Preflight
World War I pilots were some of the bravest pioneers in aviation, taking to the sky in rickety, cloth-covered biplanes with few instruments and no parachutes. The numbers are sobering—nearly one-third of WW I aviators died in combat—but the War also propelled advances in aircraft design and flight maneuvers that are still with us today. It's no surprise that WW I RC events have become so popular across the country. The Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome in Red Hook, New York, celebrates these heroes of early aviation, and every fall the Mid-Hudson R/C Society joins with the Aerodrome to host a weekend Jamboree for RC pilots and their scale WW I-era aircraft. Our coverage of this year’s Rhinebeck Jamboree highlights the museumquality, flight-worthy models and those who build and fly them to honor the foundation of flight.
When Patrick Sherman sat down with a curator from the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., he came away with a deeper understanding of the beginnings of uncrewed aircraft flight. In “A Brief History of Drones,” he shares what he learned along with historic photos that show the precursors of what we call “drones” today.
If the receiver is your model’s brain, then the servos are the muscles that get the work done. Available in many sizes and with a wide range of torque, speed, and holding power, servos should be matched to your model’s performance needs. Our “Servos 101” feature details what you need to know so you can choose servos that best match your application and budget.
Few things are more impressive than watching an illuminated aerobatic routine after the sun goes down, and with this month’s expert tips from John Glezellis, you can soon be the pilot putting on that after-dark airshow. In his “Let’s Talk Giant Scale” column, John details how he added a high-intensity light package to his 33 percent CARF-Models Edge 540, and gives tips for flying safely at night.