I have been a most blessed man in that my wife has always supported me in my hobby. I resumed flying control line again shortly after we were married, I started to fly R/C pattern competition in the late 60's, and she was my call girl. She called the pattern maneuvers while I was flying. I retired from R/C pattern in 94 as I had started flying control line again in 93, and was hooked all over again.
How many wives would hold a plane with an unmuffled Anderson Spitfire on gasoline. Mine did.
We are the last of a dying breed as far as I can see. There is something about modeling that grabs certain people and no one can explain why It is the way we are wired. I fell in love with it when I was about 5 years old watching the guys who had just come home from the war in the 40's flying ignition.
I never lost that passion for the hobby. Control line and free flight were the last of those who build and fly. I can still smell the balsa in those Scientific hollow logs I started flying control line with when you opened the box.
Things I learned that you can not learn in most hobbies. Perseverance, how to solve problems, how to engineer a better something. I spent the last 26 years of my working life as a trouble shooter for 220 miles of petroleum pipeline and four pump stations. My experience in model aviation was a great help to me.
I do not fly competition anything any more as my back problems keep me from being active. But I still love the hobby. My wife and I just celebrated our 60th wedding anniversary. We are so blessed to have so many great memories of the people we have met through model competition. I remember many a contest where my wife would stand in the sun at 100 degree days while I flew. She has been a keeper from day one. Now her knees and allergies keep her in doors most of the time.
So we had our fun in the sun, and some great memories. I am forever grateful for this hobby and the joy it has brought me that not many can know unless they have been involved in it.
Topic: I think I've identified what we're missing.... (Read 5380 times)