Hi guys,
I have to tell you a bit about myself and why I am asking this question. I'm 41 and learned to fly RC about 3 years ago. I got pretty good on my trainer and thought myself ready to move on to a second plane when I had some minor back problems that kept me away from the field. Then, due to numerous other problems I missed almost the entire flying season last year and I have already missed some this year. I got out once this year and flew my trainer to brush up. I had an out of trim elevator and had to fight the thing onto the ground. I was very nervous and once I thought I had the problem fixed I tried again, only to run through a plastic fence on take-off. There was no harm done to the trainer but I left the field pretty embarassed.
Since that time I have tried to get going a get some stick time. I have a park flyer and I'm also in the process of building an electric "foamy". I have around three other RC planes in various states of completion including a seaplane which I got because I live on a lake and thought it would be good to get stick time. I just can't seem to get to the field, something always comes up.
Even with all of this going on, I keep finding myself fighting the urge to order a C/L kit. I have room to fly C/L on my lot.
My only experience with it in the past was years ago as a kid when I had a Cox PT 19 trainer which I managed to fly in about three quarters of a circle before I nose dived it to the ground.
I like to build and I feel as if maybe C/L could be a compliment to my RC flying, not something to replace it. Obviously I'm having a hard time with the decision to get into this or not though.
Think I've go too much going on with the RC to try C/L?
BTW, the plane I'm looking at is a Brodak Flite Streak trainer with a .15 on it.
Thanks for your opinions and advice,
Michael

Michael:

Get it and have at it. It wont cost a lot of money, and this way you'll know if it was a real urge or just a stupid passing fancy.

Do remember, you've had back problems. Standing in one place and spinning around may not be such a good idea. When you get "Up" on c/l no big deal, you can sit down and just fly eights if your back acts up, but until you can do that if the invisible man sticks his knife in you the plane could be a victim as well as you.

We have one fellow in our club who always takes a chair along when he goes to fly, sits down holding he transmitter, and has a great time. We rag him about it, of course, but it's not serious.

There are also many c/l fliers who are in wheelchairs, and they do very well. John McIntire (spelling?) is one, and he's on RCU.

A lot of gab. Just get the plane and have fun.

Bill.

Get an RC 15 and set the carb to give you adequate flying speed. If CL doesn't work out you and use your engine on an RC plane. 52 ft lines should be plenty long. Run an 8 x 4 prop and use a tank which you can put in a minimum amount of fuel. You will get dizzy after a few laps. so if it only flys for 3 or 4 laps the first couple of flights that is fine. The ideal thing is to have an experienced CL flyer hold your hand at first until you get the feel of it, and take the airplane over when you get dizzy.

Jim

Go for a Brodak ARF. They will be available in a month or so. They don't cost much more than the kit and the workmanship is outstanding. I'm doing some computer work for John Brodak and have a couple of the prototypes. I never feel as bad if I bust up an ARF as I do one I built from scratch or a kit. Check out WWW.BRODAK.COM.

I have looked at their ARF's and they look real nice from what I can tell. My RC trainer was RTF and my "second" plane as well as my seaplane are ARF's. All in all though I like to build. I've got a CAP-232 sitting here that was my first ever kit. It's still in the bones as my RC flying skills aren't up to it yet and I've been to wrapped up in other things to cover it yet. I really enjoyed building it though. I've also got a partially built and covered RC profile here. I think I'm definitely going to get the C/L plane at some point but I've decided to clear my bench of these other projects first.
Thanks for the answers and advice,
Michael

Michael, regarding flying control line from your lot, make sure that grass or whatever else grows there is short so the lines don't snag during take off. I've had planes turn into the circle, out of control, because of that.

One foggy morning this year I took my control-line Sig Banshee in the car along with my RC plane when I went to the RC flying field. Nobody was flying RC there because of fog, so I set up the Banshee and flew it.
No problem seeing it constantly only 60 feet away!

Dave

Funny, that's another thing that's kept me from the RC field. At least two weeks ago I misplaced the only pair of glasses I had. They still have not turned up! Not sure my 2 year old doesn't have them stashed away somewhere, either her or the little yip yip dog of my wife's. Anyway, I'm near sighted and can't see things far away so normally I can see ok without them and it's taken till this coming Friday for me to get to the eye doc. Then there will be another week or so wait after that.
Obviously, being near sighted makes it kind of hard to fly RC! I'll have the glasses by the time I get the C/L plane but even without them I could see it 60 feet away.
I live in the country and the top of my lot is mostly hardpack dirt with some underbrush. I plan on mowing it down good and making a full fledged flying circle up there. Thanks for the tip though.
Regards,
Michael

Sky_dancer, I too have a very bad back. I must take a large amount of morphine and codine each day just to be able to sit or stand and I have found that when I am out flying I forget to take my medicine more times that not. I have a saying "fly the airplane first", make yourself ignore all the other distractions and I believe this has some benifit in forgetting the back pain, just a hunch. I have also noticed that the exercise seems to have improved my back and legs a lot! The control line flying forces me to stand and walk unlike RC where I sit on a stool for the most part.

Another benifit is the fact that you interact with a new/diferent crowd and it sure beats sitting in the bed watching the idot box HIHI.

I have found that the part that I have the most trouble with is building the aircraft because I have to sit down and be still and this is very painfull but I am working on a solution.

I hope all of the above encouragement is of benefit to you in your decession making process, and that you decide to join the rest of us "old dogs" hanging on to a pair of wires tied to many fond memories and get to enjoy getting real dizzy again.

Sorry about the spelling but I am from TEXAS

fly the airplane first

73 Lee K5MRC

If you have never flown C/L before, you will want to be careful about overcontroling. Rather than giving "up" and "down" by rotating the handle with the wrist try pointing your whole arm at the airplane and while holding the wrist stationary raise or lower your arm from the shoulder.

(This is a "do as I say" as I am currently recovering from a fairly major shoulder injury/surgery that is preventing my flying, motorcycling,etc.[] I can, however still give advice, solicited or not. Anyone need advice about women?

jess