RC Plane Lab

Daniel Taylor, Dave’s brother, joins Ron, Tom, and Dave for another round of flying stories and project updates. While Ron was off camping with the family, the others got in a night of flying wings and a full day at the field—and not every airplane came home in one piece.

The guys compare the Shadow Seeker and Shadow Seeker X, talk about the Assassin wings, and get into adding lights to the Slow Ultra Stick. There are shooting stars, a deer in the field, and enough LEDs on Dave’s airplane to raise the question of whether there’s such a thing as too many lights. Ron also gets a little encouragement to finish the Assassin that’s been sitting on his bench.

Dave is still hunting for propane-start parts for his Boomerang Intro. His F-16 has another rough landing, a backwards battery connection makes an unwanted smoke show, and Daniel gets his first EDF flight on the UMX Viper. The conversation also covers jets versus radial engines, plans for a day at Eli Field, and getting ready for Toledo. The guys wrap up with the Hangar 9 Carbon Cub 15cc, the Freewing Avanti S 90mm, and the wing and fuselage bags Ron finally bought for his MB-339.

The AMA has put out another statement about the possible sale of its Muncie property, so we’re back for a quick follow-up. Daniel Taylor, Dave’s brother, joins us as we talk through replacement flying sites, a new home for the museum, and the possibility of lower membership dues.

We’ve had a little time to think since Episode 222, and we don’t all feel the same way about it. Could a sale leave the AMA—and its members—better off? Would more than one national flying site make sense? And even if the deal turns out to be a good one, has the way it’s been handled already damaged members’ trust? Some of us are more open to seeing where this goes. Dave still has concerns.

We also get into what we actually want from our AMA memberships, including why some of us still want that paper magazine showing up in the mailbox. There’s no finished deal to judge yet, but there’s plenty to discuss.

Tom is home, and Ron and Dave had no idea he was about to walk through the door. Once the surprise wears off, the guys talk about AMA’s investigation into suspected radio interference and Piper’s Halloween projects on the laser cutter.

Dave has joined the turbine club with a $600 Boomerang Intro, complete with an older Jet Central Bee and a long winter to-do list. Ron also explains why he’s starting over on his Ka-8B’s covering after finding Karl Striedieck’s N1000Z and hearing the story behind its 1968 record flight. There are project plans, a UMX Viper launch mishap, and plenty of grief to go around.

In This Episode:

00:29 – Tom’s surprise homecoming
05:42 – AMA’s radio interference investigation
13:08 – Piper’s Halloween laser projects
16:09 – Dave’s $600 Boomerang Intro turbine jet
46:18 – UMX Viper launch trouble
58:00 – Ron’s Ka-8B and the story behind its scale finish

Links and Resources:

AMA’s announcement about the frequency-interference committee

Send a suspected-interference report to AMA: amagov@modelaircraft.org

Karl Striedieck — National Soaring Museum Hall of Fame

Torcman FES drive systems

Ep 159: The Basics of Fabric Covering

RC Airplane Covering and Finishing Guide

RC Airplane Radio & Receiver Setup Center

If you have a question, a topic you’d like us to cover, or just want to get in touch, visit RCPlaneLab.com.

The AMA is considering an opportunity involving its Muncie property, and we've got questions. In this short episode, Ron, Tom, and Dave read the October 9 member email and talk through their reactions. Would selling the property make sense? What should members be told, and should they have a say? The discussion also comes back to the recent Executive Vice President candidate interviews and why Ron feels a little hoodwinked. Nobody has all the answers yet, but there's plenty to talk about.

In This Episode:

00:00 – Why we recorded a separate episode about Muncie

01:09 – The October 9 member email and AMA’s statement

03:36 – Our first reactions: the property, the hobby, and what happens next

04:57 – Why the communication has left us uneasy

06:14 – What members get from AMA beyond the buildings and grounds

08:20 – Questions about the numbers, the process, and member input

09:28 – The EVP interviews and feeling hoodwinked

10:22 – Who started the discussion, and why the confidentiality?

11:42 – Revisiting the candidates’ answers about transparency

13:04 – Why the decision and the way it is handled are separate questions

14:24 – Tell us what you think

Links and Resources:

AMA’s October 9 statement on the Muncie property

Ep 219: Randy Gibson, Candidate for AMA Executive VP

Ep 220: Phil Tallman, Candidate for AMA Executive VP

Ep 195: Greg Stone, Candidate for AMA President

If you have a question, a topic you’d like us to cover, or just want to get in touch, visit RCPlaneLab.com.

Until next time, may your landings be gentle.

Ron and Dave catch up after a busy couple of weeks. They talk about the separate interviews with AMA Executive Vice President candidates Phil Tallman and Randy Gibson, why members should hear from both candidates, and how easy it can be to overlook the election information and ballot. The ballot must be postmarked by November 6, 2026.

 

Ron shares his first experience as Contest Director at Illini Warbirds & Classics, including some memorable aircraft and what he learned behind the scenes. The guys also check out E-flite’s new Micro P-47 Thunderbolt and Dave’s new Strix Shadow Seeker X. They wrap up with an update on the new learning, troubleshooting, calculator, and podcast resources at RCPlaneLab.com.

 

In This Episode:

00:14 – Ron and Dave catch up

00:54 – AMA EVP candidate interviews and election information

05:40 – Dave’s weekend flying and a confusing fall fly-in

10:30 – Ron’s first time as CD at Illini Warbirds & Classics

21:34 – E-flite’s new Micro P-47 Thunderbolt

24:23 – Dave’s Strix Shadow Seeker X and its first hand launch

33:18 – New resources at RCPlaneLab.com

 

E-flite Micro P-47 Thunderbolt:

https://www.horizonhobby.com/product/e-flite-micro-p-47-thunderbolt-625mm-bnf-basic-with-as3x-and-safe-select/EFL07050.html

 

Listen to both candidate interviews, read their statements, and make your own decision. If you have a question, a topic you’d like us to cover, or just want to get in touch, visit https://rcplanelab.com/.

 

Until next time, may your landings be gentle.