An assorted collection of thoughts and images, mostly about my hobby, radio control model planes. I am a big kid and have a huge interest in all kinds of toys. So far RC Gliders have held my attention the longest. Until now I have tried yoyos, harmonicas, guitars, and 1/32 scale slotcars. However I have never lost interest in aviation or motorcycles. Until I can get a motorcycle or my full-scale aviation license RC soaring is going to be my passion.
This is intended to be an evolving personal log of learning to fly RC gliders in New England. Posted are personal notes about the steps taken to becoming a beginning flier, links to important websites and notes about upcoming soaring contests in the local area.
My personal RC soaring log. A history of how I got started flying RC airplanes. If you are a beginner perhaps there will be some tidbits or other information you can glean. If you are an expert, perhaps you could get in touch with me with some advice.
MAD Aircraft Highlander EPP glider. I feel the best beginners plane around.
GWS Slowstick makes an outstanding inexpensive electric plane.
Whipper Whiz is a plane designed to chuck around the house.
Finally, some eclectic pages on my other interests. The Topnosis - one of the world's best toys and one that apparently didn't make it (update Nov '05: it did make it, just online and is back at FAO) in the corporate world of toys.
Eventually I'll be adding information on Yoyos, harmonica, slot cars, acoustic guitars, motorcycles and car racing.
p.s. In a past life I was a hobbyist C++ programmer. Hence the RCGroups (and just about everywhere else online) nickname, fprintf. My other interest used to be slot cars and as a graduate school project I programmed an open source, Linux based slot car timing system available for download at http://deslot.sourceforge.net/. It hasn't been updated in forever, but I still use it on a regular basis when friends come over to compete on my 4 lane Artin 1/32 racetrack.
Thanks for reading this far! If you have any questions about my flying experiences please look send me a private message as "fprintf" on rcgroups.com or send me an email to fprintf at fprintf.rchomepage.com. I have now set up a bulletin board using the same program as used to run RCGroups. No login required to leave a message!
Thanks to Jim Bourke and the folks at http://www.rcgroups.com/ for offering this free hosting service. Awesome group of people, even better RC Aircraft forums!