C5galaxy,

I understand where you're coming from. I am in a situation similar to yours: my background is in aerodynamics, fluid mechanics, and mechanical engineering, but I have limited hands-on exposure to R/C planes, having flown a crude 'indestructible' trainer and built and flown one trainer from a kit. This means that the R/C airplanes are conceptually very straightforward for me, but on the implementation side, I have a lot to learn. This is an important distinction to make. Your training should enable to you to decide on the performance targets for your airplane and design to achieve them, but implementing the design using the typical modeling materials and methods also involves some learning in and of itself. My advice to you is to start working on your design, and at the same time build a kit, preferably a trainer that you can learn to fly pretty easily. Building the kit will teach you a lot about the practicalities of working with the usual materials, adhesives, available hardware components, engines, construction methods, etc. Any engineer changing fields needs to learn about best practice in the new field. Your situation is no different. After you build and fly your kit, you can gain further experience by modifying it, rewinging it, etc. After that kind of experience, you will be much better prepared to successfully implement your design, using available materials & methods. Knowing how to achieve design goals using available technology is the heart and soul of engineering, in my opinion.

In my case, I am working on getting my first trainer back in the air so I can improve my flying skills, while I build my next plane, a more capable low-wing. My medium term goal is to gain enough experience building & flying to be able to implement some of the cool ideas suggested by my aero. background.

Good luck,

banktoturn