How long did you keep your model airplane in one piece?

Well.... check this, 12 years old Texan:
http://www.shay-rc.com/photo.php?pid=2328

I still have my first 3 planes from when I started this hobby almost 2 years ago. However, since then I have had several planes crashed. This is due to expanding my abilites while learning 3D and other advanced low level maneuvers. The point is that I could have a plane last as long as I want if that's what I wanted to do. But at that rate I would never become a better pilot. No pain = no gain.
Phillip

The oldest plane I have is a SuperHots which is now 17yrs old. It has patchy covering... several repairs, a few engine changes, and is ready for a major restoration.. but at this point is still totally flyable... and it does hover. So.. back in the late 80's there were planes that hovered and were 3D capable but nobody seemed to be biting the bullet and going for it. I discovered it about 6yrs ago with the last engine change. It just seems to get better with time.

Two of my favorite planes crashed once I was comfortable with them - both after I mumbled those fateful words "flies like a dream - here - you have a go."

I still got my first plane, the aeroflyte hustler after 3 years and the only damage ive done to it is cartwheel it down the runway which broke the already cracked horizontal sabilizer on both sides. Flies great but the 46 la and the over use of glue and other materials makes it a couple hundred grams short of hovering. Should put an fx in it

Flew this a couple of times when I was 14 then crashed it. I am 40 now and my Dad has just rebuilt it as a surprise. Sat broken in the garage for 26 years and now I get to fly it again. A few ghosts attached to this one as it was pretty upsetting as a kid to crash this after months of building from a plan. Modern ARF planes avoid the drama of this. Crashed through radio failure in 1980. I have been flying a 25 year old little stick as well. All the rest of my planes are much newer.

I had a Spook 72 for SAM competition that I flew for almost 10 years. Succumed to fuel soak. I am still flying a Veco Smoothie controliner I completed just after I got out of the AF, around December of 1968.

haha my record is 2 years and going of continual flying. Herr pitts special.

I couldnt resist when I saw this thread! Heres my Sterling Fledgling that I built in the late 70's, A few patches and one minor crash. Just flew it Wed. I updated it this winter with a OS la 40, used to have an OS 35, retired due too age!

my dads still got an old kadet seniorita from 1989 with a k&b 20 its got some hangar rash because its not been flown a couple years but im sure i could throw some radio gear in it & run the motor a bit and ill bet she flies like new still , i should do that since that was the plane i did my first solo on when i was 7 , like 12 years ago.

Originally Posted by The Judge

I couldnt resist when I saw this thread! Heres my Sterling Fledgling that I built in the late 70's, A few patches and one minor crash. Just flew it Wed. I updated it this winter with a OS la 40, used to have an OS 35, retired due too age!

I used to have a Gazariator ("Senior Fledgling"). Great airplane. I don't remember what happened to it. Wish it was still being kitted.

I've got a Sig Scamp that's about 8 years old. I've got a Four Star and a Kadet LT that have each had about 1000 tanks of fuel through them. Anymore I don't wreck them very often. I give them away to make more room in the garage.

I was 13 I built the fuse mostly.He was 20 and built the wing.We didn't fly it until 2000. It stays in the closet. Clean and nice. I prefer to crash ARF's

I still have:

1979 Marutaka Focke Wulf 190 A8 Magnum .80 FS
1980 Veron Piper Cherokee 180 Webra .40
1982 Pilot Piper Tomahawk Webra .20

I've got an old 60 size Pattern ship from 1990. Although I do not fly it much anymore, it was/is an awesome flying aircraft (a big part of the reason it's still in one piece, IMO).

RJ