Hello folks!

Again, it's been far too long since I posted. After the success of the Arizona Electric Festival and the new field for the Gilbert Quiet Flyers and life in general, I just forgot to post. Well I plan to change that! With the Summer in full swing I have some exciting events coming up. First, I am now sponsored by Venom Power for batteries and chargers. I will be posting here on RCG and other social media outlets about events I attend and some reviews and how-to's with their great products.

My first event I plan to attend as a Venom factory pilot is the Warbirds and Classics event in Orange County at the OCMA BlackStarr Field June 10-12.

I plane to bring my newest Hobby Top Gun L-39 as pictured below and if all goes well my refurbished 12s powered Byron F-16.

Beat the Heat is also coming up at the end of July in Flagstaff. It's always a great event. I will post more on it as we get closer. Until next time, don't forget to check your six!

Hello everyone,
Once again it has been far too long between posts. What can I say, I'm a busy guy with a family and a career and a hobby. All 3 are important to me among other stuff. With that I would like to get you all thinking about all the events coming to AZ for the rest of 2015 and into 2016.

The 1/8th Air Force is in late October at my home field. November brings our annual auction and the AZ Jet Rally. I'm looking forward to all these events of course but I am most excited about the 2016 Arizona Electric Festival. As the CD for the event we have some exciting changes in store but still keepin the focus as being one of the best all-electric gatherings in the southwest. Save the dates February 26-28, 2016!

Here are some pics of what's been going on plane wise with me.

Too much time has passed... I should make this a little more regular. Where to begin? Building and flying, flying and building, crashing and fixing, that sounds about right! Jets have pretty much taken over my garage. I've added a few over the last several months or at least finished some. I'll go back and see what I have not shared in almost year and catch up with some photos from events and such. I love this hobby and a big part of it is the people so I'm going to include a little more about them in future posts.

It's been a few months since my last post. Where has the time gone? Well, we had the 25th Annual Arizona Jet Rally was last month. Unfortunately it rained for much of it. I managed to get flying in each day and all of my birds survived with only minor issues.

I have not made much progress on my last mentioned projects. I refurbed all my jets for the AZ Jet Rally and that took some time. I also acquired another Starmax F-5 in desert camo that I brought to life. It is the sweetest flying EDF I own. I haven't flown much else since I finished it.

The Corsair just needs to get done!

The CMP T-45 moved to the front and I have everything for it now. Working on the wing right now putting all the servos and retracts in.

I acquired a ProJet A-10 and have been gathering the items for it.

I ordered and received a set of custom decals for my Wattage S-3. It will look really nice when it is done.

The Top Gun Mig-29 is still a ways down the road. I did acquire retracts for it. The next big items are a Byron fan/ESC and all the servos. It will be a sweetheart when complete.

I attached a few pics of my favorite planes. My Freewing SU-34 is still going strong with a new set of main gear, My LX Mig-29 is flying great and my new F-5. Not sure what I will have done for AEF next month. Hopefully the T-45 and Corsair. Until, keep em' flying and always.....Check your Six

The last few months it has been HOT here in AZ that's for sure. And while I still managed to fly many weekends it definitely cut back on my time spent on projects. I have a decent work space in my garage (if I keep it clean) But its just been too hot to start or finish anything other that charging batteries and minor repairs. I braved it one evening and refurbed my Wattage F-86 with a new fan and landing gear repair. I have 3 major projects I'd like to get done in the next few months:

Kyosho 40 size Corsair-This one is about 70% complete. I have only have a few servos I need to mount, one retract and the canopy and cowl attached. I need an esc but that is the easy part.

CMP T-45- This is one I've acquired everything I need for it except an ESC. Now I just need to build it!

Top Gun Aircraft Mig-29-This will be my pride and joy. I need to decide if I'm going to us a single Byron Fan or go with twin 90mm's.

I have some smaller projects such as two float plane conversions, a Yard Bee night flyer and a Wattage S-3 Viking.

I'll try and add some photos soon. Until then always check your six!

As mentioned previously I acquired a pop-up trailer that has been converted for a plane hauler. I believe it was a StarCraft of late 60's vintage. It had been gutted by the previous owners and used to haul large R/C planes. When I got it the supports for the fiberglass top were all but gone and the lighting was not functioning. Also the tires were OLD!!!

Well, I got it home and started to bring it back to life. A buddy of mine that is good with wood helped me make a new frame which is rock solid. I laid trunk liner carpet down on the floors and most of the walls. New tires, and a new spare were also acquired. I made some Velcro tie-downs and also some metal/bungee cord tie-downs for my existing PVC plane stands. Some new vintage lights and a little re-wiring and she is The Falcon.

One of the cool mods previously made but not pictured is a drop down door at the back. I'll add a pic this weekend.

I don't even want to say what I paid for the trailer as it was next to nothing but I have put a few hundred bucks in now, mainly the tires and wood frame work. I think this will serve me well for some time.

Wow, it's been a while since I added anything here! I guess working, flying and family take up most of my time. It's been a busy time for me. I have a great job after being let go from my previous employer along with 90 of my fellow now former co-workers

Catching up on bills and such I have held back on any major purchases related to RC but I have still had a chance to add to the fleet. I acquired an LX Mig-29 and got it airworthy with a few hiccups along the way. It actually gets a re-maiden with new fans and motors this weekend.

My stable of F-5's has fluctuated but right now it is at 2 flyable (more or less) and a spare.

I refurbed a Starmax/Venom F-86 with electric retracts and Neu motor power. it's flown successfully a number of times with minor issues with the power system.

My Freewing SU-34 still flies regularly as well.

My next project is to complete a CMP T-45. I have everything except for an ESC to get it completed. I also have my long suffering Kyosho Corsair that is SOOOOOOO close to being done I just need to buckle down and get it done!.

We are planning to attend the Western States Electric Fly-in Jun 22-23 in LA. I acquired a pop up camper trailer that has been modded into a great plane hauler. I'll post a few pics.

I hope to add regular posts moving forward so let me know if I'm taking too much time getting a post up.

Check your six and avoid the flat spin out to sea...

Wow, I didn't realize how long it's been since I put anything here! It's been a whirlwind of R/C activity for me. A few challenges and crashes but I still enjoy all this hobby has to offer.

Today is the first day of the Arizona Electric Festival-If you have not attended this event you really need to mark it on your calendar for this year or next. As I was preparing for the event the past week I realized I hardly have ANY planes that I took to it last year ro fly this year. A few are in various states of repair or conversion(Floats!) or I sold them. I only have my PZ F4F Wildcat and CMP L-4 Grasshopper that will actually fly this weekend and it's for sale.

The biggest change is the number of EDF's I have. I did not own a SINGLE EDF last year at this time I have really gotten into them and feel comfortable flying them on a regular basis. I still enjoy scale propeller warbirds like my Kyosho Corsair and K & A OV-10 Bronco that are close to being completed but not enough for the AEF.

That's all for now. I'll try to chime in over the weekend about the AEF and a full rundown afterwards.

Check your Six!
Wyldkrd

It's finally Fall-like weather here in AZ. While I flew all summer it was usually a few hours early in the morning.

A lot has happened R/C-wise in for me in the last several months. I have made a significant transition to EDF's. Yes, I still have prop planes but my EDF collection has grown considerably.

I have two Starmax F-5's both with considerable upgrades including motors, fans and e-tracts.

The Venom 70mm F-86 that has been on sale from Venom on eBay has been a great addition and a good flier with all the bugs worked out of the air retract system.

I acquired a vintage Wattage F-86 and between me and Bolibruch1 have modded it to be brushless 64mm and landing gear.

A SkyAngel 50mm T-45 Red Arrows scheme has been a ton of fun.

Latest plane acquired was the Freewing Su-34 Fullback. Twin 64mm with thrust vectoring and retracts. I real beauty in the air!

Looking forward to the AZ Jet Rally Nov 18-20 and the AZ Electric Festival in January.

I will add more soon and continue with my journey in R/C and life.

Well AEF came and went and I survived with minimal losses. The Rodeo Park has closed and I am missing that venue but have joined Arizona Model Aviators since and been out there already to enjoy. i'm a busy guy right now and fitting R/C in for the next month or so is a challenge. I'm working on my second Master's degree and my Action Research Project is my main focus though the middle of April. I think I'll get a little flying in but I can't devote the time to new projects and refurbishments.

Speaking of which, I have a new Blitzworks R/C F-5E waiting to be assembled. I bought the kit version but have acquired all of the electronics and such to get it going. I opted for the E-flite electric retracts as the stock ones are not know for their reliability.

I also finished some mods to my CMPro T-34, mainly how the battery goes in and the addition of electric retracts on the mains. I still need something for the nose but I will fly it fixed for now.

CMPro L-4 is also ready to get back in the air. Completed LG mods with springs instead of rubberbands and remounted motor and cowl. I used magnets for the cowl.

Kyosho Corsair is near completion. I added a battery door to the top, well I cut one, I have not completed the mod yet. Still need to finish servos and retracts in the wing and mount the cowl.

I have almost a dozen new, mod or refurb projects in the barn. Upcoming is my K & A OV-10 Bronco, Scorpio DO-328, and Simprop SU-31.

I love this hobby, can't wait until I can spend a littl e more time on it!

I was trying to recall the progression of aircraft in my early days of R/C. I know we had a Sig Cub with a Fox .36 and some big .60 size trainer that weighed a ton. There was a blue and white Decathlon with an O.S. .20 and a few other odd balls. There was a Pilot Lake Bucaneer we bought almost finished. I remember that we mounted the engine facing forward, they are usually facing back on the real ones. Not sure what the issue with that was

We languished with these birds until we meet a gentleman by the name of Jack Ramsey. Jack lived in Peoria and had TONS of airplanes. I was in awe and fell in love with one after another. For whatever reason, my parents let me buy one after another to the point we had a dozen planes hanging in our Arizona room (I have pics to prove it!) There was a Byron Pitts with a Quadra, A 1/4 scale Cub and the crown jewel-A Wescraft B-17.

Here is the sad part, I never flew these! I guess I just never got proficient and I think I got into R/C car racing more. These planes hung in our Arizona room for a few years and then we slowly started to sell them off. One by one either as consignment items at R/C Unlimited in Scottsdale or though newspaper ads.

One of the last to go was the Wescraft B-17. This was by far the biggest and most expensive. Sometime during high school or my first go at college we sold it. We had a picture of it hanging up at the hobby store and a guy named Ray Hoffman bought it. I didn't remember this fact for many years. As you may have realized by now, there is more to this story in a future installment...

Remember, Always check your six

I managed to get another bird out of the barn thanks to my Dad. Yes, my Dad still likes to play with airplanes. I'll give him my major crash damage and new ARF's to put together up to a certain point. He'll get it structurally together and servos installed, sometimes the motor/cowl mounted. I usually takeover and finish the radio/power system install and get it ready to fly. Our latest collaboration was a Sapac T-34. It'a cheap foamie kit but looks cool and flies good once it's balanced well. I had one of these that I lost to radio issues a few months back and picked one up at Ultimate hobbies in Orange CA for 30 bucks. It came with a brushed gearbox motor. I had a steerable nosewheel installed and it bumped into this setup. I switched to brushless with a Turnigy 1050kv motor and it should be just right.

I hope to get my Kyosho 40 Corsair further along tonight. I picked this one up on Ebay and drove to somewhere Northeast of LA to get it months ago. It was actually pretty far along and a good candidate for E-conversion. I picked up a Precision Aerobatics Thurst 50 on RCG for a good price to power it. All that is left is installing the aileron servos, canopy, cowl and landing gear.

I'm torn between installing the fixed gear(easy) or the retracts I bought for it(A little more work). Fixed gear results in having it ready for AEF, retracts stretches it out a little...
Decisions, decisions!

Here it is just a few days before the AEF! I am really psyched to for this long weekend. I've been working on planes for the last few weeks, spent Friday night until 1130 getting my T-34 ready to maiden on Saturday. That was successful with a few mods needed to make it a great plane for the event.

I've come a long way in a year that's for sure!

Last year I had a token airforce at the event. While I have been "in" the hobby off and on for 20 years, I had been out for so long it was like starting over. I had a PZ UM Mustang, PZ Decathlon, and some other Decathlon that had Ailerons. I had purchased a Fokker D7 but did not fly it. I had some other plane but I can't remember what it was

Different story this year! Big L-4, Big T-34(for me at least) and my Stinson, AT-802 amongst others.

If your're at AEF, be sure and stop by and say "hi" I look just like my avatar

So, twenty plus years ago my Dad sees some R/C airplanes at the swap meet. He haggles with the guy for a few minutes over price with no agreement and we walk away. We come back about 30 minutes later and they are still there. More haggling and we walk off with a Midwest Strikemaster in the original navy jet markings and a pattern ship that I never figured out what it was Whoever built the Strikemaster sure put a lot of time into it.

That was the beginning of my exposure to R/C. For the next 4 years both planes hung in our workshop. The Strikemaster had an O.S. .30 and the pattern bird had nothing. My Dad came home with an OLD Futaba 5 or 6 channel radio. Each servo had 5 wires and it was on 27mhz. After a few trips to local hobby shops (Exeter and Desert come to mine) to purchase hardware, fuel, etc...we thought we had a plane ready to fly.

We had heard about people flying at Scottsdale Community College so we went there on a Saturday morning and saw planes in the air from the street and followed them via a dirt road. When we got to the "field" there were 6-8 cars and double the number of planes. I was in paradise! We started talking to some of the guys and they looked our plane over. Boy, we had a lot of work to do according to them. The radio was the biggest concern but also how we hooked up controls was an issue. If you didn't know the Strikemaster isn't considered a trainer either, its high wing but resembled a navy jet and we were told it flew like one. We were advised to try something else first.

That really hurt but it didn't end there, that's for sure. More next time...

OK, you may know me from GQF and a few other threads I post on sporadically. So I'm curious what is it that brings you to my blog This is the first entry and I'm not trying to come across as negative, I'm thrilled someone would think of following my exploits. I'm middle of the road when it comes to social media. RCG and Facebook are about it. Doubt I'll ever do the Twitter deal...

This format is not entirely foreign to me. When I worked for America West Airlines I had a text-based information page in our reservation system that is not unlike a blog. The term blog did not exist, we simply called it "infotainment". I did have quite a following. I would nonrev(airline speak for free travel) and when I would check-in at various ticket counters the agents would say: You're GGSHANNON! (GG was the reservation system code to access our information pages).

Moving forward, I will share my experiences with R/C both recent and past. I have been in this hobby off and on for over twenty years so I think I have a lot to offer and still a lot to learn
Shannon "Wyldkrd" Gallagher