Zbird,
Your description of "flying a plane in circles with a string that would make you dizzy" is a little insulting to most control line fliers. Yes, the plane is flown in a circle. Most control line aircraft use stainless cables, not a string. I have seen 200+ MPH control line speed planes. I have flown a 100MPH Mig 15 pulse jet, competed in precision aerobatics and combat. When you really get into it, you would be amazed at how serious the competitors are. There planes are built to a standard that most modelers can only dream of!
Doug