R/C Aeronautics by William Eric McFadden revision 20160514-2010

Table of Contents

Organizations Magazines Manufacturers, Aircraft Manufacturers, Radios Retailers

Clubs Events Pilot's Logbook Miscellaneous

Links to sites not related to R/C Aeronautics can be found in my Bookmarks.

Read my disclaimer.

Organizations (return to top)

Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA)

Park Pilot (AMA)

International Miniature Aircraft Association

International Miniature Aerobatic Club

Magazines (return to top)

Model Aviation's Sport Aviator e-zine (AMA)

Review: ParkZone Vapor
Review: ParkZone J-3 Cub BL RTF
Review: ParkZone J-3 Cub
Review: Hobbyzone Mini Super Cub RTF
Review: Hobico FlyZone J-3 Cub
Article: Welcome Back -- We Missed You! parts 1 & 2
Article: Selecting Your First RTF Trainer
Article: How to Assemble Your First RTF Trainer
Article: Building Your First RTF Trainer
Article: Ready to Fly? Well... Maybe
Article: Battery Basics
Article: Those Strange Things We Call Batteries, parts 1, 2, & 3
Article: Basic Landing Techniques
Article: Great Circle Landing Approach
Article: Trimming from the Ground Up, parts 1, 2, 3
Article: Introduction to Electrical Power
Article: 2.4 GHz for the Common Pilot
Article: 2.4 GHz Radios
Article: Spread Spectrum: Are You Ready for Full Range?

RC Universe

review: Megatech Avion
review: Megatech Avion-io

Model Aviation Online (AMA)
Fly RC
Model Airplane News / Backyard Flyer

Manufacturers, Aircraft (return to top)

ParkZone
Hobbyzone
Flyzone
GreatPlanes
Megatech
E-Flite RC

Stevens AeroModel -- offering kits for ParkZone and E-Flite ultra-micro electronics
Mountain Models -- offering kits for ParkZone and E-Flite ultra-micros electronics

Manufacturers, Radios (return to top)

Spektrum 2.4GHz DSM radio systems
Airtronics
Futaba
JR Radios

Retailers (return to top)

The Smokestack (Lancaster, Ohio) 740-653-0404

Don's Hobbies 407 West Church St. Newark

Horizon Hobby
Tower Hobbies
Gravity Hobby
Hobby Lobby

ParkFlyRC (www.readytoflyfun.com)

BalloonCraft RTF Electric RC Blimp

West Coast Blimps & Electronics with micro-sized R/C components

Batteries America

Clubs (return to top)

Blennerhassett Area RC Club, Belpre, Ohio
Flying Forks, Lancaster, Ohio
Columbus Aero RC Club, Columbus, Ohio
The Ohio Radio Kontrol Society (Flying TORKS R/C Club), Columbus, Ohio; read the AMA Insider newsletter
Tailspinners Central Ohio, Pataskala, Ohio
Greater Cincinnati Radio Control Club, Cincinnati, Ohio
Loveland Propbusters R/C Club, Cincinnati, Ohio
Dayton Wingmasters, Dayton, Ohio
Licking County Radio Control Club, Newark, Ohio
Lexington Model Airplane Club, Lexingon, Kentucky

Events (return to top)

(No events listed.)

Pilot's Logbook (return to top)

Logbook, 2016

February 11 -- Zip Micro Drone; one flight indoors in mostly-empty living room on Adeline Circle
May 14 -- Air Victor 20H IR helicopter; one flight in living room; challenging to fly; need larger space

Logbook, 2015

April 12 -- Night Vapor; one flight on small battery on Adeline Circle; charge didn't last long
April 12 -- Proto X; one flight outdoors on Adeline Circle; battery didn't last long
April 17 -- Night Vapor; two shorts flight on 150mAh batteries on Adeline Circle; doesn't fly well on the large battery
July 4 -- Champ; one long flight on 150mAh battery on Loudon Street; rough air
July 4 -- discovered P51D has broken vertical stab; repaired stab sometime after the 4th
August 8 -- Night Vapor might be dead; two batteries tested light LEDs but quickly got very hot
September 7 -- Champ; one long flight on Stimson Road soccer athletic field; Champ wouldn't power up with a 2^nd battery—intermittent battery wires?
September 7 -- repaired P51D flew well for Miles until the breeze increased
September 7 -- investigated issue with Night Vapor; released smoke
December 19 -- purchased Estes Proto X-SLX micro quad-copter with Smokestack gift-card from Miles
December 20 -- Proto X-SLX; one short flight outdoors on Adeline Circle; broke one prop on cherry tree
December 25 -- received Propel Zip Micro Drone from Kate
December 25 -- Zip Micro Drone; one flight outdoors on Adeline Circle
December 29 -- received Air Victor 20H IR helicopter from J. Engle
December 29 -- purchased two pairs of replacement blades for Proto x-SLX

Logbook, 2014

January 03 -- Proto X; one flight in house; crashed perfectly in Vickie's bedside water-glass
January 04 -- Proto X; one flight in house
January 05 -- Proto X; one flight outdoors; transmitter has limited range
January 08 -- Proto X; one flight in house; controls remain touchy
January 09 -- Proto X; one flight in house; replaced rotors; discovered rotors are side-specific
January 11 -- Proto X; one flight in Grover Center Atrium; easier to fly in a large space; bent another rotor
January 17 -- Proto X; one flight in house after several flights of quadcopter in simulator over previous days; Proto X is harder to fly than simulated model
June 07 -- Night Vapor; two flights over Adeline Circle; 150mAh battery lasted long time but rate-of-climb diminished; 70mAh battery lasted very short time
August 24 -- Champ; two flights over OU intramurals field with 150mAh battery; found Champ motor-mount loose; Miles made two flights with P51D
August 25 -- repaired Champ motor-mount and tail-wheel
October 02 -- Champ; one flight over OU intramurals field with 150mA battery; a bit blustery; Miles made an additional flight with Champ

Logbook, 2013

May 01 -- Night Vapor; one evening flight over Adeline Circle; felt good to be behind the stick again
May 02 -- Night Vapor; one evening flight over Adeline Circle
May 15 -- Night Vapor; one evening flight over Adeline Circle with Tom Witherspoon
May 30 -- Night Vapor; one evening flight over Adeline Circle with Miles; 2nd 70mAh battery and Champ 120mAh battery didn't hold charge
May 31 -- Night Vapor; one evening flight over Adeline Circle

June 04 -- Night Vapor; one evening flight over Adeline Circle
June 17 -- Night Vapor; one evening flight over Adeline Circle

July 02 -- Night Vapor; one early evening flight over Adeline Circle; dirty air
July 24 -- Night Vapor; one early evening flight over Adeline Circle; very dirty air

August 20 -- Champ; one evening flight over OU intramurals field with 150mAh battery
August 20 -- P51D; one evening flight over OU intramurals field
August 23 -- P51D; one short evening flight over OU intramurals field; winds came up
August 23 -- P51D; a 2^nd short flight over OU intramural fields until darkness fell; broke vertical stabilizer of P51D on hard landing
August 23 -- broke Night Vapor rudder during transport
August 25 -- repaired P51D

October 26 -- ordered two replacement rudders for Night Vapor at under-new-management The Smokestack
October 31 -- received two replacement rudders for Night Vapor

November 6 -- replaced Night Vapor rudder
November 6 -- used Velcro to secure transmitters in Night Vapor and Champ boxes to prevent future damage of aircraft

December 01 -- Night Vapor; one short flight over Adeline Circle; 70mAh battery didn't last long
December 25 -- acquired Estes Proto X micro quad-copter
December 25 -- unable to get Proto X to charge or fly; will need to visit The Smokestack for an exchange
December 31 -- received expert advice at The Smokestack on charging the Proto X battery
December 31 -- Proto X; one flight indoors at the Church residence in Delaware, Ohio; small controls are touchy

Logbook, 2012

January 01 -- Execuheli; one flight in house

February 26 -- acquired Revell UFO
February 26 -- Execuheli; one flight in house
February 29 -- 1^st flight of UFO; in house; 1^st charge of LiPo battery didn't last long

March 3 -- UFO; one flight in house; charge of LiPo battery didn't last long
March 3 -- Night Vapor; one flight on Adeline Circle
March 3 -- UFO; one flight over driveway/yard; not much control
March 17 -- Night Vapor; two flights on Adeline Circle; 1^st flight with new battery

April 18 -- Night Vapor; two flights on Adeline Circle; slightly dirty air; moved wing back on fuselage to move CG forward; flew well
April 20 -- Night Vapor; one long flight on Adeline Circle with newer battery

May 4 -- Night Vapor; two flights on Adeline Circle; slightly dirty air; newer battery didn't last long; affixed sliding rear wing-mount after flights
May 25 -- Night Vapor; one flight on Adeline Circle with older battery

June 09 -- Night Vapor; two flights on Adeline Circle; slightly dirty air; newer battery lasted long time
June 12 -- Night Vapor; one flight on Adeline Circle; dirty air
June 15 -- Night Vapor; two late evening flights on Adeline Circle with lightning bugs and little brown bats
June 30 -- Night Vapor; one flight on Adeline Circle

July 02 -- Night Vapor; one flight on Adeline Circle
July 06 -- Night Vapor; one flight on Adeline Circle
July 16 -- Night Vapor; one early evening flight on Adeline Circle; very dirty air

August 06 -- received repair parts of Champ: main gear & tail gear
August 07 -- repaired Champ
August 08 -- Night Vapor; one flight on Adeline Circle ahead of approaching storm
August 18 -- Champ; one flight at ball-field near Mill Street Apartments; flew beautifully after elevator-trim change; Kate flew Night Vapor; Miles flew Champ
August 18 -- P51D bound to DX5e; one flight at ball-field near Mill Street Apartments; fast and twitchy
August 19 -- Champ; one flight at ball-field near Mill Street Apartments; gusty breeze; Miles flew Champ
August 19 -- P51D; one flight at ball-field near Mill Street Apartments; gusty breeze
August 25 -- Champ; one flight at ball-field near Mill Street Apartments; Kate & Miles each also flew Champ
August 25 -- P51D; one flight at ball-field near Mill Street Apartments; crash broke connector on battery

September 1 -- Lancaster's The Smokestack is still in business! Bought three 150mAh batteries for Champ & P51D
September 16 -- Night Vapor; one flight on Adeline Circle; older 70mAh battery no longer holds charge

Logbook, 2011

January 01 -- removed second skid from Super Hover; helicopter now ever-so-slightly tail-heavy
January 01 -- Super Hover; one flight in house
January 02 -- added weight to nose of Super Hover
January 02 -- Super Hover; two flights in house; broke rear-rotor mount; glued rear-rotor mount
January 02 -- Champ, two flights at OU Track and Field; first battery died quickly due to cold (~35F) temp; was blustery
January 04 -- Super Hover; one flight in house; glued rear-rotor mount failed
January 08 -- Super Hover; one flight in house; rear-rotor mount continues to be a problem
January 12 -- Super Hover; two flights in house; glued rear-rotor mount survived
January 13 -- Super Hover; one flight in house; glued rear-rotor mount survived
January 14 -- replaced Super Hover main rotors
January 14 -- Super Hover; one flight in house; stability not much improved with new rotors; glued rear-rotor mount survived
January 24 -- Super Hover; one flight in house
January 29 -- Super Hover; one flight in house
January 30 -- Champ; one flight at OU Track and Field; too windy
January 30 -- Night Vapor; one flight; OU Grover Center atrium; dirty air
January 30 -- glued spinner onto new prop and replaced velcro in battery holder of Night Vapor

February 02 -- Super Hover; one flight in house
February 10 -- Super Hover; one flight in house

March 5 -- Super Hover; one flight in house; became very unstable after crash; wasn't able to determine cause
March 27 -- Champ; attempted flights at Pruitt Field and in Peden Stadium; both locations too windy.
March 28 -- Champ; one short flight on Adeline Circle, between Cary & Heist residences

April 13 -- Champ; one flight on Adeline Circle, between Cary & Heist residences
April 24 -- Champ; one flight on Adeline Circle with Dad, between Cary & Heist residences

May 29 -- Champ; one flight in Granville, over McFadden's back yard, hand-launched; verified #2 LiPo is dead
May 30 -- Night Vapor; one flight on Adeline Circle

June 10 -- Night Vapor; one flight on Adeline Circle
June 17 -- Champ; one short flight on Adeline Circle; left Champ 70' up Carey tree
June 29 -- Night Vapor; one flight on Adeline Circle; keeping well below the tops of the trees

July 01 -- received Parkzone BNF Ultra-Micro P-51D, two extra batteries, extra landing gear, and prop and spinner for birthday
July 05 -- purchased second 70mAh LiPo battery for Night Vapor
July 18 -- Night Vapor; one flight on Adeline Circle with new battery; original battery no longer holding charge; need to buy another new battery
July 19 -- Champ fell from tree; landing gear missing; battery burnt/melted; battery wire broken; fuselage full of water
July 21 -- opened Champ fuselage and cleaned out leaf and bug residue; radio, servos, and pushrods appear to be OK; vertical stabilizer mount is weak
July 22 -- emailed Hobbyzone (using webform) about availability of replacement battery cable for Champ
July 24 -- Night Vapor; one flight on Adeline Circle

August 17 -- Night Vapor; one flight on Adeline Circle
August 25 -- P-51D at Pruitt Field; very challenging to fly; broke off left gear--repairable

September 15 -- received replacement power cables (x2) for Champ from The Smokestack, hand-delivered to Nelsonville by Gary
September 18 -- installed replacement power cable on Champ; verified receiver, throttle, and servo operation
Septemebr 22 -- Night Vapor; one partial flight on Adeline Circle; Kate broke prop-shaft on asphalt; need new prop and spinner
Septemebr 22 -- Avion; one partial flight on Adeline Circle; rudder wouldn't work properly
September 25 -- ordered prop/spinner for Night Vapor
September 25 -- ordered prop/spinner (2) and landing gear for Champ

October 06 -- one of flight of repaired Night Vapor on OU soccer field; Kate and Miles also flew
October 09 -- repaired P-51D landing gear
October 09 -- repaired Champ rudder and vertical stabilizer; repaired battery-mount velcro; need to order tail-wheel
October 09 -- Night Vapor; one flight on Adeline Circle; after flight adjusted CG by moving wing backwards slightly
October 10 -- Night Vapor; two flights on Adeline Cirlce; adjusted CG and mechanical trim

December 17 -- received Propel RC Execuheli; one flight in house; it requires a sensitive hand on the throttle
December 17 -- Execuheli; one flight in house; broke rear-gear; replaced with spare
December 22 -- Execuheli; one flight in house; broke rear-gear; replaced with spare
December 23 -- Execuheli; one flight in house
December 24 -- Execuheli; one flight in house
December 24 -- Execuheli; one flight in house; broke rear-gear mount
December 25 -- received Phoenix R/C Pro Simulator v3 with DX5e transmitter; installed on kids' PC
December 31 -- Phoenix R/C Pro Simulator; one hour
December 31 -- Night Vapor; one flight on Adeline circle; rough air; one 70mA battery is dead

Logbook, 2010

May 01 -- Avion, one flight; OU Grover Center atrium
May 02 -- Avion, one flight; OU Grover Center atrium
May 03 -- Avion, one flight; OU Grover Center atrium
May 05 -- Avion, one flight; OU Grover Center atrium
May 06 -- Cosmic Flyer short flight, part of one charge; field across river from Library; rudder hinge failed
May 06 -- Avion, one flight; OU Convocation Center
May 07 -- Avion, one flight; OU Grover Center atrium
May 09 -- Avion, one flight; OU Grover Center atrium; lots of moving air
May 12 -- Avion, one flight; OU Grover Center atrium
May 14 -- Avion, one flight; OU Grover Center atrium
May 19 -- Avion, two flights; outside house on still, overcast evening; works best keeping airplane between pilot and garage wall
May 20 -- Avion, one flight; OU Grover Center atrium
May 21 -- Avion, one flight; outside OU Walter Hall on nearly still, overcast evening; tried inside Walter Hall but too much airflow & lost IR too easily
May 22 -- Avion, one flight; outside OU Walter Hall on nearly still, overcast evening; gave Miles a bit of stick-time
May 23 -- Avion, one flight; outside house on still evening; didn't fly well--lost IR too many times; might not have been dark enough
May 25 -- Avion, one flight; OU Grover Center atrium
May 26 -- Avion, one flight; outside house on still evening; flew beautifully, and with bats
May 27 -- Avion, two flights; outside house on still evening; gave Miles & Kate stick-time; second charge didn't last long
May 29 -- Avion, one flight; outside house on still evening; got one circuit of side-yard before airplane battery discharged

July 03 -- received Night Vapor and 150mAh second battery--happy birthday to me!
July 03 -- Night Vapor; two flights Delaware County Fairgrounds, outside
July 04 -- Night Vapor; one flight inside building at Delaware County Fairgrounds; broke landing gear
July 05 -- Night Vapor; one night flight outside house on still evening; lights are way cool
July 06 -- Night Vapor; one flight on OU Green on still evening; Vickie got it stuck in sweet gum tree; I shook it loose
July 09 -- Night Vapor; one night flight outside house on still evening; got stuck in tree but retrieved it with Black Widow pole
July 10 -- installed replacement landing gear on Night Vapor
July 10 -- Night Vapor; one flight with take-offs from and landings onto Adeline Circle
July 14 -- Night Vapor; two flights Grover Center atrium; lots of moving air
July 20 -- Night Vapor; one flight over Adeline Circle; Miles flew most of second battery
July 22 -- Night Vapor; one flight over Adeline Circle
July 23 -- Night Vapor; one flight over Adeline Circle
July 24 -- Night Vapor; one flight in Baker Center Ballroom; Miles flew out bigger battery
July 24 -- Night Vapor; one flight over Adeline Circle; Miles flew out bigger battery
July 26 -- Night Vapor; one flight over Adeline Circle; strong thermal over house; overflew fox crossing yard
July 27 -- Night Vapor; one flight over Adeline Circle
July 28 -- Night Vapor; one flight over Adeline Circle
July 30 -- Night Vapor; one flight over Adeline Circle

August 01 -- Night Vapor; one flight over Adeline Circle; Miles flew out bigger battery
August 06 -- Night Vapor; one flight over Adeline Circle; Miles flew out smaller battery
August 13 -- Night Vapor; one flight over Adeline Circle
August 20 -- Night Vapor; one flight over Adeline Circle; Miles flew out bigger battery
August 22 -- main motor in Night Vapor is binding or otherwise inop

September 05 -- installed new motor in Night Vapor; had to splice old motor's cable to new after new broke at PCB connector
September 08 -- Night Vapor; one flight over Adeline Circle; experimented with elevator trim settings
September 10 -- Night Vapor; one flight over Adeline Circle; more experimentation with elevator trim settings
September 13 -- Night Vapor; one flight over Adeline Circle
September 14 -- Night Vapor; three flights over Adeline Circle
September 18 -- Night Vapor; one flight over Adeline Circle; daytime not-quite-still air not still enough
September 27 -- Night Vapor; one flight over Adeline Circle

October 01 -- Night Vapor; one flight over Adeline Circle
October 04 -- Night Vapor; one flight over Adeline Circle; suddenly got too windy
October 05 -- Night Vapor; one flight over Adeline Circle; bumpy air; got stuck on CATV line
October 09 -- Night Vapor; one flight over Adeline Circle; perfect air; climbed to high-altitude twice over neighbor's yard
October 10 -- Night Vapor; one flight over Adeline Circle; nice air; climbed to high-altitude twice over neighbor's yard
October 11 -- Night Vapor; one flight over Adeline Circle; abrupt transition from sky to pavement resulted in broken gearbox
October 31 -- Night Vapor; installed replacement gearbox; one flight at Bible residence--too windy

November 04 -- Night Vapor; one flight over Adeline Circle; too breezy
November 06 -- Night Vapor; one flight over Adeline Circle
November 09 -- Night Vapor; one flight over Adeline Circle; breezy above 100'
November 12 -- received replacement Avion airframe
November 12 -- Avion; one flight; OU Grover Center Atrium
November 12 -- Night Vapor; one flight; OU Grover Center Atrium; broke landing gear
November 20 -- Night Vapor; one flight over Adeline Circle
November 21 -- Night Vapor; one flight over Adeline Circle
November 28 -- Night Vapor; one flight at WPAFB
November 29 -- Night Vapor; one flight in the Convo; Mile's broke Avion rudder-hinge

December 18 -- purchased HobbyZone Champ
December 19 -- practiced taxiing Champ in ARC atrium
December 23 -- maiden flight of Champ in dark Convocation Center
December 24 -- received Fei Hu Super Hover metal-frame helicopter
December 24 -- Champ; one flight outside ARC
December 24 -- Super Hover; three flights in house
December 25 -- Super Hover; three flight in house
December 25 -- Night Vapor; one flight in ARC atrium
December 26 -- Super Hover; one flight in Sabine house; broke off one landing skid

Miscellaneous (return to top)

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This is a collection of links that I have found useful or interesting, either professionally or personally. It is maintained for my own use, and is subject to change at any time. No claims are made to completeness, accuracy, or competence. No endorsement of any site, individual, product, or corporation is intended. With these caveats, anyone is welcome to browse these links or to use this page.

Attributions:

MegaTech Avion image from on-line manual at MegaTech site, with modifications by William McFadden.