Well, I'm up late tonight preparing for Father's Day tomorrow. I've cooked (with the help of the Best Recipes Baking cookbook) a New York cheesecake from scratch for my Dad.
A lot of work to mix everything by hand without a mixer (haven't bought a Cuisinart yet--some day).
I've going to try and convince him to go flying with me in the morning. I dug my R/C (radio control) trainer out of storage a couple of days ago and have been getting it ready to fly (new gas, new batteries, charging everything up, renewing insurance!). Yes, insurance. One must have insurance to fly at most club fields here in the US. Very sad.
I love the hobby, I've got to say. I'm a total novice with about 5-6 hours of flying under my belt. I left California before I could spend much time at it. These days one brings a plane to the field (I bought an ARF--Almost Ready to Fly) trainer. It has about a 6ft wingspan and looks a bit like a Piper Cub (sort of, if you squint).
Remote control servos (tiny motors) are connected to a radio receiver in its belly and control rudder, ailerons, elevator, nose wheel and the throttle. I typically connect my transmitter via a "trainer cord" to another transmitter held by an instructor. I run my plane through the pre-flight, taxi it out to the landing strip, and throttle up and take off. If I mess up, he can let go a single button he has been holding down and his transmitter takes over controlling my plane.
It has been found that most people leave the sport rather quickly after crashing their not-cheap plane into the ground. Typically on landing. So this instructor model allows one to make mistakes and still have a plane at the end of the day.
Some day soon I'll solo and then I can fly this puppy at my folks farm. Pictures will take place tomorrow..
Posted by artandscience at June 19, 2004 11:42 PM