After many months of waiting for the weather to clear, for the release from the China-virus restrictions, and a brutal work schedule I was finally able to fly this aircraft on Labor Day, 7 September 2020.

As this was my first time flying, I chose the Valiant due to its high wing loading and reputation for being a great aircraft on which to learn. Under the supervision of Dare County RC Flyers president and flight instructor Jim Davis, I had two very successful six-minute flights. Jim actually took the aircraft on its maiden flight to ensure all was trimmed and in order. Jim never flew a Valiant before and was quite impressed with its forgiving flight characteristics and its ability to execute acrobatic maneuvers when SAFE was not engaged.

Overall, I haven't had this much fun in a long time.

I just completed my second plane, an E-flite Valiant, 1300mm. The kit was nice and easy to assemble. Although I am partial to scale aircraft, I chose this plane for use as a trainer due to its forgiving nature and ability to fly a slower speeds.

I made a few cosmetic changes by removing all the ugly decals and replacing them with a custom set I made and had printed on water-slide decal paper. I limited these decals to just registration numbers, a few indicating the type (Valiant 480E--since that is how it is listed in the instruction manual), and some blue and silver striping on the wheel pants. I also painted the propeller tips in white. By removing the decals on the blue colored surfaces quite a bit of paint was pulled off. To remedy this I used some matte acrylic Apple Barrel Cobalt-Hue paint to cover the bare surface, and then sealed it with clear satin water-based Polycrylic Minwax. I came out to a perfect match and is very difficult to tell from the original finish!

I also purchased a set of floats for this plane which I am in the process of modifying by adding a set of water rudders and a waterproof steering servo.

I'm new to the world of radio control aviation. I've been wanting to get into this hobby since I was a kid the 1970s, however due to the cost, raising a family, and my duties a a Marine, I had to put it off. With the advent of the age of low-cost computer technology and the use of foam for model kits, RC aviation is now both affordable and much easier than it was in the past.

In October, I purchased and built my first model, and E-flite PT-17. Actually, since it has Navy markings it is technically an N2S. I was really impressed with this kit, and with the assistance of Monofoil Man, I was able to detail the aircraft with authentic decals, rigging, and many other scale details. I also joined the AMA and our local flying club, the Dare County RC Flyers.