Well darn , I guess that now I am 58 and the oldest at the field, I am the " old timer ".
I still love to fly after 25 years. Still love the smell of nitro. Still love to hear that 2 stroke winding tighter and tighter. I am the only one that maintains the field. It is a dirt field, but it works. I spent 1500.00 to get it sprayed again this year. I built a roller that weighs 5,000 lbs. to pull behind my truck to keep it flat and smooth. I carry the trash drum off when it's full and bring it back. I get offered help every now and then but not often.
I love to fly. I will help anyone if they ask with their plane. Or give them a prop if they break one. Have trainered many pilots and made them good pilots.
I love to fly. I gave a 14 year old kid a Mach 1 trainer after he learned to fly it. Gave him everything but my transmitter. Gave my nephew another Mach 1 after he learned how to fly. Gave him everything but my transmitter.
I love to fly. I have another Mach 1 trainer built and have 4-5 flights on it. If someone really wants to learn to fly, I will teach them, and probably give them this Mach 1 also.
I love to fly. Normally takes me about 10 hours to get someone who will listen to get them to the point of their solo flight. After every solo, I take the prop off the plane, put on another, write their name and date on the prop I took off so they will have it to remind them of the day they were able to solo.
I love to fly. I have given away planes that I have crashed that wasn't going to be that hard to fix, just to give someone the experience of what it takes to really fix a plane. A lot of times they get the idea to build a kit, which I offer to help if they want help.
I love to fly. And a lot of times they do want the help. It's one thing to read how to do something, but it's a lot easier if someone shows you. I still build kits, I have Arf 's, I just recently bought a foamy.
I love to fly. I have never used anything but 15% nitro on everything. I buy cheap standard fox glow plugs and use them on everything. While at the field, I normally fly twice as long as anyone else. Have the usual problems like everyone else, but not as often. I do a complete check on every plane I am going to fly the night before I go to the field. I go to the field to fly, not work on my planes.
I love to fly. The new generation is just that, the new generation. More electronics and knowledge at the tip of fingers that we didn't have. We had to wait for a magazine or something in the mail to see new stuff. Taught us patience. Now everything is right here right now. Get mad if the internet is running slow.
I love to fly. There is pride and satisfaction in building a plane from a box of sticks. Putting your colors on whatever they might be. Having a plane like no one else's. Building a kit is still expensive. Learning to cover a plane well is a challenge. Not everyone is good with their hands. I think more arf'ers would actually build a plane or 2 if someone would give them a little guidance here and there. The new generation is smart, but learned wisdom has to be passed down. Oh, by the way,
FLY !!