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The cool dry weather we've had in our area is perfect for flying outdoors and we've made it to the park and flying field several times.  Life is good.  One of the local clubs is holding its Annual Fall Classic Fly-in this weekend.

To find Radio Control events in your area click on this link: Find Radio Control Events or use the AMA Event Search tool: AMA's Event Search Tool

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We have added several new products to the site and more are on the way.  One is a great little RC Plane for Beginners:  the Sky Eagle High Wing Cessna Park Flyer.

The Sky Eagle Park Flyer is an excellent beginner electric-powered RC plane from Nine Eagles. The fuselage is made from light but durable EPP foam and it has a patented propeller protective device that minimizes damage to the propeller and motor. The propeller falls off if you crash nose-first. The plane is well-designed for stable flight and it is wind resistant. The included transmitter is a 2.4GHz mode 1/mode 2 controller. Switching between the modes is simple and only takes minutes.

FEATURES:
* The patented propeller protective device can avoid damage to the propeller and plane upon impact.
* The total airplane body is made of durable anti-crash EPP foam.
* Stable flight, excellent controllability, strong wind resistant.
* A great choice for beginners flying a fixed wing aircraft.
* Park Flyer

TECHNICAL SPECS:
* Age: 14 to Adult
* Length: 396mm (approx 15.6 inches)
* Wingspan: 500mm (approx. 19.7 inches)
* Flying Weight: 65g (2.3 ounces)
* Height: 131mm (approx. 5.2 inches)
* Motor: N50 Motor
* Receiver: 3-channel 2.4GHz
* Battery: 7.4V 180mAH LiPo
* Motor run time: 8-10 minutes

Everything you need is included in the box.   It's in stock and ready to ship.  Add one to your fleet or  purchase a super nice gift for that special someone.  www.rcplanesandcopters.com

Have fun, stay safe & keep flying!

Does your Nosegear need an adjustment?

If your RC Plane is veering to one side or the other on take-off and landing, there's a good chance your nosegear needs adjusting.  I just read a great tip on how to do that in the latest issue of Model Airplane News, contributed by R. J. Musel: "If you're tired of always bending your nose gear from that not-so-perfect landing, then here's a way to prevent it and even add a little shock absorption."  He goes on to say that you'll need a bend at the fuselage where the nose gear wire enters into it, and the nose wheel should also be bent at the coil, to form a 45-degree angle down to the wheel and up to the bottom of the fuselage. For additional shock absorption, glue a piece of hardwood to the firewall, flush with the bottom of the fuselage and do the same thing for the main landing gear.

I purchased this how-to book and it is GREAT! Even if you don't like building things from scratch, there's a lot of great information on how to do little things here and there to make your plane BETTER.  A few of the many topics covered are:  shock-absorbing landing gear, how to work with foam and metal, how to install skis and floats on your plane - and lots more!  You can find "Workshop Secrets," RC Tools, Adhesives and much more at www.rcplanesandcopters.com

Upcoming Events featuring RC Flight

Did you know that you can use the AMA Event Search tool to find RC events and flying competitions all around the U.S.? You can search by date, state and see all categories or narrow down your search by types of aircraft by making a selection from the drop-down list under Category.  AMA's Event Search Tool

To give customers another way to find Radio Control events, we added a data feed on our site. Check it out and bookmark the page: Find Radio Control Events

RC Copters

Radio Controlled Toys

Recent & Upcoming Events:

 

Fri.-Sun. 10/1 - 10/3/2010: Heli-Invasion, Robbie Campbell Memorial Airfield, 6836 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Thornburg, VA 22551, http://www.heli-invasion.com/

Fri-Sun. 9/24 - 9/26/2010: Warbirds over the Rockies, Drake Field, just north of Denver, hosted by the Love Air R/C Club of Loveland/Ft. Collins, http://www.warbirdsovertherockies.com/

Sat.-Sun. September 25th-26th: Texas Shoot-Out 3D Free Style/TAG Program/IMAC Event: over $20,000 worth of prizes to raffle and give away at the event. Over $12,000 in Main Raffle prizes available to anyone, you don't have to be present to win: http://www.rcuniverse.com/community/event.cfm?eventid=4993&nobrand=0

Friday, Sat. & Sun. 9/17/2010 - 9/19/2010: Fly for Tots Charity Fly-In, RDRC Field, Youngsville, NC: the 3-day event features jets, aerobatic planes, WWII fighters, live music and great food.  Get more information at http://www.flyfortots.com

 

9/11/2010:  On Saturday, September 11, you can see amazing giant-scale RC aircraft – some up to 15-feet long – modeled after all types of standard-size aircraft, including warbirds, aerobatic, jets, vintage, and sport aviation.  The free event will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh Wisconsin between the Main Gate and AeroShell Square on the EAA AirVenture grounds. Concessions will be available.  Giant Scale Model Airplanes

 

8/19-8/25/2010:   2010 World Championships for Electric Model Aircraft: Thursday August 19th - Weds. August 25th at the Academy of Model Aeronautics, Muncie, IN, USA. F5B Motor Gliders and F5D Pylon Racers.  World Championships for Electric Model Aircraft

 

Sept. 3 - 5 2010, Labor Day Weekend: Giant Scale Radio Controlled Model Aircraft Show on the runway behind the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, Wright-Patterson AFB OH. Admission and parking are free.

 

EF-16 Fighter Jet EDF EP ESC

Early Mornings at the Flying Field

My hubby and I belong to a local flying club that's chartered by the AMA.  The club has a flying field in a beautiful rural area that's a short drive from where we live.  The summer heat has made it tough to get outside and fly for any length of time. The temps here have been in the upper 90's with a heat index over 100 degrees. 

We recently discovered that 7:00 a.m. is the perfect time to fly at the field. The temperature is nice, the humidity is not bad at all, and the winds are calm.  Last Saturday there were deer on the field when we arrived and they watched us for several minutes before they retreated behind the trees. Instead of sleeping in on Saturday mornings, now we  grab some water and Gatorade, spray on some sunscreen and head to the flying field.  It's a great way to start the weekend!

RC Planes and Copters Summer Sale

RC Planes for Beginners

Electric Micro RC Helicopters - Indoor / Outdoor Models

They just keep getting better and better:  electric RC helicopters small enough to fly inside your house or apartment.  When the weather's bad and it's too wet, cold or windy to fly outside,  we can still enjoy flying our miniature remote control helicopters indoors.  I am still in the beginner stage of flying RC helicopters and I'm sticking to the simpler models for now, but there are some very sophisticated high quality models in the micro size, for more experienced intermediate to advanced fliers. Some of the most amazing aerobatic and 3D flights I have seen on YouTube were filmed inside.

Many indoor models can be flown outdoors as well.  Just be sure to read the instruction manual and if it says something like, only fly outdoors when the wind speed is not greater than 5 miles per hour, they are not kidding around and you should take that as gospel - don't risk smashing your baby.

As I mentioned earlier, I'm one of the owners of RC Planes and Copters and I spend a good deal of time reading about RC products for our store.  Last week I "tested"  the new Verticar from Megatech. Tested - ha!  Played with it is more like it! I love my job...  Anyway, the Verticar is fully assembled and comes with everything you need, in the box, except for the 6 AA alkaline batteries needed for the transmitter.

Megatech VertiCar

The VertiCar's electric engine is powered by a LiPo battery inside the vehicle,  and it is charged by connecting the Verticar to the Transmitter.  It has a "running mode" for traveling on the ground like a car and "flying mode" for the rc helicopter mode.  The VertiCar is so small and light-weight and its wheels are so narrow, that it doesn't roll well on bumpy or grooved surfaces.  It needs smooth surfaces when in running mode.  Being the flight bug that I am, I spend most of my time in flying mode.  Initially, my model was spinning out of control but there's a trim adjustment dial on the Transmitter and I played with the dial until I found the right spot -  and then I had a blast hovering from room to room. It smacked into the walls and doors a few times and made some rough landings - no damage so far.  Included in the package is an extra set of replacement blades and a small Phillips head screwdriver (for the battery compartment on the transmitter).  It can be flown outdoors, but only when there's no wind and when you're flying inside - be sure to turn off your ceiling fans!

It's day four of EAA's AirVenture 2010 and I have really enjoyed reading and watching the news.  I didn't get to go this year, but I'm saving up and hope to be there in 2011.  You can watch EAA's videos including daily reports from AirVenture 2010 on their channel: http://www.eaa.org/video/airventure.html

If you are a fan of RC aviation I would love to hear from you. Help me improve my blog with your feedback and suggestions!

Until next time, have fun, stay safe and Keep Flying!

Do you want to fly RC but you're not sure how to get started?

Do you or someone you know want to find out how to get started flying RC aircraft? If yes, that's fantastic! In my humble opinion, it is the greatest hobby ever! Join my blog and and we'll discuss all sorts of things to get you going and help you all along the way. If you are an experienced pilot, we would love to have the benefit of your expertise & knowledge. Please share your thoughts and ideas...

Men and women have always been captivated by the idea of breaking the bonds of earth and gravity. Maybe it’s the promise of freedom that explains the allure of flying, or maybe it’s just human stubbornness, man wanting to do something he wasn’t equipped by nature to accomplish. For most, flying RC airplanes and helicopters is as close as we will come to realizing the dream of flying under our own control. A thrilling and rewarding pastime, radio remote control aviation satisfies a desire that seems almost genetically imprinted.

Learning to fly takes a little time and patience, but is not really difficult and anyone can do it, young or old. With the right RC airplane and proper instruction, you can be flying before you know it. A good initial step is to join a local RC flying club. Most hobbyists are outgoing and enjoy sharing what they know and most clubs have at least one member designated to assist beginners. Learning under the watchful eye of a certified instructor is probably the quickest and safest way to start flying RC airplanes. If you already own a plane, your instructor can help you avoid damaging it; if you don’t, clubs usually have trainer planes and helicopters that new pilots may “borrow.” To find a club near you, and a list of certified RC flight instructors, visit the website of the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) at www.modelaircraft.org or call 1-765-287-1256.

If there is more than one club in your area, try to visit them all. Join the club you like the best, or the one that is nearest you or has the best instructional program. And ask about dues (these may vary, so find out what they are and what they cover). The club that we belong to charges $80 per year for an individual or a family. The family plan covers children up to age 18. Many clubs require you to join AMA as a prerequisite to flying your RC airplane on their field regularly. Our club requires AMA membership. Even if yours doesn't, we encourage you to join; AMA works to promote RC modeling and also provides liability insurance coverage--which is a great thing to have. There are a number of great resources on AMA’s site, including an Event Calendar (click on Competition/Events, then use the search box to obtain information about upcoming events in your area), a virtual tour of the National Model Aviation Museum, and the current and past issues of Model Aviation magazine (a subscription to the magazine is one of the member benefits). We love their magazine.

If you are ready to get started in this exciting and rewarding hobby, click the Follow button (over on the left) to follow this blog, check out AMA's website and find the list of clubs in your area and please post any questions or thoughts that you have.

Signing off for now - will be back soon. Until next time, have fun, keep it safe & keep flying!



Electric RC Airplanes RTF           RC Copters

Is it just me or is flying RC aircraft the greatest hobby ever?

I have always enjoyed flying as a passenger - especially in smaller aircraft. I once rode in the co-pilot's seat of an open cockpit plane as the pilot did loops and rolls... was that ever a blast! Several months ago I met some folks who fly RC helicopters and planes and they turned me on to their hobby and past-time. I can't say enough good things about my new hobby and I have had so much fun learning to fly RC airplanes, that my husband, our son and some of our friends have gotten the bug too. My husband and I have formed a new business and you'll never guess what we decided to sell... RC aircraft! Ha! With the economy like it is, it's not the ideal time to start a new business, I know, but we're having a great time with it and it's going pretty well so far.

When you're getting started in this hobby, there's a lot to learn and digest, but that's part of the reward. You learn a whole new jargon or lingo and it keeps your mind sharp! I've noticed that, for kids who fly remote control, it not only improves their hand-to-eye coordination and gets them up-and-about instead of sitting around, but their patience and ability to remain focused gets better too.

Online blogs, forums and articles have helped me tremendously. I am starting this blog to share what I've learned & new stuff I learn down the road and hopefully attract other bloggers who can share their tips and experience with us as well.

Until next time: Have fun, keep it safe, and keep flying!



The Avion IO BiPlane is a great indoor / outdoor electric RC Plane. Read more at Avion IO.