say what? i have heard that 'it was raining cats and dogs', but... airplanes?
if you happen to be at windsor in winter, and go to a gym where the boys of the local club gather, you will see a flock of 3d planes flying together, up to 10 at a time. turn and turn. and sometimes they colide. 2, 3 or more. parts, bits and pieces fall. literally, there are raining planes. and then the boys go to pick them up. but still there are others buzzing around, near your head. as i am 1 of them, i decided to do something to avoid getting a hat with the shape of an airplane. so i said to myself: what do we use to protect us from rain? an umbrella! so, why not? when i 1st used it, all laughed (and still some do), but i tell them: 'you laugh, me safe'.
the same happened many years ago when i installed a safety belt in my 1st car-and look now.
by the way, that's me with my granddaughter (both of us wearing safety glasses), our friend lambini (a stuffed lamb) and of course my plane and the transparent umbrella.

i have been in windsor for over 21 years, and have learned that the full name of the place is: the city of winds-or storms. and the years are 1 cold and the next hot. last year was cold, meaning fall started earlier, with more storms than usual so i could not fly for a long time. but now spring started earlier. today there was no wind so i was able to fly outdoors again, and as i fly at dawn near 4 lakes, i had the pleasure to see and hear many geese honking their way to landing at the lakes.
still, 1 of my planes refused to start; several cells were low and so the flights short; then my radio (DX6i) called it off when the bar that changes programs broke. end of the day. but still, before, i had the chance to evaluate 2 new planes and another that i reactivated. only i wish i could fly longer and make use of the calm morning, that happens more rarely every year.

MustHang 24" compact 3D with c10/1811 motors. 150 sq in; 6mm epp all over; 2x120 hyperion cells (10gr)...Continue Reading

credit where it's due. who began using steps on model airplanes? i see that there are many users that call them 'kline fogleman airfoils' and credit Dick Kline with their invention ( see thread https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show....php?t=1117276 ). still i remember seeing them on model airplanes long before. their more recent use and popularity is due to the tests that tony65x55 did with a flying wing based on the zagnut wing. his thread is here:https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=558321 and was started on august 2006. there are some posts in that blog that are worth reading: 1,5,27,29,79,83 and 84. he stresses the point that the step creates lots of drag. after Tony's introduction of the step to successful flight on small models, came the snowball effect and many (including me) have been building models with the step in several configurations.
but the 1st use of the step on models that i ever saw, was on a small model airplane that flew remarkably well using a step, although at the time it was not called so. it was the Dakota, a bipe designed by Joe Wagner, and kitted by Veco in 1949. see plans here: https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show...a#post15506144 post 123. the step is a big 1, at the bottom. of course, where the step started was with paper planes long before. in 1939, when i began using it, was with paper planes that my uncle taught me to make with a fold (step) when i was 5, and this means that by then it was common knowledge to make paper...Continue Reading

am starting a 'wish list' so anybody can daydream and tell what he would like to have.
something that any manufacturer, large or small, can make or create for us to use.
like radios, powerplants, airplane plans, kits, ready-to-fly, mounts, gearboxes, devices, programs, simulators, adapters, connectors, you name it.
this could let potential manufacturers hear what we the people need or wish we could have.
also, if some1 knows that it is already being made or sold, he can tell us here.
this way we all learn where to get it .
the list i started is at the indoor and micro models, but if anybody thinks it is a good idea to start it on any other specialty, please feel free to start it yourself, or ask me to start it and i'll do.
here is the link: https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show....php?t=1605339