To ARF or not to ARF, That is the question!
There is no doubt that strictly from a cost standpoint you cannot build an R/C airplane from scratch or kit form for anywhere close to the cost of an "Almost Ready to Fly" Box Baby. These marvels of industrialization are beautiful examples of scale and performance planes on the outside but don't count on what lies under that pretty exterior. The old phrase that beauty is only skin-deep comes to mind.
Many of us have learned to fly with these weekend wonders and have been surprised to see the wings fold up, more than once. A close look usually finds that the lovely Asian girl who put this baby together was more interested in how many, not how well they were made.
Don't get me wrong, ARFs have merit and probably have brought more new enthusiasts into the hobby than any other advancement in recent years and the more the better might be right. (But not in all cases).
I guess that the point about ARFs that bugs me the most is when they are put into competition with scratch built or kit built airplanes whose builders spent many many hours trying their best to produce a quality piece of work.
If you can't build or don't want to devote that much time to the hobby then great, get an ARF and enjoy the flying but don't expect to get the same satisfaction or admiration for that matter as the guy who spent all winter enjoying building what looks similar to your weekend of endeavor.
Oh boy, this is getting to sound like sour grapes, when what I really want to do is encourage new ARF flyers to try building, the other half of the hobby. When the winter winds blow or the summer rains fall and your RealFlight is hogging the PC try building your very own plane. There are plenty of experienced builders who can help you get started so jump in. The water's fine.
Back Page Humour (or maybe not)
Last month, we included some reasons why people over 35 should not have survived. Here are some more reasons.
We played dodge ball and sometimes the ball would really hurt. We fell out of trees, got out and broke bones and teeth, and there were no lawsuits from these accidents.
THEY WERE ACCIDENTS.
NO ONE WAS TO BLAME BUT US. REMEMBER ACCIDENTS?
We had fights and punched each other and got black and blue and learned to get over it.
We made up games with sticks and tennis balls and ate worms, and although we were told what would happen, we did not put out very many eyes, nor did the worms live in us forever.
We rode bikes or walked to a friend's home and knocked on the door, or rang the bell or just walked in and talked to them.
Little league had tryouts and not everyone made the team.
Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment.
Some students weren't as smart as others, so they failed a grade and were held back to repeat the same grade.
HORRORS!!!
Tests were not adjudicated for any reason.
Our actions were our own.
Consequences were expected.
The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of.
They actually sided with the law.
IMAGINE THAT!!!
This generation has produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever.
The past fifty years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas.
We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned how to deal with it all.
And you are one of them.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Please pass this on to others who have had the luck to grow up as kids, before lawyers and government regulated our lives, for our own good!!!
See you on Monday the 10th at Action Hobbies.
Ron E.
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