RC Electric Aircraft

Electric Radio Controlled Aircraft?

In the summer of 1998 I was visiting a friend of mine who had a HobbyTown franchise in Redmond, WA. I've known Dave Anderson for years, from mutual database connections.

During one visit, he asked if I'd like to join him at a rocket launch event where a 7 ft long rocket was to be launched. A previous visit to his store got me interested in rockets too.

While the rocketeers were setting up, I was watching some folk working with radio controlled glider airplanes. Some were being launched with a hi-Start (a giant rubber band), and some were hand launching some hand launched.

When we got back to the store, I had Dave ship me a glider kit, and tried to fly it. I quickly realized (2 crashes in 5 minutes, destroying a wing) that I needed help and contacted and joined a local flying club.

One of the unusual things about the Bergen County Silent Flyers is that we only fly gliders and electric aircraft at the field that we are licensed for. This keeps the neighbors happy!

After watching the folk fly their planes, I was convinced that starting off with an electric would be a better approach than the glider.

Taking a suggestion from the club president, I acquired a Wingo, assembled it, and have made some trial runs. I am just at the very beginning of the learning curve, and hope to gain skill with practice.

Take a look here for photos and a short movie of the Wingo

I attended the KRC Electric Fly-In in the summer of '98, and was amazed to see the diversity of the planes and helicopters that are all electrically powered. The people there were cordial, and we had a nice time. (There was no 1999 KRC fly-in.)

Unfortunately, in 1999 I wasn't able to put in much time at all with the planes (working on my knifemaking shop, cooking and lots of other things took up what little free time I find)..... but I'll start up again in the spring of 2000.