I know I am more interested in this than you guys,but what can I say,I'm a Dad, and this is the kinda stuff Dads do!This is a pic of my son and his Kombat 40 Fun Fly plane,he is seven years old and started soloing this spring.All I do is start the plane,and he does the rest.He can alieron roll,snap roll,stall turn,short flat spins,and even do small harriers,when the plane is about 10 feet above the run way,he pulls the nose up,feeds in power,carriers it for a little bit,then settles it down tail first(he's getting there).He flies better than some of the older pilots at our feild,I think they actually get a little jealous sometimes.He has flown and landed my pizzaz,my SE,and flown but not landed my US 1.20 w/2.4.I just finished a 4*60 w 91FS for him,hopefully it will madien this weekend.Enough about all that,what can I say I'm a proud Dad.

Here's another pic,sorry I just can't help myself.

Congratulations!

That's a great way to stay involved with your kids, show support for them, etc., and also gives him an edge for competition later, if he's interested.

You got competition... This kid is like 5 and can apparently TR and stuff.

Hello Proud Dad and son, nice pics and congradulations to both of you ! It is a great family hobby and will bring you many many years of great FUN and fellowship with you son and others ! We know what you are feeling so good and proud about. Our son Chris (now 14) has been flying sine he was 5 and has passed by me and many other decent flying adults for several years now. He just keeps getting better all the time and just loves to fly ! It is in his his blood as he is a 3rd generation modeler ! My Dad taught me to fly when I was about 14 and we still all fly together several times a year ! We fly everything from Indoor Elec to big IMAC planes and do some IMAC and FF compitition. Chris just won the NE Regional Championship in Sportsamn IMAC ! He sure makes us Happy and Proud parents ! Chris has helped a few friends lean to fly and he is a great inspiration to me and many of our modeling friends. He taught himself how to fly a Helo (Raptor 30) 2 years back and now he is teaching me ! I taught him how to fly and do bacic manuvers and he has just gone crazy with it , now he is always trying to help me learn some of the harder IMAC and 3D manuvers, what a HOOT ! He is a GREAT young man who has a high respect for his Elders and fellow man , he loves the Lord and all his family and friends - such a great JOY and Inspiration to be around and enjoy life with ! Keep up the good work and may you have many great years of FUN and Fellowship together ! I'm sure he will make you so proud over and over and over, take care and God Bless ! Here is a pic of Chris & I with our H9 232.
Rod & Chris in PA.

Hello, I saw this thread, and as a teenage pilot, I just had to comment. It's great that you guys are getting your kids, invovlved, I wouldn't have been able to do this or make any IMAC contests without my Dad's help.

The assumption of Seniority = skill is surprisingly present in the hobby of RC Aviation. A guy with whom I work at my LHS, when he heard about our GP 1/3 scale Extra, assumed that Dad would be taking it put for the maiden. Of course, this got me pretty angry, even though the guy was innocent (I only just realized how competitive my attitude really is).

But skill clearly knows know age boundries in the RC hobby. Look at what age Chip started flying (7, I think?). The winner of the masters pattern at the Nats this year, Andrew Jesky, is a teenager.

I think getting your kids involved with RC is the best thing you can do, especially if they want to, and then do it as young as you can. Younger pilots tend to learn faster, and if they fly around older folks they tend to develope more respect for their fellow members. My dad got me into the hobby at a very young age, but never took the time to learn himself. We're still working on getting him into it. Both my brothers started into RC planes, but still need more time with me to get going. I'm the only one who has stuck with it, but in time I'll get them all trained up. Nothing impresses most folks at the field than a youngster who can out fly the old boys! Of course, some of the old boys don't really like this.......

mines flying 3d heli and turbine jets

Here's to the daughters!

First female TOC pilot .... I hope.

Grampa says I can use his computer to ask this question:

What's the difference between "3D," "Aerobatics" and "Pattern?"

Also, the "avalanche" maneuver describes a "1 1/2, 540 degree" snaproll at the top of a loop. Yet, the diagram (in AMA manual) has the words, "snap 360 roll" printed next to the snap maneuver that;s diagramed. If it's a 360 degree snap, then the plane will complete the maneuver with an inside loop. But, if it's a 540 degree snap, the plane will have to complete an outside loop, and will come out of it upside-down on the bottom of the loop. Which is it?

By the way, my Grampa is an old guy, (don't tell him I said that) so I'm no longer a teenager. But, I still want to get into R/C competition with his help.

Thanx.

well i dont know too much about that i just fly for fun... my name is james and i also am a teenage flier, i am 15 years old and mostly fly low cost 3d planes and 1 helicopter~well i am learning anyway anyway in response to the ''proud dad''... i just want you too know that i would give anything for you gave been my father my dad did get my started in C/L when i was 5 but that is about all he ever did now he is a full time preacher with no time for me...i guess i just want you too know that the future of R/C depends on dads like you...you are very good man, and i already have alot of respect for you....keep up the good work...just wait till he learns 3d!!! he will have a blast!

I'm 13 and I can fly an Axe CP with a fair amount of confidence. I started when I was 11 on a Walkera DF#4 and since then have accumulated a GWS Slow Stick, RCU Bipe flat-out, Electrifly Synapse, Axe CP, Hydrofoam flying boat, and a foam glider modded for powered R/C flight. Unlike some of you, I had to teach myself EVERYTHING as well as fund everything with my own $$$. My only parental support has been " You should invest that money in oil stocks" and "If you had saved all the money you've spent on those airplanes, you'd be a millionaire".

And we all wonder why kids are like they are today []

I supported both my boys in this hobby since before they were teenagers. Both are growen now and no longer fly ( maybe someday ) but they both have excellent careers, never been in trouble, have excellent families of their own and we are still very close. Wouldn't trade it for the world

Here's the video I shot of the "Aliens" little brother Brandon, 9 years old, at our airshow this year. http://media.putfile.com/Brandon-Woyshnis