In Control

When I turned 42 in 2008 I decided now is the time to live (more of) my dreams. What dream?

Radio control aeroplanes of course. Power planes have their following, but I had a bad experience with a Cox Baby Bee, could never get it to start, besides the headaches and snot from being allergic to the smell of the fuel. So, it is slope soaring or electric for me.

I think my first real brush with gliders was at a friends house in grade 7. His Dad flew scale gliders, and a number of them were hung from the roof in his study. I recall going in there (it was off limits most of the time) and being awed by those lovely white gliders hanging around.

Dad was a non-flying member of the local light plane club for many years, due to his interest in radio and also in flying I guess. We used to visit the 'drome every weekend, and visit the airport whenever we travelled to the big city. Now and then, we would also make the trip to the model club at St.Albans in Port Elizabeth and I remember those visits with fondness.

I have purchased some radio gear and a Windrider Bee Combat Wing kit (through Midas Hobbies in Port Alfred), which will hopefully survive the learning to fly experience for myself, wife, and at least 2 kids (not sure the eldest cares).

Little progress toward flying was made during 2008/2009 because it turns out that while the area has plenty of mountains and plenty of wind, the two seldom work together to create flying conditions. The most useful wind would be a North Easterly because of the large slope that faces it, but the road up there is 4x4 only. I did it once in the Opel Kadett and decided to wait until I could buy motors for the planes and just fly flat field. The motors were duly purchased at the end of Sept 2009 (hey ho for 13th cheques) and first flights have been achieved (woohoo!). Read more via the links in the list on the right.

Of course, now that I have flown the bug has truly bitten and I am bursting with plans for future planes. I'll keep telling myself to just get a Solo rating first but it may not work (-:

May 2011

Now May2011 and I am flying a Nutball indoors and out, and an e-QSC (see Crashcast below (and Youtube) for plans). Under construction are:

• Leadfeather 32" Edge 540T
• AceRC J-3 Cub
• 45" Edge 540t foamy
• RET 1.9m span trainer for wife 'n kids.
• Thunder Tiger Imagine 50 54" pattern plane

Also have a TechOne Mini Eagle built and flown and crashed many times. Needs to be lighter so it will have to wait for money to replace the 4.7 gram servos with 2.5's.
Recently I printed a 50% set of plans for the e-QSC, thinking to put the Eagle electronics in it just for fun. Meanwhile I am making progress on some CNC projects as well, since cutting parts out takes most of the build time, and I just love watching machines do the work for me.

August 2011

purchased a Night Vapor and the Imagine 50 ARF. Vapor's are such a blast, and the Imagine will get me up to speed on some pattern flying. The e-QSC is built a bit wonky so is no good for trying to fly with precision, it wanders off on it's own too easily and will not knifeedge despite the double size rudder (have since added side force generators to the wingtips and now it can knifeedge). However, it is a blast for doing tumbling manuevers, chuck the sticks in a random corner and interesting stuff happens.

January 2012

Imagine 50 is on hold due to lack of funds. However, Micky the RET trainer for my wife has flown with great success with the DX6i buddyboxed to the DSX9.

Got a Dreamflight Alula from a club member looking to specialize in helicopters.

Next up, the J3 Cub and the Leadfeather Edge540, after those I'll need more receivers to get anything else flying

29 Feb 2012

Have been given an E-sky Nemo. Planning to put a brushless motor and 3S Lipo in it, but first the Cub and Edge540 must fly. Motor will probably be a Towerpro 2410-9 combo, seems a good deal.