Author Topic: Hanging it up (Read 5164 times)

Randy Ryan · « **on:** August 24, 2015, 06:53:31 AM »

After my last abysmal performance I'm seriously considering hanging up my handle. I have nerve impingements in my right shoulder, elbow and wrist and the signals just don't seem to get where they belong and when they do arrive it seems they're wrong. It's true I didn't get much practice before our meet, but I haven't been so out of control for a long time. No solid decision yet, but it just seems logical to go back to Free Flight where I came from.

Motorman · « **Reply #1 on:** August 24, 2015, 07:29:58 AM »

Sorry to hear that good buddy, get well soon.

MM

John Paris · « **Reply #2 on:** August 24, 2015, 08:29:11 AM »

Randy,
That would be a shame as you produce so many fine models and it is always great when you are at the contests/events. Perhaps if the flying is getting a little tough due to the medical issues you can still participate with your girls. Somebody needs to encourage the next generation of flyers. Best of luck in whatever you decide though.
John

Tim Wescott · « **Reply #3 on:** August 24, 2015, 08:38:58 AM »

It may also be a good idea to talk to your doc or a physical therapist about what you're trying to do and the problems you're encountering -- one or the other may have either suggestions for what can be done, and your doc at least should be able to give you a prognosis about whether it's now as good as it gets or if you can hope for better.

Russell Shaffer · « **Reply #4 on:** August 24, 2015, 08:43:53 AM »

How about demoting yourself to a lower class? Just fly for the fun of it and not worry about the competition part. You could hang out, socialise, launch, maybe do some judging. Fly free flight too.

Gerald Arana · « **Reply #5 on:** August 24, 2015, 09:46:59 AM »

Quote from: Russell Shaffer on August 24, 2015, 08:43:53 AM

How about demoting yourself to a lower class? Just fly for the fun of it and not worry about the competition part. You could hang out, socialise, launch, maybe do some judging. Fly free flight too.

Randy,

I to had some shoulder problems. I went to PT and believe it or not my shoulder is MUCH better! You might want to look into it.

BTW: I'm 10 years older than you, and I flew quite well (for me) this week-end in Woodland. I won a default in OTS......... LOL!

At this age its all about friends and a GOOD time and I had both!!!!!

Keep flying. You're not doing it right unless you are having fun!

Cheers, Jerry

John Cralley · « **Reply #6 on:** August 24, 2015, 09:56:29 AM »

Randy,
I was doing a ton of desktop computing and started having shoulder and wrist pain. I switched the mouse to use my other hand (left) and it was very awkward at first but soon became second nature! I bet if you tried flying with your other hand you would soon have the pattern down again!

Randy Ryan · « **Reply #7 on:** August 24, 2015, 12:34:11 PM »

Thanks guys. In response to some of the suggestions, first, I have consulted my Neurosurgeon and basically been told that until the pain is unbearable there is nothing to do, I've already had 4 cervical vertebrae fused and some of this issue is spinal as well. The surgeon that did my carpal tunnel surgery says I've simply worn my joints out. I switched mouse hands years ago to the left and have thought of trying southpaw flying but I have my doubts. I am a very competitive guy so notching down isn't an option for me, if I can't advance and improve there is no interest, fun flying for me lasts a very short time. One thing about FF, I don't need the motor skills to make the airplane perform. A couple remarks at the last meet kind of ruffled my feathers too though I can get past that considering the source. I'm just thinking of options and really, FF is where most of my success and modeling life have been.

Oh and John P, the girls have only a passing interest in stunt so maybe FF would be a good change.

Russell Shaffer · « **Reply #8 on:** August 24, 2015, 12:50:59 PM »

How about old time RC? It's almost free flight and you don't have to chase the plane.

Randy Ryan · « **Reply #9 on:** August 24, 2015, 12:56:22 PM »

Quote from: Russell Shaffer on August 24, 2015, 12:50:59 PM

How about old time RC? It's almost free flight and you don't have to chase the plane.

Oh I don't mind chasing, I still have my chase bike.

JoeJust · « **Reply #10 on:** August 24, 2015, 02:16:53 PM »

Randy, don't give up entirely on CL. Give some thoughtful consideration to just going to meets and having fun, and while there try Navy Carrier. It is an event that can challenge your competitive spirit while being a simple event. To begin all you have to do is take off, fly level and then land. Of course if you get highly competitive you are faced with some real tricky stuff. I had to give up trying to fly PA as I lacked some basic skills, and with only one leg usable it is difficult to turn to my left. While I still do some "sport" flying I spend most of my time puttering around with Carrier. Think about it!
Joe

Howard Rush · « **Reply #11 on:** August 24, 2015, 02:32:06 PM »

Joe, you should have come over this weekend and puttered. If your house was on fire or about to be, though, I can see why you might have stayed home.

Bill Johnson · « **Reply #12 on:** August 24, 2015, 02:53:48 PM »

Well, good luck to you whatever you do, Randy. We have a club member here in Huntsville who also loves FF. At least you are staying in aeromodelling. I can't imagine ever giving it up entirely.

Scott Richlen · « **Reply #13 on:** August 24, 2015, 04:29:55 PM »

Could be a whole new challenge - learning to fly with your left hand. You could feed your competitiveness drive by starting at beginner and working your way back up again. See how fast you can do it.

I actually am considering trying to fly Old-Time with my left hand so it doesn't interfere with my PA flying.

JoeJust · « **Reply #14 on:** August 24, 2015, 06:22:03 PM »

Quote from: Howard Rush on August 24, 2015, 02:32:06 PM

Joe, you should have come over this weekend and puttered. If your house was on fire or about to be, though, I can see why you might have stayed home.

Howard, I have yet to recover from 5 days in NY State. Right now the smoke in the air precludes much of anything but reading and puttering on the computer. Maybe I can make it to the meet in Salem, but right now that too is problematic.
Joe
Joe

John Paris · « **Reply #15 on:** August 24, 2015, 07:29:12 PM »

Randy,
You are probably right about the girls. Good to hear that you plan on keeping something in the air though. Great therapy for life.
John

Randy Cuberly · « **Reply #16 on:** August 24, 2015, 07:43:58 PM »

Randy,
Sincerely sorry about your physical problems. Being very competitive myself I understand your feelings.

My advice; Fly a little CL once and a while for fun and Go tear up the sky and beat everybody at FF. You have the building skills and likely most of the knowledge to become a top level Free Flighter. That will solve your competitive nature. Plenty of competition there, and plenty of contests!

All my best wishes to you whatever you decide.

Randy Cuberly

Jim Kraft · « **Reply #17 on:** August 25, 2015, 07:01:58 AM »

I have come to the same place. I have always been competitive to a degree, but now am facing many physical problems that make it even hard to concentrate on flying. Control line is a very physical sport. I have had back problems for many years although those have in some respects improved. But this year I got tendinitis in my right shoulder to where I could not handle the pain to fly. I will probably continue to fly a little for fun when I can and do some more Old Time R/C flying. I don't have a chase bike, and only the R/C field to fly at anyway.

These kind of decisions are really hard to make. I went flying yesterday for the first time this summer because of the hot and humid conditions that I also have trouble with. I really did fly better than thought I would, but the strain on my poor old bod is just to much to enjoy it like I use to.

I am pretty sure I will continue to fly when I can with my Old Time planes with ignition engines, and may even try to fly a little Old Time competition if the spirit moves me.

Flying old ignition engines either free flight with a radio or control line is still my favorite thing to do. I also still love building.

I am thankfull that I have options, and that my wife has always supported me in what ever I do. All the best Randy in what ever you do.

Randy Ryan · « **Reply #18 on:** August 25, 2015, 12:57:12 PM »

Thanks all for your support and suggestions. Before getting back into CL stunt I was a very active FFer having won the Wakefield Aero cup in 1990 and flying very competitively in rubber for the following 10 years. Then I seemed to burn out. I assistant CD'd the 2000 FF Nats and CD'd the 2001 FF Nats and took up CL as a fill-in. Now it seems I've completed a circle and FF is home. I'll still fly CL but probably not competitively, I've flown all 3 disciplines since I was 5. RC FF is not my bag, I'm too much of a purist and while I suffer these nerve issues I still enjoy good health and stamina. My FF buddies have been looking for me and well, maybe that's where I belong now. I won't fly FAI thought, far too much dedication and discipline required there, but OT, Nostalgia and AMA events are still strong and I have brand new old models for many of them that were built and never flown hanging in the racks. Heck, I may even go to Muncie this weekend, there are 2 contests going on.

Thanks again, I'll be around, I love Stunt and maybe like someone suggested I can judge like I did at last years Nats.

Scott Richlen · « **Reply #19 on:** August 25, 2015, 01:40:09 PM »

I took up a little FF to learn to build lighter. My main love is still CL Stunt, but it is hard not to really love Flying Aces Club. They are genuine throw-backs and unapologetic about loving it just like it was. No heat-shrink film for them and yes, BOM. Not chasing after the latest flying gee-gaw like AMA and it's fixation on quad-copters. They don't let others dictate what is fun for them. A lot to be learned from them. Stick and tissue and rubber power! Nothing else is really needed.

Phil Spillman · « **Reply #20 on:** August 27, 2015, 09:12:50 PM »

Hi Randy, Sorry to hear about your troubles. Bad shoulders and I have much in common! I had my first total replacement of my right, flying shoulder, in 2007. The surgeon implanted an over size ball which was also miss aligned, which caused me to totally eradicate my shoulder socket! I moved to Virginia in 2009 and at that time I had to pick up my right hand with my left in order to shake hands with my new friends! I made the rounds of 4 surgeons before I finally found one who was willing to attempt to replace my replacement! This was completed in Richmond, VA in early 2010. I am happy to say that I am now in sound working order and fly as much as I can! Naturally there is never enough time to fly!

I hope you might take a while off from UC PA and come back after your body quiets down some! Go fly FF too! Sounds as if it would be good for your psyche!

I wish you a speedy recovery and little if any pain!

Good luck!

Phil Spillman

Randy Ryan · « **Reply #21 on:** August 28, 2015, 11:03:06 AM »

Quote from: Phil Spillman on August 27, 2015, 09:12:50 PM

Hi Randy, Sorry to hear about your troubles. Bad shoulders and I have much in common! I had my first total replacement of my right, flying shoulder, in 2007. The surgeon implanted an over size ball which was also miss aligned, which caused me to totally eradicate my shoulder socket! I moved to Virginia in 2009 and at that time I had to pick up my right hand with my left in order to shake hands with my new friends! I made the rounds of 4 surgeons before I finally found one who was willing to attempt to replace my replacement! This was completed in Richmond, VA in early 2010. I am happy to say that I am now in sound working order and fly as much as I can! Naturally there is never enough time to fly!

I hope you might take a while off from UC PA and come back after your body quiets down some! Go fly FF too! Sounds as if it would be good for your psyche!

I wish you a speedy recovery and little if any pain!

Good luck!

Phil Spillman

Hi Phil, good to hear from you. I have my doubts I will recover the motor control I need for competitive stunt, the damage seems too extensive. I can still type and draw and build but the fines' required for precision AB just isn't there anymore. Not a lot of pain except my neck sometimes, and al lot of tingling from my spine to my fingertips. I've been going through my FFs and everything is still in good condition so I have a good start on my FF comeback. Even have old new models I built and never flew ready to go. We'll see what happens but I've pretty much accepted that Precision AB is going to be a big part of my modeling anymore. I'll be around here a lot though, I love to see what folks are up to.

Serge_Krauss · « **Reply #22 on:** August 28, 2015, 11:43:07 AM »

Randy-

I'm very sorry to hear of your problems, and we've missed seeing you down here in Cleveland during recent years. You build such beautiful models and have such a high regard for building and model history, that you would be greatly missed at the CL circles! How about visiting us for our contest, September 19-20? If you can't bring a plane, how about judging and sharing some time with us? Best wishes, friend!

SK

Randy Ryan · « **Reply #23 on:** August 31, 2015, 07:12:40 AM »

Quote from: Serge_Krauss on August 28, 2015, 11:43:07 AM

Randy-

I'm very sorry to hear of your problems, and we've missed seeing you down here in Cleveland during recent years. You build such beautiful models and have such a high regard for building and model history, that you would be greatly missed at the CL circles! How about visiting us for our contest, September 19-20? If you can't bring a plane, how about judging and sharing some time with us? Best wishes, friend!

SK

Hi Serge, thanks for your kind words, I appreciate it. I would like to come for sure but have another event on the calendar. My travels to Cleveland have always been fun and enjoyable, even the day I pulled my thumb through the 3 blade Bolly!