Why do you fly combat?
 

This was a very successful subject in another forum by a student doing a report on why people flew RC airplanes.

I would like to know why people fly RC combat just to see if it's for me.:D

RE: Why do you fly combat?
 

The reason I fly combat is that it is more fun than a barrell of monkeys!!! More of a rush than the first flight you make by yourself. More of a rush than most anything in r/c!! I like the competition too. As an old commercial goes,"Try it you'll like it"

RE: Why do you fly combat?
 

I just got into combat. I really like the idea that the plane could be through hell and back and still beable fly with minimal fixing. Those midairs are pretty cool to watch also!!! If it wasn't mine. hehe

RE: Why do you fly combat?
 

Don't know about RC Combat (I fly the CL variety), but after chasing streamers, everything else seems mundane, somehow..

RE: Why do you fly combat?
 

Pure adrenaline rush I've been flying for 20+ years and NOTHING, NOTHING comes close to the knee knock you get when start combat is called. Totaly adictive were else can you go and meet a bunch of guys who are as crazy about it as you

RE: Why do you fly combat?
 

Combat is a HUGE rush. It's massivly fun. Just watching it, you don't even come close to seeing how much fun it is.

It's also a LOT harder than it looks. Many people just assume it's mostly luck. But if that was the case, then the best pilots wouldn't consistanly find their way to the top in big contests like they do.

In fact, I'd say it's one of the few classes of RC combat in which pilot skill matters far more than equipment. You can get an advantage with better gear in combat, but not THAT much of an advantage, and you don't need to spend thousands of dollars to get a first rate ride. You do, however, have to make sure it's reliable.

It's one of only a couple of ways to compete that aren't scored like ice skating. I'm a competitive person, but having such subjective scoring as you find in many forms of RC competition isn't my thing.

If I wasn't flying combat, I'd probibly be flying pylon. But going fast and turning left isn't as appealing as combat to me.

Combat is probibly the most aggressive type of RC competition.

Did I mention it's incredibly fun?

RE: Why do you fly combat?
 

I fly combat because everything else I've flown pales in comparison. I took out my 1/5th Scale Pica Waco this weekend and ended up chasing the combat planes with it. Flying loops, inverted, doing rolls, tail slides and low passes just doesn't do it for my anymore - I want competition. People who fly combat want the rush that comes from pitting their skills against others. In another life they wouldn't be Ice skaters they would be hockey players. They don't want to win by being judged on how well they fly a pattern, or how much they beat the clock they want to beat the competition in real time with skill, daring, and strategy.

Combat, for me, has it all - a chance to design the "ultimate" plane, set up the engine to perform as best you can, trim and fly to the best of your ability, and to try to beat guys who are as good, and in my case consistently better, than you are. I don't need to win to enjoy it, if I did I would have quit long ago. I need, want and am thrilled by the excitement and challenges of RC Combat.

RE: Why do you fly combat?
 

wimps need not apply! [X(]:D

Lou reminded me of this, which I accidentally left out of my answer.

If you like designing your own planes, combat is a great place to do it. Airframes are cheap and quick to build, and you can directly and easily measure your progress. So, it's not overly expensive or difficult to do your own thing. And if you get it all right, you can get guys coming over and asking "what IS that?!?" It's a massivly cool feeling.

RE: Why do you fly combat?
 

In the case of CL Combat, it's actually easier than it looks. Mainly because it LOOKS so difficult and crazy, even when speed limits are used. Things don't look nearly as chaotic from inside the circle. Still, with a pair of Nelson .36s at 120mph, it can get pretty hairy. Huge adrenaline rush, in any case.

RE: Why do you fly combat?
 

Sport flying for the sake of burning fuel gets old. Even 3D. Building a batch of 10 combat planes can get tiresome too, but the ratio of thrilling combat time to the time invested building and repairing is well worth it.

RE: Why do you fly combat?
 

One thing I left out is that I fly only SSC (Slow Survivable Combat) Using 15 engines I have had more fun than I ever had with more expensive and larger engines and planes. The plane I started with was just a plan that I got off the internet. Got me some foam and went to work. I like to do all I can myself,even if it's cheaper to buy, so I didn't order my wings precut. I read on the web how to make a foam bow and how to cut my own. My second set of wings came out perfectly and lasted through 2 combat events. The fuse is still going strong, despite being lawn darted about 6 times. The best thing is I only have about 10-15 bucks in the whole plane, and I made it all myself. (less engine and radio costs) I cut 25+ planes for my fellow club members that are flying them and having fun too. Also, in every event I have been to the guys have been great!! They want to help, which is what the R/C hobby should be about, they want to share ideas and show how they have built their planes. There is not much of an advantage because of the rules and that makes the fun all the better. Everyone is "almost" on a level playing field. What a BLAST!!! [&:]

RE: Why do you fly combat?
 

Combat sharpens your skills. I'm still pretty new at flying. One month with a combat plane and I learned more than the year with my Avistar. With that combat plane (I started with a SPAD Gnat) you don't have to worry about the cost of a crash, or the time to make repairs. That takes alot of the tension out of flying. You learn how to react quickly in very short order, as you are constantly changing direction and orientation. And then, as the others have said in different ways, IT IS JUST ALOT OF FUN! There is an excitement about it that I find very satisfying. At his point getting one ribbon cut makes my day. DickB

RE: Why do you fly combat?
 

Initially, I started flying combat due to the allure of the planes. WWII fighters dueling it out in the skies for air supremacy. What a rush, every pilots dream, air to air dog fighting.

OPEN combat came along and it offered a number of exciting reasons to compete as well. For one, the time investment was very minimal compared to scale combat. It was also a great way to get those creative juices flowing trying to best your competitors with a better designed plane. Like Montague said, you can go very quickly from thought to airframe. I have had design ideas on Thursday and test flown the new idea on Saturday. The planes are tough and fly very well for a relatively small investment.

As we ran out of performance to squeeze out of the designs, the tactics and strategy became a challenging part. The art and skill of swiping streamers has progressed greatly the past few years. Learning tendencies, seeing angles, and putting the plane in the sweet spot is what keeps you coming back. It’s like how a golfer describes that perfect shot. In combat, it’s seeing the angle, taking it, and being rewarded with a streamer hanging from your wing tip.

I think now the thing I enjoy the most is the people. Spending time with the friends/family I’ve made in combat Saturday night is almost as much fun as the flying. You meet a hugely diverse group from all around the country and you all share the same passion. You’d be hard pressed to find a friendlier and fun group anywhere else in RC…

Combat is a ton of fun, careful though, it is seriously addictive… :D

A.J. Seaholm
www.teamseaholm.com
HOME of the AVENGER
[email protected]

RE: Why do you fly combat?
 

For me it is a stress reliever.
Ive been combating off on all the way back to the 70's with contol line. I had a VooDoo and Spectrum.
We now fly electric combat and the thrill is still there.

You can build a plane in a couple hours. :D

RE: Why do you fly combat?
 

At our club, the non combat pilots will not take you up on an offer to fly a round or two
of combat , even if the plane is supplied to them all set up and ready to fly.[&o][&o]


They are very aware of the addictive nature of this.

RE: Why do you fly combat?
 

Those guys are Fags!

RE: Why do you fly combat?
 

I fly for the thrill and adrenalin rush. I really keeps you on your toes.

RE: Why do you fly combat?
 

Same thing at my club. I think a lot of guys learned to fly being so worried about not crashing that they can not even imagine putting a plane up that is more than likely to experience contact with another plane or the earth. I also think they think these planes are hard to fly - which they aren't. They may be afraid of the speed as well. Some of us have our adrenalin addiction and others don't. That's why there is a spectator area. Not a good idea to call them names though, especially since we have to share the same field...

r

RE: Why do you fly combat?
 

it's not so much calling them names....... its just a line from Fast times at Ridgemont high.......

Jeff Spicoli LOL

RE: Why do you fly combat?
 

I got into combat with a dogfighter spad last spring. What a hoot!!! Since then i fly the dogfighter as much as any other plane i own. Very fast maneoverable and if you wipe it out ........ who cares, build another one!!! Plus having the bragging rights is the best :)

Geoff

RE: Why do you fly combat?
 

hey flyboy, try the corostang next. I have done some mods that really make it screem! the mig 7 and my draco II are also great combat ships

RE: Why do you fly combat?
 

Why fly combat?

Most fun you can have with your clothes on!!!

Dan

RE: Why do you fly combat?
 

Most fun you can have with your clothes on or off!

RE: Why do you fly combat?
 

We might lose alot of pilots if we followed your suggestion.

RE: Why do you fly combat?
 

Combat is the tip of the sword when flying any type of RC. No other rc event combines the skill, the fun, the adrenaline rush, and the friendships made. I can't think of any circumstance when two pilot enjoy meeting for the first time walking out to the crash site and laughing over how their planes just collided. This is truly the best way to get biggest bang from your RC buck. If you dont believe everyone here, go to an event, see for yourself - Just be cautious to join - Combat is ADDICTIVE