Explore the universe
 

Welcome to our rocketry Archive. Have fun browsing!

 

(Browse for more articles)

 

The New Age of Electric R/C

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




www.rocketrynews.com keyword stats [2008-08-27-2008-08-27]



Daily top traffic source : MSN
Historical MSN keyword trend


Most current MSN search phrases:

toshiba laptops good ones fly + electric zapper
can models model decals
Large R C Planes RC Ducted Fan Airplanes Plans
RC airplanes giant plans


Other search engines trends:



Other search phrases:

models airplanes rc jet powered planes
rc jet aircraft cheap
homemade model rockets chickenpox flying
model airplane video external combustion rocket engine
+rc tanks plans free rc airplanes for sale
largest pocket rocket largest rc plane
nitro siemens 5sx21
joe rocket atomic remotecontroll gas cars
rc airplane video toshiba laptops good ones
rocket dock control airplanes
ducted fanc for radio control airplane e-go airplanes
could building planes and rockets with kids
model trains layouts strategic competitive advantage
rocketry safety RC air plane air shows
water steam rocket engine model airplane props
model rocket ignitors strategic information system
cox model airplane rocketry career information
tables what is the best type of remote controll
1 72 models Ho Model Train Layout Plans
model rocket nose success
remote control airplane clubs model home floor plans
youth pocket rocket





1 - A - B - C - D - E - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12 - 13 - 14 - 15 - 16 - 17 - 18 - 19 - 20 - 21 - 22 - 23 - 24 - 25 - 26 - 27 - 28 - 29 - 30 - 31 - 32 - 33 - 34 - 35 - 36 - 37 - 38 - 39 - 40 - 41 - 42 - 43 -