| Remote control airplanes can be a very fun, exciting | | | | Mark took his P-40 up and I was amazed. It was fast! |
| and rewarding hobby. Unfortunately it can be a very | | | | Very fast as a matter of fact. It buzzed around the |
| expensive hobby as well. With these tough economic | | | | field several times and then he began putting it through |
| times, beginning a new hobby can be a very daunting | | | | its paces. He did several rolls, loops, hammerheads, |
| and expensive task. Spending extra resources on a | | | | inverted flight and many more aerobatic stunts. He |
| risky and expensive hobby is not something to be | | | | then proceeded to bring his P-40 by us at an almost |
| taken lightly. If you are interested in the remote control | | | | walking pace. It slowed down to a crawl and still flew |
| hobby, but have been scared to take the plunge let | | | | very stable. He then brought it in and landed like a |
| me guide you to a very fun, exciting, convenient, | | | | butterfly with sore feet. To say the least I was |
| affordable and easy to fly type of remote control | | | | impressed, with everything but the looks. I was not a |
| plane. | | | | big fan of the crazy "flat" looking plane. |
| After almost 20 years in the hobby I have seen, flown, | | | | On his second flight of the day Mark allowed me to |
| crashed and rebuilt almost every plane on the market. I | | | | pilot his P-40. I have been hooked ever since. I was a |
| started many years ago with a cheap and very feeble | | | | more experienced pilot than Mark and I was able to |
| electric plane. It flew, but that is about all I can say | | | | really make the P-40 look nice in the air. It had an |
| about it. It was a start and it taught me the basics of | | | | almost 3D type of flight performance. Slow passes |
| flight and the required supporting equipment. These | | | | followed by vertical climbs with victory rolls really |
| early electric planes were tough to fly and the | | | | looked nice! I landed the P-40, packed my vehicle and |
| batteries were expensive and delivered less than | | | | drove to the hobby shop to purchase one that |
| adequate flying times. Eventually I transitioned to bigger | | | | afternoon. |
| and more expensive gas planes. These planes flew | | | | The following week there were 4 profile warbirds at |
| faster, more stable and more reliable, but the initial cost | | | | the field. We spent all day long flying, dogfighting, |
| and supporting equipment was overwhelming. A trip to | | | | showing off and most of all enjoying our birds. The |
| the local flying field meant loading the vehicle up with all | | | | best part of these warbirds for me was the price. For |
| sorts of equipment, fuel and large planes. Many of the | | | | under $100 I received the ME-109 kit (for some reason |
| people I flew with would show up with trailers to hold | | | | I enjoy being the bad guy in the sky). I had it flight |
| their planes and equipment. Sure, it was fun, but after | | | | ready for around $200. For that price I could afford an |
| awhile the cost and inconvenience of all the needed | | | | entire fleet! A P-51, Zero and Spitfire soon followed. |
| tools and equipment became too much. | | | | I looked at one of my kits while repairing some crash |
| As the years went by, more and more electric | | | | damage one day and decided that I could make one. I |
| offerings came out on the market. The major draws | | | | got on the web and began researching profile planes. It |
| to electrics were smaller planes, less initial investment, | | | | is a funny thing, but I was not alone. There were many |
| less supporting equipment and more time spent flying. It | | | | guys looking at doing the same thing. I spent the next 6 |
| was much easier to just toss a smaller electric bird into | | | | months building, crashing, designing and repairing many |
| the car along with a few batteries and a charger. | | | | planes. Eventually I began to get it right. I had an entire |
| Although the cost had come down quite a bit, the | | | | basement full of warbirds I had built (and it is a large |
| electrics were still costly. It was not out of the ordinary | | | | basement). People began to ask for me to make them |
| for an RTF (ready to fly) combo to cost in the area of | | | | warbirds. A few at first, and then several each month |
| $300 or more. If you wanted multiple batteries and | | | | withing just a short time. |
| better electronic equipment you were looking at | | | | Now jest are my true love, and I was researching |
| somewhere in the area of $500. Still not what I would | | | | pusher prop jets. I did not tell anyone because did not |
| call affordable. | | | | want to get overwhelmed with people want |
| Eventually I transitioned into electric jets (EDF's). Very | | | | information. I was able to build a pusher prop F-16. I |
| fast and tough to fly planes that were more in the | | | | simple took a P-51 and changed the shape. I then |
| area of $600 for a kit with supporting equipment. I | | | | added a prop to the rear and ballanced the weight out. |
| really enjoyed the speed, and my piloting skills were up | | | | It flew, but not the best. I then took a foam edf I had |
| to the task. I invested a ton of money into batteries, | | | | and traced the outline onto foam board. I began to |
| chargers, electronics, jet kits and more. I really enjoyed | | | | work on this plane. In doing research on the web again, |
| the time I spent with EDF's, but I saw many pilots who | | | | I came across a thread full of guys producing profile |
| did not. A crash normally meant a total loss of the | | | | jets and plans. I quickly had 6 or 8 finished and in flight |
| plane, and many times damage to the electronics | | | | condition. They were an instant hit at the field. Our field |
| inside of the plane as well. | | | | is not full of warbirds and jets that I built. |
| EDF jets are not the easiest planes to fly. They | | | | Over the last year and a half, I have noticed many |
| require larger batteries which means heavier weights. | | | | companies producing profile planes of all kinds. The last |
| The heavier weights mean more speed to keep the | | | | 6 months has even spawned several companies |
| bird in the air. Due to the speed and power needed to | | | | producing profile jets. It is fun to see other products |
| keep the jets in the air, flight times were in the range | | | | and take hints and ideas that they have used to |
| of 3 to 5 minutes. There is a lot of time and work | | | | improve my own creations. I love the profile jets and |
| involved in getting an EDF to the flight field to get 3 to | | | | warbirds. They are easy to fly and best of all very |
| 5 mins of flying. Unless someone had many batteries, | | | | affordable. The only drawback was the looks. I then |
| there was more time spent standing around charging | | | | began to concentrate on the looks of these birds. |
| batteries than actually flying. Again, not the most fun | | | | I spent the next month or 2 working on adding |
| activity. I did see many pilots with enough batteries to | | | | dimension and details to the birds. I now can produce a |
| keep their planes flying more frequently; however, the | | | | profile bird with a "full fuse" look. I simply add foam to |
| cost of those many batteries was out of control. | | | | the sides of the fuselages and shape it down to scale. |
| Over the last few years the quality of both electric | | | | Painted canopies, missiles, panel lines and other things |
| planes and jets has really improved. With these | | | | really give the planes a good look! My friends and |
| improvements, the priced have come down as well. | | | | family prodded me to begin to offer my planes for |
| There are many cheaper priced electric offerings out | | | | sale. Eventually I listened an put a few on eBay. |
| on the market now that are very affordable. | | | | It is now many months later and my planes are selling! I |
| Unfortunately, affordable usually means a bit of a lack | | | | have sold many on eBay and now have my own |
| of quality as well as a less than attractive looking | | | | website. Please take a look at my site and see what |
| plane. Dont get me wrong, there are some nice looking | | | | you think! My goal is to provide a completely built |
| planes out there, but for the most part they are all your | | | | airframe warbird or jet that is easy to fly, fun, looks |
| typical piper cub and high wind trainer style planes. If | | | | nice, affordable, convenient to transport, and can be |
| someone wanted to fly warbirds or jets, they were | | | | enjoyed by all. Jets are so thrilling to fly, and my |
| back to spending in the neighborhood of $200 - $300 | | | | warbirds make it easy for anyone to fly them. The |
| or more. | | | | cost of a completed airframe is very inexpensive! You |
| Then one day I was out at the field. I saw a flight | | | | will be shocked! Again, please take the time to check |
| buddy getting a really nice looking P-40 warhawk | | | | out profile planes and my website. My site is located at |
| ready for a sortie. I noticed from quite a distance | | | | |
| away that it was a "silhouette" looking plane. It was flat | | | | Profile planes are really a good time. They are cheap, |
| on the sides and had a flat wing. I asked him about it | | | | easy, easy to fly and affordable. Toss one in the car |
| and he told me that they were called "profile" planes. | | | | and fly at lunch. Go tear up the sky at your local park. |
| They were very light weight flat foam planes. People | | | | Fly combat sorties with your friends. Whatever you do, |
| call them by many names now: flat outs, profiles, | | | | make sure you give one a chance as you will love it. I |
| silhouettes and many more names. They all refer to | | | | hope to see you at my site and to have the |
| the same style of plane. | | | | opportunity to service you as a customer in the future! |