Mr Man
Mr SPEED!
Yup🤣🤣😂👍
The Second Part of my Journey - The Diary
- Thread starter mayan
- Start date
L Edge
Legendary member
I got my test flight with a CARF turbine jet trainer because the rep was the one who I bought the CARF carbon Extra 500 from and he seen me fly Formula 1 pylon stuff which qualified. Did not buy for nearest club was a 3 1/4 hr drive to fly jets. We flew the big gas stuff from a turf field in 90's, the group did not want scorched turf, so if I did, I would lose membership. Just like snowboarding, I was asked to leave because I was scraping snow from the steep hill.
mayan
Legendary member
Thank you all for the most wonderful adivce. I ran a business in the past so i know some things about it, but this is different. This is not a business with minium expenses this business has it's expenses. I think maybe the best way to go is to try and combine this with a full time job, doing this business on the side and if at some point it seems to grow wings maybe just maybe i'll be able to let go of my full time job.
whats your thoughts?
whats your thoughts?
Houndpup Rc
Legendary member
Yeah that would seem to be the best thing to me until if/when it gets going then you could quit.
Piotrsko
Legendary member
A leisure time orientated business is very unlike any other business. Your customers are more invested and come pretrained to expect the CODB being high although it is significantly less expensive than it was when I started. That's a relative statement. My first RC radio cost the equivalent of a months wages.
joke from back then: How do you make a small fortune in aviation? Start with a large fortune.
joke from back then: How do you make a small fortune in aviation? Start with a large fortune.
mayan
Legendary member
I recently got my hands on a really special model — the Filip 600 Sport T-tail by RCM Pelikan.
It’s a vintage sport glider from the early 90s that was given to me by my friend Amnon, who knew I’d appreciate its design and (hopefully) give it the air time it deserves.
I went over the whole thing:
✔️ Checked every servo and linkage
✔️ Repaired and cleaned up the fuselage
✔️ Made sure the CG and control throws were solid
Maiden day came and the takeoff was smooth — it flew beautifully for the first few passes.
But mid-flight, things got sketchy: the monokote started peeling off one wing, and the plane suddenly became super draggy and unstable. It felt like flying a shopping bag with a death wish.
I managed to land it safely (somehow), did a quick field patch with tape, and gave it another go.
And despite the drama — I’ve really fallen in love with this model. It flies with character, and I love that it’s got some history behind it.
Not the most high-tech thing in the world… but man, it’s got soul.
Curious to hear from the community:
👉 Do you still fly any vintage models regularly? And how do you balance keeping them “original” versus modernizing them with new gear?
Would love to hear your stories (or close calls!) with old-school airframes.
It’s a vintage sport glider from the early 90s that was given to me by my friend Amnon, who knew I’d appreciate its design and (hopefully) give it the air time it deserves.
I went over the whole thing:
✔️ Checked every servo and linkage
✔️ Repaired and cleaned up the fuselage
✔️ Made sure the CG and control throws were solid
Maiden day came and the takeoff was smooth — it flew beautifully for the first few passes.
But mid-flight, things got sketchy: the monokote started peeling off one wing, and the plane suddenly became super draggy and unstable. It felt like flying a shopping bag with a death wish.
I managed to land it safely (somehow), did a quick field patch with tape, and gave it another go.
And despite the drama — I’ve really fallen in love with this model. It flies with character, and I love that it’s got some history behind it.
Not the most high-tech thing in the world… but man, it’s got soul.
Curious to hear from the community:
👉 Do you still fly any vintage models regularly? And how do you balance keeping them “original” versus modernizing them with new gear?
Would love to hear your stories (or close calls!) with old-school airframes.
Piotrsko
Legendary member
I suspect that many of my favorite aircraft are older than you. I have a kit that some day I should build from 1973. Did you know that fiberglass fuselages warp if not stored flat? I didn't. New stuff doesn't.
I don't modernize them, well, with the exception of batteries and new rubber stuff. Reqlly hard to find a Ever-ready U 276 6 V "B" battery anymore
Preflight of these always includes a very heavy shake and some hard poking of the covering, wiggle of the moveable surfaces, every time. Suspect hinges made of tape or covering, the glue fails or they fatigue from sunshine. Glue joints age and fail. First couple of flights are gentle as can be and very short with a damage inspection there after. Have had wood boring bug infestations which leads to flutter. I always overlap my leading and trailing edges.
I don't modernize them, well, with the exception of batteries and new rubber stuff. Reqlly hard to find a Ever-ready U 276 6 V "B" battery anymore
Preflight of these always includes a very heavy shake and some hard poking of the covering, wiggle of the moveable surfaces, every time. Suspect hinges made of tape or covering, the glue fails or they fatigue from sunshine. Glue joints age and fail. First couple of flights are gentle as can be and very short with a damage inspection there after. Have had wood boring bug infestations which leads to flutter. I always overlap my leading and trailing edges.
mayan
Legendary member
Thanks for the great advice. This model since the maiden flight had a crash that did some pretty big damage to it but that’s for another video. Having thought of what you just said this could have been avoided.
mayan
Legendary member
True
mayan
Legendary member
LOL
mayan
Legendary member
If you’ve been following “The Second Part of My Journey – The Diary”, you already know my RC adventures aren’t just about flying — they’re about the people, the laughs, the crashes, and all those small moments that make this hobby special.
Well… I’ve decided to take that same spirit and turn it into something a little unexpected — music.
I’m starting a 13-song album project based on real RC squad stories. Think of it as The Diary, but told in song form — part fun, part heartfelt, and hopefully something that even non-RC folks can enjoy.
I’ve just posted the first track in a new thread:
👉 https://forum.flitetest.com/index.p...ing-field-stories-into-a-13-song-album.78634/
Would love for you to check it out, tell me what you think, and maybe even share a story that could become a future song. After all, every great RC memory deserves its own soundtrack. 🎶
Well… I’ve decided to take that same spirit and turn it into something a little unexpected — music.
I’m starting a 13-song album project based on real RC squad stories. Think of it as The Diary, but told in song form — part fun, part heartfelt, and hopefully something that even non-RC folks can enjoy.
I’ve just posted the first track in a new thread:
👉 https://forum.flitetest.com/index.p...ing-field-stories-into-a-13-song-album.78634/
Would love for you to check it out, tell me what you think, and maybe even share a story that could become a future song. After all, every great RC memory deserves its own soundtrack. 🎶
mayan
Legendary member
Hey friends,
After years of nothing but scratch builds—just foamboard, blades, and a hot glue gun—I finally got to experience something different:
An original, laser-cut Flite Test kit, gifted to me by a good friend.
This one was cut from the classic brown foam board—nostalgic in itself, since FT’s now moved on to Maker Foam. Opening the box and seeing perfectly cut pieces waiting for assembly? I won’t lie—it was magical.
There was one little twist though...
The kit was supposed to come with a 3-channel and a 4-channel wing.
But I got two 3-channel wings instead 🤷♂️
So naturally… I scratch built the missing 4-channel version myself. Old habits die hard 😄
I documented the full build and the flight experience here:
📽️ Watch the video
Would love your thoughts—especially from anyone who's also had to blend kits and scratch building.
Has this ever happened to you?
After years of nothing but scratch builds—just foamboard, blades, and a hot glue gun—I finally got to experience something different:
An original, laser-cut Flite Test kit, gifted to me by a good friend.
This one was cut from the classic brown foam board—nostalgic in itself, since FT’s now moved on to Maker Foam. Opening the box and seeing perfectly cut pieces waiting for assembly? I won’t lie—it was magical.
There was one little twist though...
The kit was supposed to come with a 3-channel and a 4-channel wing.
But I got two 3-channel wings instead 🤷♂️
So naturally… I scratch built the missing 4-channel version myself. Old habits die hard 😄
I documented the full build and the flight experience here:
📽️ Watch the video
Would love your thoughts—especially from anyone who's also had to blend kits and scratch building.
Has this ever happened to you?
You might like this wing for it, can go from aerobatic to floaty.
Part - Explorer Extended Sport Wing with Flaps
A longer sport wing with flaps. Gives a very gentle flight and great glide while keeping the ailerons. Built for a 3 to 5 degree dihedral and should have a reinforcing spar where the wings join.
forum.flitetest.com
tomlogan1
Elite member
I fly with a bunch of guys who are nitro (home mixed) or gas but would not consider electric. I am just the opposite but we all respect each other's choices. Sure, there is some friendly "trash talk" but it's the 8 or so of us that do all of the work at the field because we ALL love the hobby. Everything else is just noise.
mayan
Legendary member
Thanks will check it out
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