Rubber powered and balsa hand launched models is how I got started in 1950’s. My first control line plane was a Jimmy Walker 1/2a model. It took a lot of hope and perseverance to teach myself to fly. Mostly, I would bring my models home broken. Once repaired, it was back to the field to break it again.
My first r/c airplane was a DeBolt Lil’ Kitten with a 27mHz single channel radio rudder only 1/2a model. A successful flight was if you recognized one controlled turn. . . before it crashed!
1970 was a major threshold. I began using digital radios and I got instruction by Gary Leonard, an AMA National Champion, Rudder Only, in the 1960’s.
AMA Nats at Glenview Naval Station broadened my scope of knowledge about model aircraft. In fact, as a school teacher I bought 75 AMA Delta Dart model kit and taught my 4th and 5th graders to build them and have a fly off after school. Taught aeronautics and flight fundamentals to those eager boys and girls. This was a great program of the AMA.
Today, in my 80’s I love flying glow and electric airplanes, gliders and helicopters. It is a lifelong hobby worth building and flying interesting models.
