I started flying as a young boy around 1963 with rubber band balsa airplanes and much anticipation. I was always trying to find a way to make the flights last longer. As a teenager, I moved up to COX .049 Control Line models. I very much enjoyed those flights, even though I wasn’t very good at loops and such. But trying and many times failing led me to get pretty good at repairing the models.
About 1975, I was introduced to Radio Control flying. Tower Hobbies was the only place that I was made aware of to buy the kits, radios, and accessories. I eagerly awaited the arrival of their printed catalog to pick out my first kit. I chose a Carl Golberg high wing trainer and a Futaba 4 channel radio on 72 Mhz. All RC aircraft were ‘stick’ built balsa, which took me a month or two of evenings in my shop gluing everything up. I remember the ‘superglue’ we used would really burn my eyes if I got too close while it was curing. So, I would glue a piece and walk away. There were no foam airplanes or electric motors yet. The motor choices were either 2 or 4 cycle with 5% Nitro as the fuel. The radios and receivers were crystal controlled and required a physical switch out of crystals to change frequencies. The range was limited by how far you could see, as there were no FPV systems available.
I took a step away from the hobby just as the latest and greatest radios were available with limited programming capabilities and 6 channel. Always in the back of my mind was the thought of re-entering the RC hobby. So about 2015, I decided that multi rotors had finally become somewhat reliable and I immersed myself into that for a few years. At which point I again started flying fixed wing aircraft.
After retiring, I was blessed to have the opportunity to fly in a hay field close to my home (and avoided the 35 min. drive to the local club). Now, with all the negative attention to our hobby brought on by ill advised flights of some close to airports and over crowds, the hobby has become a target of more regulations by the government. I hope to fly a few more years before walking away for the final time.
Happy Flying,
Roger Vankirk
Morgantown, West Virginia
