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19
NOVEMBER
WING
SPAN
MAAALogo.
to discover and become ‘me’. I
became a full-size aircraft pilot and
an engineer.
Thanks to those formative years, I
am happy with my chosen career,
hobby and my close friends. These
are the people I have to thank. I
have also introduced and taught
four newbies to fly RC and I’m
starting on my fifth student – my
seven-year-old son.
It was only a few years ago that I
ventured out to neighbouring flying
clubs to partake in ‘scale rallies’
and ‘fun fly’ days. After some
encouragement I even entered a
scale competition a few months
ago and a second one just recently
in Richmond. Incredibly, I placed
third in the ‘flying only’ (easiest)
category but it was largely due to
good fortune, not skill. Overall I did
really enjoy it and I am practicing
for the next one.
There are many facets to flying RC
planes such as scale, aerobatic,
racing, indoors, park flyers, giant-
size, jets, helicopters, control line
and the latest FPV craze.
I fly ‘scale’ aeroplanes. My passion
is for the 1904 to 1945 period of
piston engine, propeller driven
aircraft. I believe the perfect
scale model plane is one that
gives its pilot the nearest possible
experience to flying the full-size
example. The sound, the character,
the spectacle, and the feel. Even
the smell (you wouldn’t believe how
close a castor oil-soaked model
WWI Sop replicates the smell of the
original).
Right now my workshop is home to
a 1/4 scale Piper Super Cub, a 1/3
scale Slingsby Petrel vintage glider,
an 80” Hawker Sea Fury, a 83” MkIX
Spitfire under construction and
a few smaller fun-and-giggles
foamies.
I love the sport because I like
the challenge. You never really
conquer this hobby. Like a golfer
you are always striving to do better
- to achieve perfection in the
design, build, detail, flying realism
and piloting skills.
But, like a lot of enjoyable
activities and hobbies, it’s the
friends you make along the
way and experiences you share
that make the whole journey so
worthwhile.”
Daniel Carpenter teaching his fifth student, his
seven-year-old son to fly.