Well, lets see. During training, I started with a Lanair Explorer 40. I stalled on take off and took out the firewall. I hit hard a number of times landing and finally took out the main landing gear mount. I got into trouble one day and my instructor took over and dove to miss the power lines I was headed for and hit the rail fence. BY BY Explorer. I salvaged the wing and tail and build a stick fuselage. We flew that for a couple months and I loved it, I could actually fly this one. The one day, it went down. I suspect from a guy showing off his two chanel, first generation computer radio and how easy it was to change channels. One of his channels was my channel. Anyway, I lost the plane, not to be seen for over four months. I had a spare wing from the Explorer 40, so I built a clone of the one I lost. Before getting certified, I built a 4*60. On my first solo filght, I came in low on the landing and hit the road that crosses the end of the runway. Took out the landing gear mount, and broke the fuselage in half right behind the wing. It also punched both wheels through the wing. Three days later, I soloed and got my cretificton with that plane. Within a couple months, I had destroyed the 4*60 and my Clone. I built a secon 4*60 which I lost a few month back. I've crashed a couple others that have been repaired, one is on the bench now for it's second repair trip and may be finished by this weekend.

Now, I've been active in the hobby since the spring of 2006. I built planes as a kid and even built a complete radio system, a Royal Clasic 1969 vintage. I never flew until 2006. At 65, my reflexes are not what you need to start this hobby. Doesn't keep my from enjoying it though. I've got two planes ready to fly, one on the bench that may be ready by this weekend, and one that needs the final alignment and setup work to be ready. One awaiting a wing repair. Five kits waiting to be built. Plans for two scratch builds in the works. OH yes, if you count the gliders, one ready to fly, one needing the radio installed and one needing covering and the radio.


Any of them that gets off the runway and lands again without needing repairs is a great flight. As long as it's been since I've flown, I'm thinking my trainer is the best choice for my next flight. A couple months away sure dulls your ability.

Don