In the early 70s, when the price of a servo was my weekly wage, I wanted to fly models and naturally (and along with a few friends) started control line flying. This was a great start to model flying: it actually gave you a direct feel for what the model was doing through the maneuvers (something that RC can never do).

A group of us started combat flying and progressed to what has since become F2D - we used Super Tigre G15s on bladders with carbon 6x4 props. This is one of the most exciting forms of model flying: anyone who says control line is boring, low tech or lacks a challenge has never flown combat. Three or four of us used to travel the country flying in competitions. We weren't great combat fliers, but we had great fun and met a lot of people.

Similarly CL stunt: it is as technical and as challenging as you want to make it. Flying a big 40 powered stunter in a strong wind and completing an accurate four-leaf clover is more satisfying than anything I've ever achieved in RC.

But now I Fly RC. There are no facilities at our club field for CL. We have fixed wing and rotary on alternate days, but there are no control line circles at our field. I wouldn't even know where to go within a reasonable distance to fly CL stunt.

If I knew that there were a few people locally who perhaps wanted to have a go at stunt or combat, I leave my RC at home. I think a lot of the decline is due to the "Bill Robison effect". RC is just too easy and cheap.

So don't knock it if you haven't tried it, or if you just did not get good enough at CL to achieve any satisfaction from it have a go or give it another try. I miss control line - it never made me dizzy...