While all of the listed items are certainly a draw, for me the number ONE item is "THE DRAMA".

Fires, crashes, gunshots ( nearby hunters straying into our field ), searches for lost planes, frustration with engines, contests, bad flying, good flying, etc., etc., etc...

All of this has more entertainment value than most other hobbies ( that I can afford... ).


I once commented to our club pres, how there was ALWAYS something dramatic happening at our field... and if not wait an hour.

... his response: "It's great isn't it?".

i like knowing exactley how something works that confuses moast people
love all of the theory side of it
it will help me get my ppl
good fun flying 3d and speed planes
people involved in the hobby are the moast helpfull nicest around "thankyou"
like the building of things
my cusen is always saying how much his BMX push bike is worth$500,all i need to say to shut him up is one of my toy planes is worth triple that lol
the feeling of successfull flights is very very hard to beet
keeps you thinking 24 7 "sad but true"lol
so thats that

happy take offs and landings

simmo

I think one of the reasons for me is the "unknown". Well I have a good flight or bad flight this time, will I still have a one piece airplane after I land, will the engine run the whole day or will I have a dead stick this time, etc...

I actually love building R/C airplanes and only like to fly when the mood strikes my fancy. I also like talking with my R/C buddies more then flying. Before you go guessing: "Well, this guy don't like flying, because he can't", guess again! I lack interest in the flying portion because I've been at this awhile and it has become somewhat boring to me. However, the building is always a challenge and never looses it's appeal, overtime. I've been a model builder all my life! Whether it has been R/C, Free Flight, Ship Models, Plastic Models Airplanes or Model Railroading, it is the "building models" part, which has remained a constant in my life.

It is like being a kid all over again!

I like r/c flying because it's a much better way of wasting an afternoon than golf

1-I like to build things

2-I like mechanical things

3-I like the cameraderie of hanging out with other guys who like #1 and #2

But I do not like green eggs and ham.

I have always loved planes since I can remember. I guess what I find to be the most facinating aspect of our planes and the full scale version is what makes them fly. The power, speed, thrust, lift, drag, gravity and everything else that factors in with flight is what I find most interesting. I've always wanted to learn to fly r/c planes and yes, helicopters. Growing up my family and I didn't have much money and of course when in college money was more scare. Thank God now in my adult life, I'm able to enjoy the hobby and have been for about 8 years now and counting,,, and what a thrill. I enjoy my flying friends, instructing and making new friends alike. Pulling back on the stick and going straight up when going into full throttle makes it all worth it.

What a great hobby we have. Way,,,,way cool.

The building and flying is a total escape from the stress of the job since it takes total concentration (at least for me)

The comraderadere with some of the best people on earth when out flying

bhady

Because

Hello everyone.

Well here is my list of why.

1. It is my escape from day to day life
2. I love to build things
3. I love to learn things
4. I love tools and flying / building requires tools. (my Craftsman toolbox gets confused when I put a non Craftsman tool in it )
5. I love when people ask what is that sticker on your back window (AMA member)
6. I love to talk to people and there are always great people at the airfield to talk too about the same thing I like to do.
7. This wonderful hobby allows you to keep learning. i.e. Trainer,sport, bi-plane, tail dragger, 2 stroke, 4 stroke, gas, electric........ it is never ending.
8. It is amazing to see something you built flying in the air
9. Having control of something in the air

man this list could really go on but pretty simply..... I LOVE TO FLY

- Engines
- I love to build things mechanical or otherwise
- Engines
- Wanted to do this since I first saw one hanging in a hobby shop as a kid (it was an F-86 Ducted Fan... still have not gone that far yet though)
- Engines
- My planes never tell me to clean house, take out the trash, mow the lawn, or cuddle afterwards
- Engines
- Did I mention I really like tinkering on man's second greatest invention... The internal combustion engine Beer is the first greatest...

My dad was a fighter pilot and flight instructor in WWII and Korea. Flew F4U's and AD's. I have been around planes since I was an infant and should have been a pilot. Now it's too late for the real thing so I fly models instead. Love building them, love flying them, hate crashing them but that gives me an excuse to build another one.

This should come in around #38 or abouts. I think all the posters here have given great answers especially for newbies/beginners to read. Heck, I even liked RCKen's answer -- take cover the sky might fall!

IMO, beginners have this opportunity to see just what could happen to them if they stay with this sport.
I would like to point out some things that may be a tad different.

As a youngster back before dirt, there was balsa with parts printed on it. There was also blank balsa and during WWII, there was cardboard with crude die-cutting parts. there was pine and such to carve parts.
Before I started to school, I fell in love with airplanes for reasons I cannot remember. Maybe it was because during the war and living far out in the country, we had lots of LOW level machines come flying by. I can still see that B-26 Maurader coming down the pasteur area, and taking out a few limbs off a Big Oak tree in the back yard. That certainly was a treat as I was blown off the back steps. [X(]

Whatever, I always wanted to be a pilot. Well I got to be one, 13 years USAF but that was like WORK. In 1968, I traded in the helmet and chute for the easy life of an airline pilot. Paid the bills but not really my love even though I did it for 28 years.

I simply loved MODEL AIRPLANES. Build others ideas from plans or kits or design your own. Do whatever YOU want to do, and not be hassled by what someone else thinks you should do. I did the competition thing in CL, FF, and RC. I did mostly sport because I always loved to do something different. I owned a Hobby Shop for 7 years, while flying airline, but that too was work. Cut into my personal modeling so I got rid of that.

In 1985 I went bass fishing for 4 years, but that was restrictive ref. wx. and conditions, yet I still fish some but modeling is first choice.

Where else Can you find something that is there to play with outside in GOOD WX or even bad wx if YOU so desire?

Where else can you find something that you can enjoy either alone or in a crowd, whichever YOU want to do on any given day on the field or in your workshop?

Where else can you find something that gives you the opportunity to create or just work with your hands at any time of the day or day of the week as YOU WANT to, either alone or with company as YOU select.

Where else can you, without a lot of study, play and learn engineering, math, wood-working, metal smithing, drawing, painting and a host of other bits, all at YOUR selection of when and how much.

The SPORT of MODEL AVIATION whatever disciplne/s you choose is the greatest of all simply because there is so much and so many different items that one can never be bored with the same old rut day after day if one should choose such. OTOH some modelers go all through life doing the same thing day after day, and if they so choose that route, then again they do what pleases them. That in itself can't be all bad.

The sport of model aviation was my chosen way of life, a _ell of a lot more than a "hobby".