As a school boy, I was always interested in the Remote Control hobby but never really had the money to buy any of the stuff.  I remember we use to have a small hobby shop in town but being a small town, it was a bit expensive (or rather for a 12 year old it was).  If I think back, the cost for a full RC plane set was about R800.  That included a plain (can’t really remember which one), a radio with servos, an engine, and of course the propeller.  Well, that was old news and I always told myself that one day, when I am big, I will be able to buy it.

Well, after about 12 years, finishing school and a university, I had my first job and could afford (in a way) to get into the hobby.  I decided to first buy the plane, build it, and then save for the radio and the engine, but as we all know, when this hobby bites you, it is all over.  So I took my credit card, and bought the rest.

This was what I got:

• Spectrum radio
• Bobcat 40 trainer
• Thunder Tiger engine
• Some or the other prop.

After this, the mistakes started.  I always thought I can do anything or teach myself to do anything (wasn’t totaly wrong, but more on that a bit later).  Well, flying was not one of them.  My first attempt to fly failed miserably.  Me and my friend went to the sport grounds at Tuks (University of Pretoria).  Everything was build and tested (servos moved to correct services in the right direction).  So, we need to start the engine.  After reading the engine manual a few times, we came across a particular piece of equipment needed to start the engine that none of us knew what it was.  A CHICKEN STICK.  Well, did not have it, so fingers it would be.  Needles to say, I went home that day with a few bleeding fingers.  A long story short, after an hour, we figured out the reason for not being able to start the engine.  We were turning it the wrong way.  Eureka.  After un-flooding the engine it started.  Now for the flying part.

Knowing nothing about the responsiveness of the control services, I sped off and gave full up elevator.  Hold for it, you guessed it, 90 degree in the air, stall, and down it came.  Lucky it was on grass so not to much damage, but an end to that days flying or rather trying.

Fast forward a year or so.  I went on a weekend away and thought it would be a great idea to take my RC plane with and impress some people.  Again thinking it is easy to fly.  Wrong again but this time much more serious.  Being a donkey, I did exactly the same as the first time.  Full throttle, full up elevator, up 90 degrees, stall down 90 degrees, crash into ground.  This time, much worse.  The left wing was completely disintegrated.  With the parts safely in a box, and my pride and ego in my shoes, I returned home.

Fast forward another year or so.  I decided to try this hobby again and rebuild the left wing. Luckily I am a better builder.  The wing was perfectly rebuild looking like new.  This time I decided I will do it the correct way.  I joined a flying club (PRF) and took the plane for lessons.  First lesson was great.  The instructor complemented me on the rebuild and we took the plane up.  Perfectly balanced and trim.  He did the takeoff and landing and most of the turns but did allow me a few minutes of flying.  Yippee, I was actually able to do some flying after many years.

But then, life happened.  I got busy with work and other stuff and just never had time to get back to the club.

And then we forward life another 5 years to about 2003.  The helicopter bit me.

To be continued…