I am fairly new to the hobby, although I dipped my toe in as a teen with a Cox 0.49 glow engine, line-controlled P-51 Mustang.
After a divorce 12 years ago, I was searching for new friends and a new hobby to keep myself occupied. I always liked and wanted model aircraft, but my situations would not allow it.
So, I tried my hand at some small helicopters. I did ok, but I didn't like that as much as I thought I would. I switched to some quadcopters, some of which I still fly to this day. But I went "PLANE CRAZY" when I tried fixed-wing aircraft. I found the fixed wings much easier to control than the helis and quads.
I took a "Quick Start" class through a local AMA Club. Great program! I got six weeks of instruction from some really good model airplane pilots, some of which were full-scale pilots as well. The instruction sessions were during the winter months. One of the instructors had me "flying" on his computer flight simulator (RealFlight). Then, when actual flying lessons with a buddy box started at the field in the spring, I was ready.
My VERY FIRST fixed-wing flight was a complete success! It is also a pretty awesome story to tell about ...
The club had four E-flite Apprentices that they used for their Quick Start program. The first day at the field that spring, we had ten students, six instructors, and four planes at the field. There was also a pretty good cross wind on the runway. One of the "buddy boxes" was not working properly. The other students were having the instructor take off and land the plane, giving control to them while at a good altitude that they called "three mistakes high."
The one instructor that let me use his simulator was confident that I could take off and land on my own, so he suggested that I use the plane that did not have the buddy box working. I had one of the instructors standing right next to me. The plan was that if I got in trouble, I could hand him the transmitter.
I took off in the cross wind with little trouble at all. I made one trip around the field. Then as I was starting a second trip, I lost motor power.
The instructor told me to give it some more power. I told him that I was trying, but the throttle was not responding. Then, he wanted me to give him the radio. However, I insisted that I believed I could bring the plane back around for a landing, as I had plenty of altitude to work with. He was freaking out. I simply remained calm as I gently turned the plane back towards the runway and glided the plane down for the smoothest landing I have ever made. I have been trying to duplicate that first landing ever since!
So, I was totally hooked at first fixed-wing flight! When we checked the plane out, it was determined that my instructor did not check to make sure the battery was fully charged before I took off. So that was not only an amazing first flight for me, but also a very valuable lesson!
Since then, I have been placed on the disabled list due to some serious health issues. That also placed me into a situation where money is scarce, and there is not a lot to go flying on.
However, having been a certified professional automotive technician my entire adult life, I have no issues understanding the electronics and mechanical attributes involved in building and/or maintaining model airplanes. This allows me to "fly on the cheap," as I build and maintain my own little fleet.
I have found I can have a bunch of fun and camaraderie with a lot of great guys without having to mortgage my home!
I also like to modify the graphics on my planes. Like, I took an E-flite Leader 480, modified the graphics, added an Uncle Sam Snoopy as the pilot, and made it into my "Freedom/Patriot" plane. (See photo at beginning of biography.)
My favorite "go-to" plane is still the E-flite Apprentice that I had my very first flight with. That exact one belongs to the club, but I currently own two flight-ready Apprentices, and I have enough parts to build two more. The two that I fly are heavily modified. They are hopped up with bigger motors, larger landing gears, and metal gear servos, with fuselage and rear stabilizer reinforcements. I can now do things with an Apprentice that the Apprentice was never designed to do! I even turned one of them into a "Night Apprentice" and flew it through the new year this last New Year's Eve (2025-2026).
I simply love the hobby and encourage others to get in and enjoy it! I don't have the big bucks to fly the big fancy planes, but I get to hang out with a bunch of great folks who do! All of them have been really supportive and helpful in making the hobby a real joy!
