As an engineer, I feel the need to build stuff all the time, and it’s not always software. Aviation is another passion of mine. If I can’t fly the real ones, the radio control models work for me. After a long layoff from the hobby, I jumped in again with both feet. The best part is that my kids are onboard as well.
I love biplanes — always have. The full-size Beast always spoke to me, especially given that one of the best RC pilots in the world, Quique Somenzini, contributed to the design and then produced an 89″ version. The big Beast is more than I can store and transport, but when The Beast 60e came out I jumped on it. At a wingspan of only 58″, it is far easier to manage.
What a blast to fly! I’m giggling the whole time flying it, and my kids want to learn on their trainer so they can have a chance to fly it. It’s a win-win!
Here is my third flight of my Beast. I was by myself for the first couple, so no video there. I’m still getting my flying fingers back and trimming the plane, so I’m much higher than I would normally be.
Some of my fondest memories growing up are building and flying radio control airplanes with my father. Building them was as much fun as flying them. Unfortunately, once I started living and working in the city, I was no longer able to pursue the hobby. That doesn’t mean I lost my passion for aviation. I’ve been fascinated by aviation forever. As a kid, I would ride my bike to the library every week to eventually checkout every book they had on aviation and the space program. That fueled my love of technology as I got older.
Here is an early project. This is an early model called the Deception. It was referred to a “pattern ship” because it was designed to trace patterns in the sky. It had a 60+” wingspan, retractable gear, and a 0.60cu in motor turning an 11″ prop 16,000rpm. The bird would easily clock 100mph and climb straight up out of sight.
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