From: "Pat Roddy" <>
Newsgroups: rec.models.rc.air
Date: Fri, 18 Aug 2000 21:52:42 -0400
I [am] often get asked why I am doing "this model airplane stuff". The people who ask me this mostly know my long history of hot air ballooning 'on the edge' and long distance motorcycle riding (Iron Butt Disease), and cannot believe that after years of putting my butt on the line, what is it about RC flying can compete with either of the previous addictions I had.The addiction that I, you, and most of the readers of this newsgroup has is not something that is easily pigeonholed. I am sure that there will be many, varied answers to your query.Allow me to add a few of my own :-)
I suppressed the urge to fly model planes for 35 years. I was smitten with it when I was 14 years old, a farm kid in Nebraska, and being able to afford the hobby back then was about as remote as owning a yacht. College, carreer and the previously mentioned addictions took the front burner.When I decided to start selling off my motorcycles I was faced with having some ready cash needing an outlet. Radio control airplanes got the nod. I had waited long enough. Remember, tomorrow is never guaranteed, a mantra of mine that allowed me to rationalize former 'dangerous' sports I was heavily involved in.I then discovered this newsgroup last September, and the rest, I must say, is history.
Whenever I turn my attention to something, it gets priority with all due energies I can muster. I've always lived by the maxim that "for a few pennies more, you can go first class" and that is what I did with this sport. Seven months ago, I volunteered to become an instructor at our field, and a month later, was named Chief Flight Instructor. This is another aspect of this sport I love.....giving back. I spent years in a local university teaching interns, residents, nurses and techs certain medical procedures. I have a talent at taking something difficult and making it appear easier to the student. This talent crossed over to RC flying, thankfully.OK, here's the list you wanted. I just felt a little background was necessary to give you some persepective.
1) You always walk away from every crash. A humorous answer to those uninitiated who haven't heard it before. Considering the background I have, this is a definite PLUS :-)
2) RC stimulates your brain in so many ways. It encourages learning something new, and when you stop learning, or wanting to learn, then it is time to call the gravediggers, IMHO. Learning something foreign, or new, is always satisfying, at least to me.
3) It is challenging. Every day I visit the field, I am presented with a new challenge, whether it is dodging the flights of geese and buzzards that overfly our field several times daily to dodging the wanderings of a new pilot or a grizzled vet who is flying past the envelope. . And no, none of these birds are the least bit intimidated by our airplanes, tuned pipe or not.
a) taking up someone's new pride and joy is always challenging. Many times you do not know this person, or his building skills, and no amount of ground checking it will determine if it will fly well. You have to put her up to see how she is going to fly. My heart rate always quickens when shaking out a new plane because you just never know......
b) the weather can always throw a roundhouse curve at you on a moments' notice. Whether it be a strong wind from a collapsing cumulonimbus out of your sight behind you or a fast moving fog bank that comes off the river and causes your viz to reduce to near zero while you are inverted at 500 feet is always a kick to the pacemaker :-)
c) when the light bulb over a student's head finally goes off, the look in his or her eyes that tells you they are now comprehending what you have been trying to impart to them is something I never tire of. I like that feeling.
d) when a student leaves the protection of his instructor to fly on his own is always a kick. Always. The surprise in their eyes when you unplug the buddy box, unexpectedly, and hand them their own radio, the instant doubts that cross their faces, the knocking knees and shaky thumbs on the sticks, knowing their mouths are drier than any desert on the planet, (my memories of this are not all that far removed, Sandy) is always satisfying.
e) the satisfaction at the end of the day, when you have the field to yourself or maybe with a fellow flier or two, watching the earth turn away from the sun for another night is always a good feeling. Whether your plane is whole or in pieces really doesn't matter at this point, at least to me. I've planted a few but the learning continues. And so far, I've successfully walked away from each one, whole, yet able to learn from it.f) the overall satisfaction of taking something out of a box, be it a kit or ARF, spending evenings assembling it, checking it, tweaking it; then taking it up and wringing it out, returning it to earth (hopefully whole ;-).
As I re-read this before sending it to you, I see the word satisfaction woven here and there.That has to be it, for me.I derive more satisfaction, the reasons for this emotion so varied and ever changing, than anything I have ever done before.And there is no end to this need, for me, to ever stop seeking that feeling. That feeling of satisfaction. That feeling of a job well done. Just another 'satisfaction junkie' I guess :-)
pr