This was my first proper R/C aeroplane. It had several things that make it good for learning with:

• Pusher propeller: With the propeller facing backwards, when you crash you’re less likely to break the propeller and whoever it is you’ve just crashed it in to.
• Quite a lot of dihedreal (sloping of the wings): This makes the plane very stable.
• Light: Again, difficult to hurt anyone if you have an accident.
• Foam construction: It was very durable. I smashed it into the ground several times, which would often result in just a bit of compression of the nosecone. Most of the other breakages it suffered were easily fixed with a little sellotape and epoxy resin.

My friend James had an identical plane, and we flew them in Hyde Park. Here’s a picture of it before I mounted the propeller:

I was quite pleased with the paint job.

The Tipsy was an easy, stable plane to fly if a little underpowered.

Later on I tried a little aerial photograpy with it.

October 14th, 2006 at 11:07 am ()