When I got my first RC plane, I used to fly it in a football field right outside Elmendorf’s Boniface gate. A little more than 100 yards from where I would stand while flying it, just beyond a line of trees, was the Glenn Highway, and if I had ever lost control of the plane, it was easily within gliding distance of that busy thoroughfare.
On several occasions, despite the fact that they were only about four inches wide and I had the whole field to myself (unless I was dogfighting with a buddy who was also learning to fly RC), I managed to find the goalposts with the plane and necessitate a trip back to the local hobby shop (in case you were wondering what LHS stood for) for a new wing or other parts. As such, I included it in the strip as a bit of a tribute to a worthy – if stationary – adversary.
This isn’t over. Far from it, actually.
-Farva
I had almost the same thing happen. My wife was witness to a test flight of my T-28 that I added flaps too. It was a spectacular crash right in front my me. I got a small box and scrapped up all the pieces. My wife giggled the whole way home.
second?
I love that the only thing she had to say about Barbie’s explanation is ‘So to Speak’. That’s a well trained woman, right there.
Shades of the RC field adjacent to Shaw… sitting next to US 76/378.
“Went down so to speak” She’s a keeper… haha
Surprised he wasn’t wearing his flight helmet, or at least his aviator sunglasses. Is Barbie growin up??? Say it isn’t so.
This comic above others makes a generally crappy day much better. I knew it was imminent, but I have to say Farva, the way you portrayed the “event” happening is awesome.
I just bought a 4 channel RC helo. During its maiden flight, I promptly broke a rotor blade. After a full battery charge and a change of rotor blade, I quickly broke it again. Now its inop just sitting on my kitchen counter. Tough to fly! The 3 channel helos are MUCH easier.
Hey…does this mean Barbie’s now an RPA driver now? Give that man some Farva wings!
sigh.. late 70′s early 80′s so many RC crashes
90′s to present.. no real airplane crashes. knock wood.
Sort of reminds me of some of those spectacular YouTube videos of RC planes auguring in… such as the BUFF that looked entirely too much like the crash at Fairchild some years back.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAWwe474YHk
I remember that crash very well. Not a good week at that base with the shooting on top of it.
There used to be a football field outside Boniface?
Yeah, right across the street from Hula Hands on Mountain View.
Yup, and it’s still there…Goal posts and all.
Oh… For some reason, I was thinking directly outside the gate. Also, I didn’t know there was a football field in that park. All I see when I drive past there are baseball fields.
All’s well that ends well. And this went down in horrific flames
Whoopsie
I’ll know to mind my manners and be p.c. when I’m in the company of a fighter pilot’s spouse.
Never flew model planes, due to what my enlistment physical refered to as lacking so much in depth perception that driving should have been impossible. However, I negotated a rental of a field for a RC flight club. That least lasted one day… the ignogural flight was a f-15 RC model at 1/4 scale I think… It was big and augered into the farmer’s house. Not good.
My first and last leasing negotiation for those idiots.
My first RC plane experience.Two days to build it, two minutes to crash it. Ouch. Since then, I’ve concentrated on indoor fliers and pre-builds with lots of replaceable parts. But if Barbie really wants an F-22, he just needs one of these: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2MVJXlJv3M .Sure, it’s no ducted fan job, but it flies real purty and costs about a tenth of the one he bought.