggy and I had a lot of fun with it.

For the past year I've been thinking about getting back into the hobby and combining it with camping.  I figure a rock crawler is ideal and today I ordered a Tamiya Toyota Land Cruiser.  It's an ambitious kit and it looks like a lot of fun.

For a lot of years I considered R/C airplanes.  There are lots of electrics available that make it easy to get into the hobby... so I put a Hobbyzone Super Cub LP ot the top of my list to Santa this year.

[dadmomh]

DH may be recovering from last weeks' hip replacement, but he's doing well enough to have taken over the breakfast room with his R/C airplane he's working on.  So much for having a table to eat meals on.  He looked so pitiful when he asked if I "minded" if he did some work on it - meant the whole darned room - but how could I say No!  At least he's being a good patient.

He's on several of the forums and you'll find him as Rooman

[JD and Beastlet]

... so I put a Hobbyzone Super Cub LP ot the top of my list to Santa this year.

I must have been a good boy, because after a little clue-following on Christmas day it magically appeared under the tree!  On Monday I went to the local hobby store (from the which the plane was purchased and the rock crawler was ordered) and picked up a copy of the Phoenix R/C flight simulator.  I chose it over the more popular Real Flight for two reasons.  Firstly, it comes with a real transmitter that I can use with my plane and, secondly my very plane is modeled in the simulator!  So far I've gotten pretty good at flying.  Last night I introduced wind and I had a lot more learning to do.

DH may be recovering from last weeks' hip replacement, but he's doing well enough to have taken over the breakfast room with his R/C airplane he's working on.  So much for having a table to eat meals on.  He looked so pitiful when he asked if I "minded" if he did some work on it - meant the whole darned room - but how could I say No!  At least he's being a good patient.

He's on several of the forums and you'll find him as Rooman

I hope DH recovers well!  Would he be so kind as to recommend some forums?  My airplane is electric.

Thanks!

John

[EZDUZIT]

RC aircraft are indeed aircraft. (Except that you are not inside, so all your info is from what you see.) No instruments.  No "feel" for the plane.   Kind of like driving a car, watching it go down the road.  It is my contention that it is more difficult to be a good RC pilot than a good "full size" pilot.  It's certainly not boring.   If your concentration isn't on the plane at all times, it will show you who is boss.  Several guys I know have gone full size after flying RC.  I'm sure they were better for the experience.  Electric power has revolutionized the sport.  I remember when that first came out.  Guys got motors and batterys from weed trimmers.   

[JP campers]

What about it keeps your interest?

I built and flew R/C airplanes for several years until I got tied up volunteering at the Warplane museum and ended up working airshows and flying out in their B-17 (Fuddy Duddy)

To keep interest? Building is half the fun, very satisfying to see something you built with your own hands actually fly, there is no guarantee that they will fly, a warped wing is instant disaster as you would know. We NEVER  EVER flew alone. Friendship at the field was great, we would often have contests on who could stay aloft the longest after shuttin off the engine, do some basic manuvers like T&Gs in pairs. Actually, in-air for 20 mins straight is a very long time.
I would love to get back into it, I have a flying field in my back yard now

[JP campers]

As a side note: Do not believe anyone who says you can learn to fly an R/C Airplane without crashing it at least once.

[JD and Beastlet]

A question for the R/C fliers... I know that I should launch and fly upwind to avoid the plane running away.  But when landing, should I fly a downwind leg and do my final approach upwind?  Time on the simulator with wind has shown that downwind landings are much more crash-prone.

[EZDUZIT]

Landings and takeoffs are into the wind.  The reason is that your air speed is increased by the speed of the wind when you fly into it.  Inversely, your airspeed is reduced by the speed of the wind if you fly "downwind".

[Sweet Chariot]

Ezduzit is right. By taking off or landing into the wind your ground speed is reduced - making the take off and landings easier to control. On the simulator, try turning the wind way up to see this effect in the extreme. In super high winds you can take off without barely moving forward (relative to ground).

[JD and Beastlet]

As a side note: Do not believe anyone who says you can learn to fly an R/C Airplane without crashing it at least once.

That's why I bought the simulator... so the majority of my crashes would be virtual!    But I expect I will still have plenty of real crashes. 

Landings and takeoffs are into the wind.  The reason is that your air speed is increased by the speed of the wind when you fly into it.  Inversely, your airspeed is reduced by the speed of the wind if you fly "downwind".

Sounds logical!

Ezduzit is right. By taking off or landing into the wind your ground speed is reduced - making the take off and landings easier to control. On the simulator, try turning the wind way up to see this effect in the extreme. In super high winds you can take off without barely moving forward (relative to ground).

At the moment I'm flying at near what I think is the maximum wind speed for the Super Cub LP, but I'll try turning it up to see the effects.

I've actually gotten pretty good at landing downwind... my observations are that you should land as slow as possible.... and hold the elevators up when on the ground to stop the plane from tipping over.

I've also discovered a neat trick in the simulator - don't know if I'll be able to do it in real life.  After landing and rolling to a stop, if I apply 1/4 to 1/3 throttle and lift the tail a bit, the plane will rotate right into the wind for takeoff.

Loving the sim time... and it's great to be flying with the same transmitter I'll be using with the actual plane!

[EZDUZIT]

I recommend that you consider stall speed when landing downwind. 
The Cub will permit what the Mustang will not! 

There is a interesting little trick with a high lift slow flyer or glider that is fun..  Basically you fly into a stiff wind and gradually reduce throttle while holding a little nose down.  Eventually you will reach a point of equilibrium where the plane is not moving at all. The wind supplies the air speed.  The nose down attitude keeps the plane "falling" against the lift of the wing and holds the position.  It's called "sticking" the plane.  Put the nose down into the transmitter trims and you can set it down while you go to your car for a can of pop. LOL
Have fun!  Join AMA.
http://www.modelaircraft.org/

[JD and Beastlet]

I recommend that you consider stall speed when landing downwind. 
The Cub will permit what the Mustang will not! 

Duly noted!  Since I've learned here that upwind landings are the way to go, I've been practicing those, and in stiff winds to boot.  Much easier!

There is a interesting little trick with a high lift slow flyer or glider that is fun..  Basically you fly into a stiff wind and gradually reduce throttle while holding a little nose down.  Eventually you will reach a point of equilibrium where the plane is not moving at all. The wind supplies the air speed.  The nose down attitude keeps the plane "falling" against the lift of the wing and holds the position.  It's called "sticking" the plane.  Put the nose down into the transmitter trims and you can set it down while you go to your car for a can of pop.

I've noticed that phenomenon... but since I've been practicing with variable wind speeds and crosswind gusts it's been hard to hold the plane in one place... can it still be done in those conditions?

Have fun!  Join AMA.
http://www.modelaircraft.org/

Thank you... I'm having fun and will continue to do so.   
And here, north of the border, I'd be joining MAAC.