I have been flying model planes since I was a little boy, from the small, rubber-powered stick flyers, to the comet kits, onto the sterling Control Line and Radio Control kits. I was always building something that flew. Today, I'm in my 60s. I not only fly the models but also fly the real thing, and my workbench is cluttered with one being built and one being repaired.
This hobby has evolved, from nitro engines to electrics and gas engines more powerful than we could imagine, but also with new building techniques and gone back to tried and true methods, from balsa and ply to plastics and 3D printing, it's been a fun thing to watch, while also remembering all the fun with my grandfather, and later nephew.
I'm hopeful that the hobby never forgets its roots and can somehow hold onto the values and the manners taught to me. I also hope it lasts for others to enjoy.
