Wonderful, memory filled thread guys!
I’ve played with flying models, stick and tissue, cox control line from about 10 years old (’65). Dad got us into RC when he volunteered to design the electronics to go into a servo for what would become “Delta Systems” a major RC Car supplier in the 70s and 80s.
Our first RC unit was a Delta Systems 7 channel HOME MADE unit, two channels of which were stuffed into a Midwest “Lil T” that had been converted by Dad to a two channel plane. My first “flight” was in the spring of 69 at a park in Florissant MO. The 0.049 on the pylon drug the plane in the air and it went round and round in big circles till the gas ran out. Never did feel like I ever had control.
One thing in my evolution, that none of you have commented on is that it feels like my RC experience grew in stages that were years apart. Once in high school Dad and I would take turns flying the Lil T at the Goodyear Model Club, now Corsair Model Club in Akron OH. I got to the point that I could launch, fly and actually land in one piece all on the same field. That old Lil T had to be a great trainer, we never broke it. I do recall my first lesson with an instructor. He put my new 61 powered Goldberg Sr. Falcon up SOOOO HIGH, that I could barely see it yet alone control it, then he handed me the transmitter and said “here kid.” To which I set it to idle circled down and landed it just like the Lil T.
For the next 22 years I built a couple of 40 and 60 size planes but never felt comfortable flying.
Then in 94 I built a Q-Tee with an 0.49 followed by a Kadet LT 40 and started flying frequently at my current club the TORKS in OKC. I was also working on my commercial/ instrument license in full scale. One day the light bulb came on as to trim, pitch power and airspeed and I actually began having fun flying RC.
Now almost nothing beats watching a big scale plane just brush the tops of the blades of grass and settle down for a perfect scale like landing and roll out!
Anyone else learn in stages?


Tom Solinski