RC Plane Lab

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.

Ron talks with AMA Executive Vice President candidate Phil Tallman about the Academy of Model Aeronautics and the challenges facing model aviation. They discuss declining membership, the value AMA provides, support for local clubs and flying sites, communication and transparency, competition and recreational flying, advocacy, and the financial decisions ahead. Tallman shares examples from his work as an AMA district vice president and outlines what he hopes to bring to the executive vice president position. This conversation is part of RC Plane Lab’s interviews with the candidates and gives AMA members a chance to hear directly from each of them.

Ron talks with AMA Executive Vice President candidate Randy Gibson about the Academy of Model Aeronautics and the challenges facing model aviation. They discuss declining membership, the value AMA provides, support for local clubs and flying sites, communication and transparency, competition and recreational flying, advocacy, and the financial decisions ahead. Gibson shares examples from his work as an AMA district vice president and outlines what he hopes to bring to the executive vice president position. This conversation is part of RC Plane Lab’s interviews with the candidates and gives AMA members a chance to hear directly from each of them.

Ron's Falcon 56 was supposed to make its first flight, but an old pushrod had other plans. That turned out to be a good reminder that just because an old airplane looks ready to fly doesn't mean it is.

 

We also talk about our trip to the SIRS vintage fly-in, some really cool old airplanes, and why it took Dave four tries to finally land his Wonder somewhere other than the bean field.

 

Then we take a look at a few new airplanes:

 

- "Skynetic Micro T-33 Shooting Star 30mm EDF" (https://motionrc.com/products/skynetic-t-33-shooting-star-micro-30mm-edf-jet-with-gyro-str-sky1075-003)

- "Freewing F-35C Lightning II 110mm EDF" (https://www.freewing-model.com/freewing-f-35c-lightning-ii-12s-110mm-edf-jet-arf-plus-rc-airplane.html)

- "Skynetic P-12E Pursuit 1100mm Biplane" (https://motionrc.com/products/skynetic-p-12e-pursuit-biplane-1100mm-43-3-wingspan-pnp-sky1076-001)

 

In This Episode

 

- 02:50 – Ron's Falcon 56 and its failed pushrod

- 06:22 – Bringing old RC airplanes back to life

- 08:58 – Nitro, four-strokes, and old-school setups

- 18:03 – Spektrum versus FrSky

- 22:57 – Our trip to the vintage fly-in

- 39:32 – Dave versus the bean field

- 52:34 – A few new RC airplane releases

 

If you enjoyed the episode, make sure you're subscribed so you don't miss the next one. If you've got a question, a topic you'd like us to cover, or just want to tell Dave how to keep his airplanes out of the beans, head over to https://rcplanelab.com/ and let us know.

Piper joins Ron, Dave, and Tom for a lively recap of RC Fest! She shares her adventures with the RC car “Try Me” courses and introduces the two new vehicles she brought home—including an ARRMA Mojave Grom BLX.

The crew also talks night flying, Tom’s new airplane trailer, Ron’s Falcon 56 nitro project, a pair of bargain FMS Super Scorpions, and the impressive new E-flite Pilatus PC-21. Ron returns to the Ring of Fire seeking redemption after his memorable crash two years ago, while Tom celebrates having his first review published in Model Aviation.

Along the way, Piper asks the important questions, the RC car collection keeps growing, and bedtime becomes increasingly negotiable.

In this episode:

Tom flies Dave’s fleet of night flyers

Tom finds a custom 7-by-12-foot tandem-axle trailer

Updates on Dave’s and Ron’s latest airplane projects

Piper tries RC NASCAR racing and RC soccer

New Axial and ARRMA vehicles join the collection

Ron scores two FMS Super Scorpions

A successful return to RC Fest’s Ring of Fire

First impressions of the E-flite Pilatus PC-21

Tom’s CAP 231 review appears in Model Aviation

A look at upcoming Warbirds, Classics, and vintage fly-ins