Roo Man! I was just in Huntingdon about a week ago talking to some people about a job! I didn't get the position, but the area was great and looked like it would be nice for flying!

and there is NOOOOOOO WAAAAAAAYYYYY !!!!!!!!!!! I'm NOT giving up on this sport !!!!!!!!! The feeling I got when things were going "right" was just too amazing, too full of wonder, joy, a touch of fear, and a dose of excitement. I've been wanting to fly planes since I was 4 years old watching kids fly those old "Cox" gas planes on strings in the early 70's! Now a bit over 30 years later, I've got my chance and I'm RUNNING WITH IT LIKE MY HAIR IS ON FIRE !!!!!!! Just seeing that plane in the air and KNOWING that I was the one controlling it was one of the most amazing things ever!

Besides, I'm looking on the bright side: I was in the process of acquiring the plane from the guy who "owned" it, but I really didn't like the way it looked and the mylar was a bit ratty, wrinkled, torn, and discolored from almost 15 years of non-use and garage storage. Now I get a plane with ALL NEW SKIN !!!!!!!!!! and it won't be that AWEFUL "fake cockpit" design that, when done badly, looks horrendous. The plane is a Tower Trainer 60, 69.5" ws, an OSMAX .61 engine that runs like a top and pulls like an OX!!! and it has Futaba servos in it. The ONLY thing I'm worried about is that b/c the wing is a balsa/mylar construction, it's going to be ALOT more delicate and just ONE flubbed landing flip over could sent it to the hospital.... I might have to look at a 1 pc monocoat wing just to add some durability if I need to.

And to top it all off, I get to go back to Claxton, Ga, visit the Dogwood RC Aerodrome again, hang out with a great bunch of guys, and they're going to teach me to fly! (again )

In the meantime I've downloaded FMS simulator (it ain't G4, but it also ain't $100! it's free!) and using a Thrustmaster Firestorm Analog controller with 2 thumbsticks to get used to the eyes/thumbs coordination when the plane is moving at a weird orientation to you. I've also found an $8 cable that hooks my Futaba Tx to my PC so I can practice bouncing pixelated planes off of pixelated ground I know it's no substitute, but like I said, if I can get my thumbs and eyes on the same page and that would be a BIG help!