RE: Why is CL losing popularity?

RE: Why is CL losing popularity?
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RE: Why is CL losing popularity? - 6/19/2006 10:14:02 AM

Jagdgeschwader 26

Posts: 57
Joined: 5/26/2002
From: Portage, WI, USA
Status: offline

Wow, it has taken me hours to read through this thread. But time well spent. I am impressed with the level of mature discussion presented here, in spite of differences in opinion at times. Congratulations.

I grew up within 5 miles of the CL field adjacent to Cleveland Hopkins Airport. I flew in the 1958 and 1959 Junior Air Races there. I grew up flying CL. My friend and I would mow lawns in the morning to have enough money to purchase a quart of Testor's 39 fuel at the LHS, a 10 mile round trip on our bicycles. Then we flew our PDQ Flying Clowns all afternoon, until the quart of fuel was gone. We'd repeat the drill almost every day, all summer long. CL is in my veins, even though I haven't lifted a handle in probably 45 years.

I took up RC in the early 70's when it became affordable for me. I have flown RC ever since, but lately, I am longing for something different from the RC routine. So I am going back to CL after all these years. Not in any big way, just a sport plane that I can do some maneuvers, and have fun with at the local school yard. Perhaps I will take it to the RC field and fly it there too, but all I really want to do is to fly it within 5 minutes of home. My local RC field is 25 miles away. I am getting tired of driving so many miles to enjoy my hobby. But that seems to be the price we have to pay these days in order to enjoy our hobby. I've got RC electrics too, which I can fly locally, but somehow they just don't impress me very much.

I was sorry to learn that the old field at Cleveland Hopkins Airport was sold for a hotel development. The field as I remember was owned by the City of Cleveland. I was a member of the Lakewood Flight Masters while in high school. There were some great fliers in that organization, whom I looked up to. Bill Werwage lived in Berea, not far from where I grew up. Saw him fly CL stunt with his Ares on many occasions. His patterns were always flawless from my perspective.

I am enjoying this thread, and am looking forward to putting my EZ-Just handles to work soon!

Keep up the excellent discourse. It has been a pleasure to follow this thread.

_____________________________

Al Mangani
Portage, WI

(in reply to 50+AirYears)

Post #: 201

RE: Why is CL losing popularity? - 6/19/2006 3:02:36 PM

ghost123uk

Posts: 192
Joined: 11/29/2004
From: Chester, UNITED KINGDOM
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Jagdgeschwader 26

I took up RC in the early 70's when it became affordable for me. I have flown RC ever since, but lately, I am longing for something different from the RC routine. So I am going back to CL after all these years. Not in any big way, just a sport plane that I can do some maneuvers, and have fun with at the local school yard. Perhaps I will take it to the RC field and fly it there too,

So many folks I know are going this route.

It is amazing how well received a guy bringing a nice control-liner to the R/C field is.
It often sparks off a resurgence of interest.
One local club near me now has a very active control line contingent, even entering national comps, after a friend and I took a couple conrol-liners to the field one Sunday last year.

Best to make a good impression though, like check there is no one who objects, and use a silencer etc.
Also do the safety check routine, like line pull tests etc so no one can critisize you on that score.
Lastly, get some practice in before you fly in front of your R/C buddies, there is nothing more likely to put them off the idea than watching a shaky flight, with the pilot getting dizzy and ending in a wreck !!

_____________________________

JB in N.W. UK - (if you are into control line in my area, get in touch - we have a good scene going these days :) )

(in reply to Jagdgeschwader 26)

Post #: 202

RE: Why is CL losing popularity? - 6/19/2006 3:28:29 PM

50+AirYears

Posts: 1147
Joined: 7/29/2004
From: Lorain, OH, USA
Status: offline

Right now, I have two CL models in my car, along with 4 RC and 3 FF models. If I can get out to the club field on my lunch break, and nobody is flying RC, I will take up the CL job for a trial flight. I THINK I can still fly out a 4 ounce tank on my profile Shoestring, but I won't know for sure till I try.

(in reply to ghost123uk)

Post #: 203

RE: Why is CL losing popularity? - 6/29/2006 11:23:33 PM

cfrizell

Posts: 19
Joined: 4/2/2006
From: Canterbury, UNITED KINGDOM
Status: offline

What I like about C/L is the feeling of CONNECTION, actually FLYING the model. I really enjoy my Peacemaker though I get a bit dizzy if I'm not careful. Next plane will be another radial cowl Thunderbird - I had a great one I built in about '76 when I still lived in Rhodesia. Used a Johnson 35, wonderful motor. It died in Johannesburg SA in early 80's when a line broke. The Johnson broke too, sad to say. That's the problem with flying over tarmac.

Last Saturday I went to a show here in UK - all RC of course, but it bored me to death, except for the jets. Now, if they'd had some novelty events . . . and C/L combat . . .

Our club used to do an annual show to raise money and we'd have RC, C/L, free flight and novelties like flying lawnmowers or magic carpets.

So this winter it's the Thunderbird, probably with one of my Fox 35's

(in reply to 50+AirYears)

Post #: 204

RE: Why is CL losing popularity? - 8/2/2006 9:52:19 PM

rjbranchii

Posts: 351
Joined: 4/9/2004
From: Harsens Island, MI, USA
Status: offline

I have not followed this thread, in fact this is the first time I have come over and looked at the RCU cl forum. But the topic got me. I have to say, I disagree. I last flew CL about 20 years ago. I flew it as a kid, up to .35 planes like the Combat Streak and my last was a Stuka Stunter by Don Still. Then in my 30's I found some guys flying competitve stunt here in the Detroit Area... still had been since the 40's in fact. Rolland and Bob McDonald mentored me and Frank Carlise coached me. Art Adamission did my motors. There were only about 5 people flying cl stunt in Michigan at the time. I drove as far away to contests as Kentucky and never saw more than 8 or 10 guys.

Fast forward 20 year. I moved and my new neighbor flew RC. I told him I couldn't, I just kept rekitting them every time I flew. He said he could teach me, I said no he couldn't...... he was right, I was wrong. Been flying alot of RC for 3 years and is it easy! No buying wood from a mill in Equador to get wood light enough to build a plane from. No cutting your own 1/20th in sheeting from blocks for the same reason. No spending an entire winter to build and paint one plane to competition standards. Go get an arf and learn to fly and have a pretty plane! I loved it. Still do. Then this spring I was surfing and what to my eyes should appear on the screen but an ARF stunter... and a plane I knew was competative! Long sotry short, I am back to flying competative stunt here in the Detroit area and what happens first contest I go to? About 15 fliers show up! Second contest I go to......two in SE Michigan in one year?!! its at Remote Control Club of Detroit's field and the RC guys closed the field for us to have it for the contest! Over 20 fliers show up! And now there are contests for profiles, 4 levels of stunt competancy, old time stunt, classic stunt..... a whole new world....! Third contest... yes in SE Michigan again and about 20 fliers and a zillion combat guys including the Canadian and Russian Teams!

Oh, and in August there is another CL stunt meet in SE Michgigan and I know of at least one more on the west side fo the state that is for only solid body half A planes like Scientific models used to kit.

There is a thriving cottage stunt industry, 4 different forum groups I have found, Brodak has brought some very nice kits and very competative ARF's to the market...... CL ain't dead. From what I can see it is really barreling back!

bob branch

(in reply to cfrizell)

Post #: 205

RE: Why is CL losing popularity? - 8/2/2006 10:36:48 PM

da Rock

Posts: 6693
Joined: 10/11/2005
From: western, NC, USA
Status: online

Bob, you got a good point about the numbers.

Do you still see any of the Adamisins? How about McDonald? Any of the crowd from back then? I used to come up to a few contests in that area back then. Art hosted at least one of the US Team selections and had everyone over to his house for supper. Bet today that wouldn't work because PAMPA's network would turn out way too many people. About the numbers.... Lew McFarland also had all the stunt guys over to his house when the team selection was in Lexington and the crowd was just a good number, not a mob.

I read where the Vintage stunt meet out in Phoenix (or wherever it was) had about 100 entrants. And the list didn't have but about 20-25 from the old days.

(in reply to rjbranchii)

Post #: 206

RE: Why is CL losing popularity? - 8/3/2006 2:29:24 AM

rjbranchii

Posts: 351
Joined: 4/9/2004
From: Harsens Island, MI, USA
Status: offline

darock

My greatest sadness since returning was to learn of Rolland McDonalds death a few years ago. A nicer man there never has been and I do miss him. Bob is still flying stunt actively, in fact he is Bill Werwage's coach. He is also president of the Signal Seakers RC Club (which he claims to be perenially stuck with) but they have a nice area for CL flying at the club there. A nice core of fliers thru expert level call it home. Frank Carslisle got the thing going at RCCD and I joined last month as well because the cl fliers have the old rc field as their own there. The contest I referred to with the combat also going on was at the Old Rouge Site that the Strathmore club flew from and in fact they were the hosting club!

I was there very early (like 7am) to get some practice in because in returning I have had to go thru 4 airplanes to get my pattern back (another wonderful use for ARF's) to the point where I am now done with that. I had just finished setting my plane off the circle when I look up to a mustacio'd head of curly white hair with a huge smile and grasping me in a huge bearhug and asking if I was serious enough to accept some suggestions. BIG ART has only changed in weight, he is now quite thin... but just a Big in his heart. His wife is quite ill and requires full time nursing care from him, but he "gets out" when he needs to and a contest by the Strathmore Club was one of those needs to. He still does mufflers and engines. He offered 2 suggestions that jumped my pattern 50 points. Still a great joy of a man! Denny does not fly now, Archie only occaisionally.

Frank Carslisle I mentioned earlier. He returned after probably almost as long away as myself. He is ever the promoter of anything Control Line. He is a Brodak Dealer and helps us with anything we need from them and is just returning coming back into his previous form. He has his first competative plane just finished... a 19 appearance point plane at his first contest with it!

I wish I knew all the others but being new I really don't alot of the names. John Paris flying Expert classes, Curt Nixon and Paul Smith in Advanced are some other names I know but they were not flying back when I was previously. In Flint, Michigan there is a very large core of fliers.

Bob McDonald is as creative as ever and just breathtaking to watch. He is markedly better than he was 20 years ago.... but you'd expect that from someone as much on the cutting edge as he and Rolland always were. He is just as generous as Rolland was with his help and advice. In all the South Eastern Michigan CL faternity is alive and very well due in large part to the generosity of the fliers involved.

Personally, I've gone thru a Brodak Oriental ARF (not a good plane for me, I only have flown modern planes), two Brodak Pathfinders, and a Brodak Vector 40, all ARF's. The Brodak 40 is a wonderful out of the box stunt motor. Doesn't even need any custom rework to work well, just about twice the breakin the manual recommends... but that could be me. The Brodak 40 in the Vector 40 is a very good combination. Superb flier that will definately take someone thru Advanced level stunt with teh Brodak .40. I have a second Brodak 40 ARF i have just finished that has an AeroTiger .36 in it and a non stock control system, more like what I used to fly with ei, fully adjustable system ala McDonald's. A full build Vector 40 will get the AeroTiger once I settle on the control system in this last ARF and get the fuel system worked out for the AeroTiger. The ARF will become my backup and the first V-40 will go to an upcoming intermediate flier as a gift at the end of the season. The Brodak is going into a Profile Pathfinder so that I have a Profile-40 class and classic class plane in one package. Its fun to be back. RC is fun. But even 3D is nothing like the juice I get from a horizontal square 8 with the bottoms at 4 ft. Now that's a rush! Its good to be back.

bob branch
'

(in reply to da Rock)

Post #: 207

RE: Why is CL losing popularity? - 8/3/2006 4:44:19 AM

geebee4me

Posts: 5
Joined: 7/6/2006
From: Galesburg, IL, USA
Status: offline

I can not speak numbers but i have 4 grandchildren ages 6-12 flying c/l and learning the beginner pattern.myself have come back after a 15 year run with r/c.because i donot have to drive 40 miles to fly!My c/l models use 1-5 functions not just elevator.It is very challenging and fun and i have a lot of interest from the public especialy young one's.I do not mean to take anything away from r/c just wanted to give my 2 cents!!!!!!!

(in reply to rjbranchii)

Post #: 208

RE: Why is CL losing popularity? - 8/3/2006 12:58:04 PM

rjbranchii

Posts: 351
Joined: 4/9/2004
From: Harsens Island, MI, USA
Status: offline

I think kids gravitate to cl easier than rc because they are connected to the plane and its alot closer. They can see it and see they are making it do what it does. Plus lets face it, a small half a cl plane is alot simpler project than most rc trainers.

bob branch

(in reply to geebee4me)

Post #: 209

RE: Why is CL losing popularity? - 8/4/2006 2:41:18 AM

da Rock

Posts: 6693
Joined: 10/11/2005
From: western, NC, USA
Status: online

Big Art is still alive? Nah..... He looked old enough to be my father back in uh..... back when he produced his Dewoitine 520. Good news. Thanks for that news, it made my day.

(in reply to rjbranchii)

Post #: 210

RE: Why is CL losing popularity? - 8/4/2006 3:51:44 AM

rjbranchii

Posts: 351
Joined: 4/9/2004
From: Harsens Island, MI, USA
Status: offline

darock

(in reply to da Rock)

Post #: 211

RE: Why is CL losing popularity? - 8/5/2006 6:41:08 AM

loughbd

Posts: 2111
Joined: 11/29/2003
From: Bremerton, WA, USA
Status: offline

Well Paul, Boring?????

C/L has lost people becuase there is no place to do it anymore. When I was a kid, we all flew in School grounds but that is no more. Liability and noise got us all kicked out of school. I'm a teacher and I can't even fly on a high school playground.

Old??? Very Old???? I'm 58 and that, pal, is NOT Very old. My dad is 84 and still flying model airplanes and he doesn't consider himself old.

< Message edited by darock -- 8/5/2006 12:16:25 PM >

(in reply to RCPAUL)

Post #: 212

RE: Why is CL losing popularity? - 12/27/2006 3:36:54 PM

Devilduck

Posts: 16
Joined: 12/20/2006
From: , LA, USA
Status: offline

Hey all my fellow C/L ers.

i am new here. I have been reading the R/C electric flight forums as I have been looking at a small park flyer.

I love my C/L planes. I am finishing up a Strega .50 right now. I fly Pampa Stunt in N. Louisiana. Been a long hiatas. Over in the Med serving in the USN 10 years. I have missed my pattern lol. I made it up to intermediate. I won once at Houston contest. 1st one I flew in. I am glad to find a forum on CL.

I currently live in N. Louisiana. I flew alot in Baton Rouge. At inpendence park. With about 5 guys on average. I have been very forunate. Only crashed 1 plane in 300 flights. Was a good one though. Old ringmaster(my gramps from the early 70's). He gave it to me.

I am looking for people in the N. Louisiana area to fly with. Any way to find people? I do need to get my AMA and Pampa back. But, I would like to find some one to fly with.

As a side note

Years ago in Baton Rouge) I took my Vector 40 out to the Local RC field they loved it. Flying "freestyle" stunt... Nothing more funny then "building a house". The name of the manuver. 1 square with a triangle on top....Quite funny. I could hear the RC guys cringing when I was inverted less than a foot off the ground. snapped into a wing over to come out level again at about 5 inch off the ground...needless to say they were impressed.

< Message edited by Devilduck -- 12/27/2006 3:39:32 PM >

(in reply to loughbd)

Post #: 213

RE: Why is CL losing popularity? - 12/27/2006 4:05:52 PM

jerichod

Posts: 30
Joined: 11/10/2004
From: Los Alamos, NM, USA
Status: offline

I had not been following this thread for some time, but was tickled to see that so many r/c'rs are returning to or going to control line. i was a 20 year r/c person, never tried cl until a few years ago, and now it is most all i fly and certainly the flying that i enjoy most. r/c is just boring right now. i too have started taking the brodak cardinal to the r/c field, and flying when there is a lull. i have even gotten a few of the staunch r/c'rs to give it a hand, and they enjoyed it. no converts yet, but certainly an upswing in interest. in fact, the club agreed to clear a c/l circle next to the r/c area so we can all hang out at the same field.

one of the things that surprised