Blues Artist of the Week - Howlin Wolf
Our focused artist started in the South and made his way up north to Chicago. Chester Arthur Burnett, better known as Howlin Wolf (1910-1976), was born in East Point, Mississippi.
Howlin’ Wolf was a Chicago blues singer, guitarist, and harmonica player. Originally from Mississippi, he moved to Chicago in adulthood. Although considered a rival of Muddy Waters, the two teamed up to transform Chicago into a mecca for electric blues from the traditional Mississippi delta acoustic style.
Howlin Wolf was known for his booming voice, aggressive stage presence, and imposing physical stature and Muddy Waters, he is considered one of Chicago’s best-known blues artist.
Howlin significantly influenced The Rolling Stones, who covered Little Red Rooster (written by arranger and songwriter Willie Dixon but first recorded by Howlin).
Ronnie Wood of the Rolling Stones is quoted as saying, “the pioneers of American blues were “dangerous men”, it was widely regarded that he was referring to Howlin Wolf.
Howlin Wolf’s most famous song and the similarly titled album is Moanin at Midnight, released in 1951.
His other well-known songs included “Smokestack Lightnin’,” “Dog Me Around,” and “Killing Floor.” Howlin’
Wolf was inducted into both the Blues Hall of Fame (1980) and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1991).
Two albums to start with Howlin Wolf – Howlin Wolf (1962) and Moanin’ in the Moonlight.
Also, another great resource on Howlin Wolf is the Biography Moanin’ At Midnight: The Life and Times of HOwlin’ Wolf….. Good biography to add to your Blues collection.
2021 Modelrama
It’s winter, and we need a way to renew our RC airplane excitement. We want to add new planes to our hanger but need to clear out some of our current planes. Want a way to do this in person safely?
The 2021 Wingmasters Modelrama swap meet and auction is your place. The Dayton Wingmasters Modelrama is on April 23rd and 24th. As one of the largest RC airplane shows in the Midwest, we have expanded the space under roof (over 42,000 sq. feet) to allow for social distancing and to accommodate all the current vendors and other sellers. The venue is the Montgomery Fairgrounds 645 Infirmary Road, Dayton Ohio 45417.
If you have gear or planes you want to sell or pick-up new gear and aircraft, this is the show for you—a tremendous in-person opportunity to rev you up for the 2021 flying season. In 2020 we had over 275 tables sold.
As the Club’s treasurer, I encourage you to attend, and if you want to reserve a table, see the attached flyer. Tables and spaces are going fast, so if you're going to get your hanger ready for 2021, here is a great opportunity.
All the proceeds go to support the RC hobby with the Dayton Wingmasters. A long-time AMA sanction club here in Dayton.
Blues Artist of the Week - T-Bone Walker
Aaron Thibeaux Walker (May 28, 1910 — March 16, 1975) was an American blues guitarist, singer, pianist, and songwriter born in Linden, Texas, of African American and Native American (Cherokee) descent.
T-Bone is regarded as the first blues musician to use an electric guitar. He was a pioneer and innovator of the jump blues and electric blues sound. According to Wikipedia, Jump Blues is “is an up-tempo style of blues, usually played by small groups and featuring horn instruments. It was popular in the 1940s and was a precursor of rhythm and blues and rock and roll.”
He was ranked #47 in Rolling Stone magazine’s list of “The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time. Chuck Berry, B.B. King, and Jimi Hendrix were a few artists that credited T-Bone Walker as a guiding influence.
Stormy Monday is his most famous song. T-Bone’s Stormy Monday was cited by BB. King as the inspiration for him to get an electric guitar and was covered by The Allman Brothers Band, Jethro Tull, and even Eva Cassidy. Jimi Hendrix and Steve Miller credited T-Bone with teaching them how to play the guitar with their teeth!
I recommend you start your listening and exploration of T-Bone Walker with T-Bone Blues (1959).
Yes! The 20th is here!
So, there is new optimism as the calendar changes to 20. Yes, we can be optimistic things will be better. Like the change from 2020 to 2021, things didn’t get magically better; that is also true, going from 19 to 20.
We Need to Take Positive Action!
Action is what we need to make things better. We all need to take action to make it better. Just wanting it or assuming it will be better isn’t going to do it. We need to focus on change and action.
Action is what makes the change.
Change is what makes things better.
We need to decide to make things better.
That concerted effort and deliberate action are what will make the change.
Both sides are demanding change and see a better future. However, let’s collectively decide to change. Take positive, meaningful action for everyone! Don’t be divisive act inclusive.
10 Qualities of a Great Club Treasurer
So, you volunteered to become the treasurer for your RC club or other organization? Being a financial person in your “day-job” helps but isn’t necessary to be a great club treasurer.
Other than being willing to do it, here are ten characteristics that make an excellent treasurer:
1. Good custodian – you have the aptitude and temperament to take care of things. You are the custodian of the Club’s finances. This includes expenditures, revenue, and in most cases, any tax reporting. Being a good custodian means respecting the importance of the Club’s finances and take care to manage them properly.
2. Transparency – Transparency builds trust and proper internal controls. It would help if you were comfortable putting your work out for all to see. Only through independent review and scrutiny can everyone trust what you are doing. It would be best if you had the self-confidence to display your work. Comfort with reporting, explaining, and documenting what you are doing is key to transparency.
3. Detail-oriented – Money and expenses require a detailed focus to be adequately managed. Are you a detail-oriented person, or do you like the big picture? You will most likely be doing all the work, so you need to be comfortable. Remember, a club is not a big for-profit organization; there is probably no PeopleSoft, Oracle, or Workday! It is just you and either Excel, Numbers, or a rudimentary product.
The detail-oriented focus extends to understanding the Club’s bylaws and rules. You are probably an executive officer of the Club, so this will go beyond accounting and finances.
4. Good communicator – Along with transparency – you need to explain financial concepts to non-finance people. There will be skeptical club members that either don’t understand the finances or don’t have complete trust in you. Being an effective communicator is a required skill.
5. Able to Support the Club’s leadership – you are an executive member of the Club, so you need to be able to advise and consult the Club’s leadership on what can be afforded, what can’t, what you are spending money on, and how fundraising is going. That’s probably obvious even to brand-new treasurers. But there is a second treasurer duty that’s almost as important as the first: You must provide financial information to support decision making.
6. Understand cash flow statement – There is typically no accrual accounting – it is all about what came into the bank account and what went out. Club accounting is all about cash flow reporting.
7. Trust but verify – you are friends with the club members, but you need to ensure that basic fiducial rules are followed – basic receipt/documentation requirements for everyone – consistency will help build trust and take the friendship card out of it.
8. Honest - Critical as club members know you and probably already trust you – see #7 above – this is a fine line.
9. Ideally, a finance or accounting background – not needed but helps. Even effectively managing your own personal or family finances will be beneficial.
10. Flexible – This is not a major corporation, so you need to be flexible with the membership – Clubs are organized around a common interest, and accounting and finances are not the main focus of the Club. There are typically no stockholders, strict forecasts, so when the Club membership wants to do something, you need to pivot and move into #5 above.
You should feel good about serving the Club. Many clubs’ successes result from the diverse members contributing their varied talents.
Be mindful of these ten key attributes, and you are on the way to being a great club treasurer.
Blues Artist of the Week - Albert King
A blues player I’m currently enjoying is Albert King. Albert King (1923-1992) was the stage name for Albert Nelson. By some accounts, he was born in Indianola, Mississippi, and others (his Social Security application) Aberdeen, Mississippi.
Albert was known as the Velvet Bulldozer given his towering size (6’4” and over 250 LBS) coupled with the fact he drove a bulldozer early in life.
He played a big triangular Gibson Flying V-shaped like a rocket ship named Lucy. He played it upside down, left-handed and didn’t reverse the strings. His style is described as powerful string-bending, with soulful, smoky vocals.
He is a member of both the Blues Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
A great album to start enjoying Albert with is considered his trademark album - Stax singles “Born Under a Bad Sign. Also, Live Wire/Blues Power, recorded at the Fillmore in San Francisco, and the,” “Cross Cut Saw,” “The Hunter,” and “I’ll Play the Blues for You” albums are great.
Mittens for Winter-Time RC Flying
Don’t stop flying your RC airplanes or drones this winter. Although, nothing sends chills through your hands like holding on to a metal transmitter box.
Just get yourself some fold-over mittens.
I use the Simms flying fishing fold-over mittens in, and they work great. IMAGE. I have the necessary feel for the sticks with these fold-over mittens while protecting my hands from the cold bare metal. I can fold them over when I’m done flying and can warm my hands up. I get the benefit of the “glove fingers” for control and the warming impact of mittens when I fold over the cover.
These mittens are 100% polyester and are not waterproof. They have half fingers and a mitten overlay. The mitten fold-over provides the warmth of a mitten while the fingers give control and dexterity. The Simms mittens have an elastic band to secure the fold over for both your fingers and thumb. They also have a snap that allows them to be snapped together.
The gloves can be machine washed and tumble dried on low. I have used these for fly fishing, and washing the gloves got all the fish smell out.
I have larges, and they seem to be true to their size. Come cooler temperatures, these gloves/mittens are permanently in my car.
An inexpensive item for your cool-weather kit allows you to extend your flying season and get out there year-round.
I hope this helps and keep flying.
Jazz Artist of the Week - Charlie Parker
I’m making an effort to expand my knowledge and enjoyment of jazz and blues this year. I am looking forward to this focused attention.
The first artist I am delving into is Charlie Parker. A website dedicated to his life and music is here.
Charlie Parker developed his unique alto saxophone jazz style in the alleys behind the Kansas City jazz clubs. He is considered an inventor of the bebop style. His trouble with alcohol and heroin cut his life short in 1955 at the age of 34. He was an extremely fast player and introduced harmonic ideas into jazz. He marked his success on his constant practice. Some indicate he practiced up to 15 hours a day for 3 to 4 years, perfecting his craft.
A great album to sample Charlie’s magic is:
Charlie Parker with Strings: The Master Takes (Polygram).
2020 RC Airplane Hobby Year in Review
Everyone is doing a year in review, so I thought I would share my second year in the RC hobby.
It was a year of solo flying as my son lost interest in the hobby, and I continued by myself. I had gotten into the hobby through my son, so I had to transition to RC flying, not being a father-son event.
With my son leaving the hobby, I expanded and grew in the hobby by:
I am programming my RC airplanes into my transmitter. Aircraft setup is a critical skill that I needed to learn.
I progressed and took up one of my son’s EDF’s for the first time. Nerve-racking and tough. The Hawk was my first EDP, and I enjoyed it.
Creating a dedicated RC workbench. I needed a dedicated space to maintain and work on my RC airplane collection. Here is a YouTube video of my dedicated workspace.
Repairing my planes. My son enjoyed repairing our planes so, this year, I developed this skill. I developed my repair skills from foam repair to landing gear, servos, and motor replacement.
Painting and airbrushing my own planes. Along with repairing, I also grew my painting and airbrushing skills. For both aesthetics and safety (increasing my view of the plane’s orientation), I got good and enjoyed painting my airplanes.
Built a storage rack system for my planes. Planes are expensive and can easily get damaged if they aren’t organized and put away. My garage storage system keeps the planes safe.
Started a YouTube channel and revamped my blog. All about sharing as I grow and learn in the RC hobby.
It was a different year at the field as well:
COVID, coupled with my son leaving the hobby, really had me flying by myself a fair bit as our club couldn’t hold any Fly-in’s or club events. I did have a small group of friends from the club that I would fly with and learn from, which was awesome.
To be creative, we started racing cars at the field. Too much wind is a great time for racing cars. Care racing helped build camaraderie.
The club has given back so much to me that I am giving back by being the treasurer for the club. I can use my finance and accounting skills to give back and help grow the club.
How was your year?
Let me know in the comments below.
I will be reflecting on how I want to grow in the RC airplane hobby in 2021. I will share my thoughts as I set goals for 2021 and also bring you along on my journey in the hobby.
Get Yourself Thinking with these Review Questions
We are all trying to put 2020 behind us and are looking forward to a better 2021. Just looking forward to next year is not going to automatically make it better. Hoping that ’21 set the bar so low that ’21 has to be better isn’t a full-proof strategy.
You have to make an intentional choice to make it better. If you can’t clearly state your mission, values, and goals, you need to do more thinking.
Here are questions that I have gathered from people like James Clear, Jim Afremow, and even Han Solo!, to review how things have gone in the past and how I want to intentionally experience the next year, month, day, etc.
I hope some of these questions provide you with inspiration to pause and think about where you are and what you want your future to look like.
Imagine the most important goal or project you are working on right now. Fast forward six months. Imagine the project has failed. Why did you fail?
If you keep living the way you are, what will your life look like in 20 years?
Do I take 100 percent responsibility for my successes and failures?
Have you played the victim? And how can you take responsibility for how you feel?
Imagine the most important goal or project you are working on right now. Fast forward six months. Imagine the project has failed. Why did you fail?
What limits have you placed on your own success? How can you break through these perceived limits?
When the rules don't work you break Them. Where do you need to stop doing the same thing so you can get a better result? Don't always follow conventional thinking when there is a better way.
How will I handle my current situation like a champion?
What will I do now to get to where I want to be in the future?
Weekly Beginner's Taxiway 2020-12-23
Reviews, thoughts, and events from the week in RC Airplanes
Term of the Week
Electronic Speed Control (“ESC”) is the on-board computer that controls the speed of your RC airplane. The ESC plugs both into your battery and into the throttle port on your receiver. RC Airplanes has an excellent description of the ESC.
ESC’s are differentiated by brushless vs. brushed and by the maximum current they can take. The price increases as the maximum current rating increases. Using a battery with a current above what the ESC is rated for can cause the ESC to malfunction and catch fire. Both are unintended consequences. If you are changing out an ESC, if your ESC with the battery and motor you are using, you should be fine.
Plane Reviews and Tips
Best RC Airplane Tool for 2021 - RC Beginners - This is by far the best tool for getting into the RC airplane hobby, hint, and you don’t get cold in the winter!
Need to teach yourself to fly? Here is a great series to help RCGS Chapter 1.2 Choosing a Model - Teaching Yourself to Fly-
Are you confused by all the RC airplane acronyms? Here are all the essential acronyms defined. RC Hobby Acronyms for Beginners | Quick Tip | Motion RC
Tool of the Trade
Ball link pliers - These pliers are familiar to helicopter pilots but are useful for us RC airplane pilots. Loosening and attaching the servo arm clevises on a control service can be challenging, and as most of them are plastic and can break if you aren’t gentle.
These pliers can get in the clevis and release the attachment point and allow for adjustment. And the simple press of the plyers applies even pressure and secures the clevis attachment.
A simple, inexpensive tool that is a toolbox must-have.
Weekly Beginner’s Taxiway Final 2020-12-12
Reviews, thoughts, and events from the week in RC Airplanes
Term of the Week
Flaps, like ailerons, are another control surface on the aircraft’s wings. I covered ailerons in last week’s post.
Wikipedia describes a flap as. “a high-lift device used to reduce the stalling speed of an aircraft wing at a given weight. Flaps are usually mounted on the wing trailing edges of a fixed-wing aircraft. Flaps are used to reduce the take-off distance and the landing distance. Flaps also cause an increase in drag so they are retracted when not needed”.
The flaps are located closer to the fuselage than the ailerons and extend out and down when deployed. RC airplanes typically have three settings; full flaps, middle flaps, and no flaps. Middle flaps can be used for takeoffs with mid and full flaps deployed on landings. If there are stronger winds, the flaps may not be needed for landing.
On an RC airplane, each flap is controlled by a servo and is considered a channel on the receiver. The flaps leads are connected to a “Y” harness with the “Y” harness lead inserted into a channel on the receiver. Thus, the type of transmitter or radio you have will determine if you can put flaps on a channel switch.
Plane Reviews and Tips
Mike NCRCF - Thinking about building your RC airplane? This video from Mike NCRCF is the first in a series to get you started. Episode #1 Introduction to the Build Series.
Why do you Fly? Why did we get into the RC Hobby? Here is a good thread on why others have gotten bit by the RC airplane hobby.
RC Plane Lab - Here is a great weekly RC airplane podcast with hosts Ron Hull and Tom Dale
Tool of the Trade
RC Inexpensive Power Screwdriver Although not necessary, having a battery-powered screwdriver is an excellent addition to the toolbox. From installing wings after you get to the field to removing the wings at the end of the day for transport home, you are constantly using a small screwdriver. You may be adjusting a control surface, centering a servo, adjusting landing gear; a screwdriver is a key tool; why not make it a powered screwdriver. The powered screwdriver is indispensable when paired with a set of interchangeable heads.
Weekly Beginner's Taxiway 2020-12-05
Reviews, thoughts, and events from the week in RC Airplanes
Term of the Week
Aileron is a French word that means “little wing: or “fin.” The aileron is on the trailing edge of the wing and controls the roll of your aircraft.
Essentially, activating the aileron causes your plane to bank and thus turn.
There are two ailerons (one on each wing) that work in tandem to control the aircraft. These act differently from the rudder that also turns the aircraft. The rudder controls rotation around the vertical axis of your plane. The rudder controls the yaw of the plane and used while taxiing.
The ailerons are controlled by individual servos that are activated by the receiver. The receiver decodes the electrical directions from the transmitter in your hand.
Typically, both individual aileron wire leads are plugged into a “Y” harness, and the lead from the “Y” harness is plugged into a single receiver slot.
Plane Reviews and Tips
Turbine engines and beginner may be a bit of an oxymoron, but here is a quick flight video of the Bobcat Composite. Turbine engines are fast and would be considered a speed step up from EDF jets.
Fast RC Turbine Model Jet Bobcat Composite for beginner into Turbine Aeromodelling RC Airplane
Tim McKay has a wonderful video on airplane hatches. If you want to geek out on airplane parts, this is a video to watch. Model Airplane Hatches for Newbies
Your brushless motor not working? Here is a good description of a brushless motor and how to rewind it.
Tool of the Trade RC Airplane Stands
Airplane Stands come in all shapes and sizes and are something you need to quickly work on your planes and protect them from bumps and bruises. There are two types, the homemade and purchased. The homemade version is typically made from PVC pipe.
If you are making a stand, measure your planes and make sure you build the stand the right height and length.
Too low, and the plane’s rear wing will hit and too long and the plane will not be adequately supported on the fuselage.
The manufactured stands are typically adjustable and typically allow for assembly and disassembly in the field, thus allowing easier transport. This inexpensive tool is invaluable at the field. Whether you build a custom stand or purchase one, this is a key tool.
Weekly Beginner's Taxiway 2020-11-27
Reviews, thoughts, and events from the week in RC Airplanes
Term of the Week - Servo
Servos are what allow you to control and pilot your aircraft. The servo takes the decoded electrical pulses from the receiver and performs the desired mechanical function. Servos activate the landing gear; they move the flaps, ailerons, and elevator. The servo connects to the receiver with a 3-pin connecter, and the electrical pulses are decoded in the servo and move the servo arms through the gears.
The servo consists of a small motor, gears, and a servo arm attachment secured to the servo wire. Servos are denoted by how much weight or force they can actuate. According to Wikipedia, “if a servo model is described as “0.2 s / 2 kg”, that should be interpreted as “This servo rotates the shaft for 60° in 0.2 seconds, and it is able to pull up 2 kg weight using a 1 cm radius pulley”. That is, that particular servo model rotates the shaft with the angular speed of (2π / 6) / 0.2 s = 5.2 rad/s while producing 2 kg × 9.81 m/s2 = 19.6 N force at 1 cm distance, i.e. it produces 19.6 N × 0.01 m = 0.196 N m torque.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Servo_(radio_control)
There are two construction types of servo gears, metal, and plastic. A good rule of thumb is that a plastic servo will typically have a useful life of approximately 100 hours. If a servo is going to fail, generally, the failure relates to stripped gears. Stripped gears are more likely with a plastic geared servo vs. metal.
Hard landings or a crash typically cause stripped gears.
Tip – When you have a crashed plane, always test the servos to see if they are functioning and save them. Most are interchangeable.
Plane Reviews and Tips
FlightTest has a great post on 8 ways to improve your RC flying skills. We can all learn from these.
Pilot Ryan Media - Looking for a beginner EDF jet? Check out this video review of the Eflite Viper 70mm EDF Beginner EDF Jet Maiden with Capt. Mike
Check out these kids. It is refreshing to see talented young people in the hobby.
A tool of the Trade - Servo Tester
My servo tester is a crucial tool. A small 4.8V (4 Cell) 2000mAh NiMH battery powers the servo tester and allows you to test/actuate a servo to see if it is working or center the servo. A servo tester typically has three settings, manual, center, and automatic.
Using a servo tester is safer and more efficient than hooking up a lipo battery to supply power to the servo. The only way a servo can be tested is with applied power.
Connecting the 3-pin connector to the servo tester and activating the tester will allow you to test the servo safely.
Here is a link to the $9 servo tester I use.
Servo testers and inexpensive and a must-have tool.
Until next week safe flying!
Weekly Beginner’s taxiway 2020-11-19
Reviews, thoughts, and events from the week in RC Airplanes
Term of the Week – Receiver
Last week, we covered the transmitter. The other half of the electronic puzzle is the receiver. The receiver is the on-board component that receives the electronic instructions sent from the transmitter in your hands to operate the RC aircraft.
The receiver either has an internal or external antenna that receives the transmitter pulses. To ensure maximum connectivity, these antennae must be extended and, best case, away from the battery and at right angles to each other. Proper placement of the antenna gives the receiver full capability to receive the MHz signals. Keeping the antenna away from the battery (which can block the signal) will help.
The receiver has ports that correspond to the number of channels. These ports receive wires from the plane’s servos. The servos are what activate actions on the plane. For example, a landing gear servo mechanically raises and lowers the gear based on radio signals you give the aircraft through the transmitter. The transmitter’s signals are decoded by the receiver and activate the throttle, flaps, or other servo-controlled activity.
A receiver and transmitter from the same manufacturer will give you optimal performance. For example, the Spektrum brand of transmitters require receivers that use the DSMX or DSM2 algorithms. It is best to stay in the family once you decide on a transmitter. The transmitter is more costly, so first pick a transmitter brand and then the receivers.
Plane Reviews
RC Saylers have another beginner video with their take on the Must-Have RC beginner planes. Check it out here. Also, check out my post on Top 6 Beginner/Trainer Planes.
I Just Got Here has a video on flying the Flex Innovations Mamba 10. Awesome trivia point - He just completed 365 days straight of flying RC airplanes outside. Here is I just Got Here’s video.
João Dias de Carvalho has an informative video on How to land RC plane on grass, How to fly four-channel planes, and land a plane. Great in-flight video with extensive notes, tips, and explanations in the comments. Don’t miss this video.
Events
No events this week.
Tool of the Trade
Cushion Foam: Foam is not just for sitting on! Our RC airplanes are strong, but the foam construction material is easily bruised and damaged. I rest my plane on top of a piece of foam when I’m working on it, or even changing the battery.
If the PVC rack doesn’t work or the landing gear isn’t activated, the foam is the go-to tool. Foam always goes with me to the field. Here is a video of what I take to the field. Check out the video description for a downloadable checklist so you don’t forget anything as you pack for the field.
Until next week safe flying!
Weekly Beginner’s taxiway 2020-11-11
Reviews, thoughts, and events from the week in RC Airplanes
Term of the Week – Transmitter
The Remote-control transmitter is the device that sends instructions to the remote-control airplane’s onboard receiver. These transmissions are how you control your airplane. Current transmitters are on the 2.4GHz band. The 2.4GHz band is used for most RC transmitters because the FCC has designated this band as free.
Transmitters are further designated by how many channels they support or can control. For example, Throttle control is a channel; Flaps are a channel; Landing Gear is a channel. Etc. The more channels a transmitter supports, the more functions on an aircraft it can control, and the more expensive it is.
A 6-Channel transmitter is a good beginner transmitter. I would not go below six channels, and I would consider 8-Channel a good sweet spot.
A receiver and transmitter from the same manufacturer will give you optimal performance. For example, the Spektrum brand of transmitters requires receivers that use the DSMX or DSM2 algorithms. It is best to stay in the family once you decide on a transmitter.
The transmitter is more costly, so first, pick a transmitter brand and then the receivers.
Plane Reviews
The RC Saylors posted a great review of the Carbon Cub S 2 Beginner RC Airplane. Check out their review here. This plane is one of my top 6 beginner/trainer planes. Check out the other planes on my Top 6 Starter and Beginner Remote Control Airplanes post.
RC Informer posted a review here of the FMS CJ-6 V2 1200mm aircraft. This is another good beginner / intermediate plane.
Events
This year, in-person RC fly-ins have been canceled. One that took place was the celebration of National RC Day. Here is Merry Boozer’s review of the National RC Day at IRCC.
A tool of the Trade
The Metal Ammo Box – Incorrect handling of LiPo batteries could potentially cause a fire. I store and transport my lipo batteries in a metal ammo box. I use the Harbor Freight ammo box. These boxes are inexpensive and are easy to transport in my car. I sort my batteries by box.
A quick tip – add Velcro to the inside of the ammo box lid and on the back of your lipo tester, and you will always know where your tester is, and it is safe and out of the way. No more digging in your pockets to test your battery.
Until next week safe flying!
Top 6 Starter and Beginner Remote Control Airplanes
New to the RC airplane hobby? Looking for a good trainer plane? Here are my top six trainer RC airplanes. First, here are the features I look for in a trainer or beginner plane:
Tricycle landing gear
High wing (wing on the top of the fuselage) as opposed to a low wing aircraft
Larger wingspan (1.0 meters to 1.6 meters). – larger wingspan makes the plane more stable, especially in the wind. You might think small planes are easier to fly, that isn’t the case.
1. Apprentice – Tricycle landing gear and high wing make this an excellent trainer plane. The wing is attached with rubber bands, which gives the plane more forgiveness with rough landings. Also, the Apprentice is easy to transport with the wing easily removed from the fuselage.
2. Pandora – Tricycle landing gear and the Pandora is convertible from a high wing to a low-wing aircraft. As you become more confident in your piloting skills, you can convert the plane into a low-wing plane—all these features for a reasonable price. Typically priced below the Apprentice.
3. Timber – There are three versions of the Timber. I like this plane’s versatility as you can take off and land quickly, commonly known as STOL (Short Takeoff and landing), do all the acrobatics you want, even 3D flying, and has a large wing area for stable flying. A nice plane you can grow with as your skills progress. Flaps allow for slow landings, which help reduce the damage associated with hard landings.
4. AeroScout. - With a 1.1-meter wingspan, a great starter plane. AeroScout’s unique feature is that it is a pusher plane. The motor and propeller are on top of the wing facing the tail (“pusher”). This design helps protect the propeller and motor from damage on heavy crashes. Starting out, you tend to go through a lot of propellers.
5. Carbon Cub S - Another larger plane at 1.3 m wing with tricycle landing gear. Civilian scale plane so looks excellent in the air. SAFE mode is exclusive to Horizon Hobby, as is “Sensor Assisted Flight Envelope) technology that helps to prevent over-control, loss of orientation, and crashes so nearly everyone can learn to fly successfully” .
6. Air Titan 1600mm (63”) Large wingspan at 63 inches (1.6 meters). All around nice plane to fly and grow into. Stable in the air and easily repairable.
Conclusion - You cannot go wrong with any of these planes, so it comes down to some of the unique features they offer. Also, what looks good to you, and what are you going to be excited to pilot. If you have a local hobby shop, what brands, models they stock to get replacement parts quickly can be critical. I have made many stops on the way home from the field to pick up or order replacement parts.
Disclaimer - None of these links are affiliate links. Links are only included for your convenience; I have no association with the vendors linked. Thanks
6 Reasons Remote Control Cars are good for your Remote Control Airplane Club
Here are six reasons introducing Remote Control Cars to your RC Airplane Club is a great idea.
You can’t fly when it is too windy. When the winds pick up that is a great time to switch to RC cars. Either on a separate track or even on the runway, racing and driving cars is a great pastime when the winds pick up. RC Cars can extend the day and help build camaraderie amongst your club members.
Want to expose more people to the RC airplane hobby? Which means more dues-paying members for your club? Putting in an RC car track or facility will attract RC hobbies and while there are there expose them to RC airplanes. You can even have memberships that cover both or either hobby.
RC Cars are popular now, especially amongst kids. Introducing RC cars to your flying field will help expose kids to the RC airplane hobby. This is a great way to get kids into the RC hobby.
Adding an RC car track doesn’t take up that much space. Adding a track to your club grounds can be easy. A packed-dirt or clay track can be easily built and maintained. A little planning will ensure the race track is away from the flying field, so both can coexist.
RC races are a great way to bring revenue into your club. You can organize fly-ins but weekly races are popular and bring needed revenue into your club. More revenue equals more upgrades and better maintenance for the entire club grounds. Also, more people at the field equals more people exposed to RC airplanes.
People enter the RC airplane hobby for the enjoyment of flying, the technical nature of the technology, and the creativity towards flying and building planes. RC Cars bring the same creativity, technicality, and enjoyment. The thrill of racing and trying to beat your best lap time is awesome. RC cars are a great compliment.
If you are brainstorming ideas on expanding your club, bring up introducing RC cars at your next club meeting.
What I take to the Field
NOTE: Free Download Below!
Do you wonder what to pack for a day at the field? Here is a video of what I pack to enjoy the day at the field. Also, I have added the actual checklist I use to make sure I don’t forget anything. Add your name and email address below and download the checklist.
7 Great YouTube Channels for RC Airplane Content
If you are new to the RC airplane hobby like I am, you are continually looking for great sources for information. These 7 YouTube channels are an excellent place to start to keep up on the RC airplane hobby. Rather than beginner-focused content, these channels focus more on product reviews and on Motion RC and Horizon Hobby product releases. The RC Saylors cover all things RC, including RC Boats, RC Cars along with RC airplanes.
Pilot Ryan Media
Merry Boozer RC
RC Informer
The RC Geek
I also publish videos for beginners to the RC airplane hobby over at JD Hayes.
Any other good resources that you have discovered?