I now think the best times I had flying RC(radio control) was when I flew the gliders. Did both high start and power pods. Been several times that I had better land and check my RC battery supply. Was really great when I could fly formation with a big hawk. May yet get out my kit of a large RC glider and build it just to relax a bit.
Doc, I too loved flying gliders. Back in ’90, right after I got out of the Navy, I build a Goldberg Electra and took it out to the local industrial park near my house. Had a 2 ˝ hour flight one afternoon with that Electra. There was a dirt strip that was shared by R/C pilots, Ultralight pilots, and the local skydivers, but weekdays we usually had the strip to ourselves. One day I had the Electra out, and it was so high that it was just a dot against the clouds. I had to give it a turn command and then wait for about 10-20 seconds to see the effect. I didn’t have a fancy altimeter, but I know it must have been about 3000 feet up. I say that because as I was flying, a Cessna 182 flew over and throttle back, with dots starting to come out. The skydivers had decided it was too a nice day not to jump, and had taken off from Birmingham International Airport and flew over to land at the industrial park to jump the rest of the afternoon. As soon as I saw the plane come over the field, I gave the Electra hard rudder to spiral down as quick as I could to clear the area. The jumpers beat the plane down. I threw the Electra in the back of my truck real quick before any of the jumpers said anything. I decided to take a break, so I drove over to a convenience store about a half mile away to get a drink, and as I was checking out, a couple of the jumpers came in. One saw me and said, “Hey! You fly those little planes over at Gilmer’s, don’t you?”
Ummm…. Yea. “Do you know who flies the blue and white plane?”
Ummm… Not sure. “Well, if you see him, tell him I passed his plane at 2500 feet on the way down.”
So, yeah, I figure about 3000 feet. Too bad the 400 foot rule makes those days over.
Mark