Welcome, I am Bob and I am new to the Flying Giants site! (07/07/20)

Today I want to begin a story that I find pretty interesting. Let me recap a bit and then I can get on with the rest of the story.

Well today has been a blast, as I am sure any expecting RC pilot will confess. It is that day that we find ourselves watching for some indication that the special RC items we ordered are due to arrive. I am nearly like a kid with his nose pressed against the window, shaking with anticipation. Of course, now the shaking is as much from old hands as it is excitement.

Today I received the most important and anticipated gift to myself ever! The HANGER9 Carbon Crafter FX3 Cub with the mighty DLE222 for its power plant. It sports 165” of wing and is 115” long. This is extremely exciting.

The items came by a trucking carrier that provided curbside delivery. My driveway is not real long but long enough to make getting these boxes up to the house a bit of a chore.

So, what did it all look like as it came off the truck you ask? WOW is this thing big! The Cub combo ships in three boxes. There is a big one, a bigger one, and of course the really big one! It became intuitively obvious that this thing will never see the inside of my house and workshop! The smallest of the boxes was a 27” x 20” x 15” box that was the lightest, I think. I knew immediately that this was going inside. It had to be that big beautiful DLE 4 cylinder, 222cc, shiny new engine! It did not disappoint, but more on that in a while. The second largest of the shipment was the wing set. This baby was a bit heftier and was 80” x 29” x 8”. Eighty inches! What on earth was I thinking! Finally, the biggest box was labeled as the fuselage. It was truly frighteningly huge! It measured in at 95” x 26” x 16” and was heaviest of the shipment. Ninety-Five inches long! I knew that I had stepped over some line that should have been equipped with flashing lights and warning signs. Without even opening the boxes it was obvious that I would need to build a transport container to safely move this airplane between home and the field(s).

For context I guess I should tell you a little bit about me and my experiences in the RC hobby. My first exposure to RC aircraft was in my early teen years, probably 45 years ago. My buddy’s dad was really into it, as was demonstrated as you walked into the front door (or the back door, it did not matter). He had planes in every stage of construction and repair, hanging on the walls, tucked under tables and beds. Kits stacked in every corner of the house to be built or traded for some new gem he had his eye on. The family room had a wonderful pool table that was draped with a blue tarp. On top of this arrangement were planes, it was the premier location for charging and servicing airplanes. John was the kind of guy that every RC’er went to for help. He could do it all and do it well. He could teach you to build, fly, find the best deals, whatever. John was the guy. On occasion I would venture into the “Back room” to see what creation was taking shape “on the bench!” It was a place of magic for a kid that was just wonderstruck about airplanes and flying in the first place. John would take me along on occasion to test my skills as an RC pilot. I would go home with a stiff neck from all the excitement at the field. I could take off, fly around, do some simple stunts, shoot some approaches, but John landed the airplanes (they were his after all).

The next time I touched an RC aircraft was 12 years later. I was in the US Air Force and stationed at Beale AFB in Northern California. Just to spur some excitement, this was the home of the SR-71 Blackbird and U-2 DragonLady. My wife (Johns daughter) and I lived in base housing situated on a hillside some 5 or 6 miles from the flight line. Just after we were married and moved in, she called me at work wanting to know what that loud noise was, the one that was shaking the dishes in the cabinets. I was kind of surprised by the question and had to think for a second. Then it hit me, and I nearly slid out of my chair laughing. After regaining my composure and apologizing for my behavior (you know, happy wife, happy life), I explained that was the sound of freedom. That was the launch of an SR-71. Those big engines could vibrate the teeth out of your head. Some nights they would test engines just after dusk down at the test stand. It was an honor to be invited to go for an engine test. At full power you could count 13 blue balls in the flame coming from that engine. Man was that something to experience! Oh and for the record, I was a Medic! Beale gave me the opportunity to meet some amazing people over the years. Chuck Yeager, B. C. Reed, Hub Zemke, Maj Brian Shul, Col Richard Graham, and Lt Col Carl W. Haler, “MACH Doc”, an SR pilot turned Doctor and a great friend.

I guess I should get back on track. Anyways, I was flying a Great Planes Stick 40! Had a ball with that little plane. But for the record, I was not particularly good! Then life got in the way of flying, but that was ok by me. I loved being a husband and a father to two beautiful daughters.

So now I find myself at the ripe old age of 60ish, and a lot has changed. Kids now have their own kids, and I am working a dream job. Life is wonderful. Unfortunately, I lost my beautiful wife to cancer a few years back. That event changes how you view life and I needed something to bring me back to center, and flying RC airplanes was my choice.

I think I currently have 15+ airplanes. Everything from simple trainers to…well this beauty, the one we started this conversation talking about. Little catch, I still have never landed a RC aircraft by myself except for in Realflight, and man am I good there!

Now you are probably thinking I am crazy! Well you may be close, but not quite. You see, I am planning my future while I am working. Look, I can afford it right now with about 7 years until retirement. What is the one thing that keeps us from making the move to purchase our hobby components (not toys). Money! Simply money, that is it.

This was to be my year to become a proficient RC pilot and I believe it will. Then came COVID-19, with high risk to older people, and stay at home. Now if you like to build, this is a gift. At least that is how I am looking at the situation. I am fortunate to be able to work from home, no 1+ hour commute each way, and it was way to nasty for me to go to the field anyway. This is North East Ohio. February thru June, some years are better than others but this year the weather was not cooperating anyway. Seventy degrees one day and freezing and snow the next. There were even a couple of days that started near 70 and it was snowing that evening. You must be tough to live in Ohio. So, what do you do with all that free time? Build Airplanes of course! I have kept my bench full since well before the holidays. I currently have a 1/3 scale Sig Spacewalker nearing completion of the framing, next is covering, and another first for me, Sig Koverall and dope. Love to try new things and not afraid to jump right-in.

So my next entry will begin the assembly of this beautiful airplane. Just a little word-smithing and adding some picture. Until next time!