I have always been interested in aviation. As a kid, my bedroom ceiling was covered with hanging airplane models. My love of aviation was later fulfilled in my military service, having flown in an array of helicopters. The bug had bit and becoming a pilot was definitely on my bucket list.
My next-door neighbor in Waco had a PA-32 Cherokee Six. We both loved saltwater fishing and made many trips down to the coast in that plane. We called it 'fly fishing". In the summer of 1998, he asked me if I would be interested in flying with him to AirVenture in Oshkosh and camp under the wing for a few days. "Heck yeah" was my immediate response. That experience solidified my desire to become a pilot and I returned home to sell pilot training to my wife.
We soon realized that pilot training costs and subsequent airplane rentals would eat up the entertainment budget, leaving us unable to do other things together. I filed that pilot dream away, but the itch remained.
Several years later, I retired and met an RC pilot. I accompanied him several times to a flying field and watched him pilot his electric powered J3 Cub. I saw this was something I could do and scratch that "old itch."
I have been an RC pilot for 16 years and fly giant scale electric. Throughout that time, I have been a member of Victoria Radio Control Flyers and have served as Club President and Secretary. For the last eleven years, I have been the Newsletter Editor and currently serve as the club's Contest Manager/Event Manager.
The RC flying community has given me countless hours of pleasure in model aviation. Club members have been most helpful in teaching advanced handling of the planes, and yes, tips on how to repair. It has been a challenging learning experience where there is continued refinement of piloting skills. The only danger I can report is the continuing desire to buy just one more airplane.
