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RC Plane Lab

Ron Hull, Tom Dale, Dave Taylor

Welcome to RC Plane Lab, a podcast for anyone who likes RC airplanes! We’ll share tips and tricks on how to build models and how to be a better pilot. Visit us at RCPlaneLab.com to sign up for our email list and to ask us questions. You can also text us or leave us a voicemail at 818-351-9846.

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  • 30 episodes
  • Avg 1 hr 2 min
  • English

Episodes 30

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  • #225
    Saturday · 1 hr 10 min

    Ep 225: Night Flying, EDF Mishaps, and Too Many Lights?

    Daniel Taylor, Dave’s brother, joins Ron, Tom, and Dave for another round of flying stories and project updates. While Ron was off camping with the family, the others got in a night of flying wings and a full day at the field—and not every airplane came home in one piece. The guys compare the Shadow Seeker and Shadow Seeker X, talk about the Assassin wings, and get into adding lights to the Slow Ultra Stick. There are shooting stars, a deer in the field, and enough LEDs on Dave’s airplane to raise the question of whether there’s such a thing as too many lights. Ron also gets a little encouragement to finish the Assassin that’s been sitting on his bench. Dave is still hunting for propane-start parts for his Boomerang Intro. His F-16 has another rough landing, a backwards battery connection makes an unwanted smoke show, and Daniel gets his first EDF flight on the UMX Viper. The conversation also covers jets versus radial engines, plans for a day at Eli Field, and getting ready for Toledo. The guys wrap up with the Hangar 9 Carbon Cub 15cc, the Freewing Avanti S 90mm, and the wing and fuselage bags Ron finally bought for his MB-339.

  • #224
    Saturday · 13 min

    Ep 224: AMA’s Muncie Update and Where We Stand Now

    The AMA has put out another statement about the possible sale of its Muncie property, so we’re back for a quick follow-up. Daniel Taylor, Dave’s brother, joins us as we talk through replacement flying sites, a new home for the museum, and the possibility of lower membership dues. We’ve had a little time to think since Episode 222, and we don’t all feel the same way about it. Could a sale leave the AMA—and its members—better off? Would more than one national flying site make sense? And even if the deal turns out to be a good one, has the way it’s been handled already damaged members’ trust? Some of us are more open to seeing where this goes. Dave still has concerns. We also get into what we actually want from our AMA memberships, including why some of us still want that paper magazine showing up in the mailbox. There’s no finished deal to judge yet, but there’s plenty to discuss.

  • #223
    October 17 · 1 hr 19 min

    Ep 223: Tom’s Home, Dave Bought a Jet, and Ron Goes Scale

    Tom is home, and Ron and Dave had no idea he was about to walk through the door. Once the surprise wears off, the guys talk about AMA’s investigation into suspected radio interference and Piper’s Halloween projects on the laser cutter. Dave has joined the turbine club with a $600 Boomerang Intro, complete with an older Jet Central Bee and a long winter to-do list. Ron also explains why he’s starting over on his Ka-8B’s covering after finding Karl Striedieck’s N1000Z and hearing the story behind its 1968 record flight. There are project plans, a UMX Viper launch mishap, and plenty of grief to go around. In This Episode: 00:29 – Tom’s surprise homecoming 05:42 – AMA’s radio interference investigation 13:08 – Piper’s Halloween laser projects 16:09 – Dave’s $600 Boomerang Intro turbine jet 46:18 – UMX Viper launch trouble 58:00 – Ron’s Ka-8B and the story behind its scale finish Links and Resources: AMA’s announcement about the frequency-interference committee Send a suspected-interference report to AMA: amagov@modelaircraft.org Karl Striedieck — National Soaring Museum Hall of Fame Torcman FES drive systems Ep 159: The Basics of Fabric Covering RC Airplane Covering and Finishing Guide RC Airplane Radio & Receiver Setup Center If you have a question, a topic you’d like us to cover, or just want to get in touch, visit RCPlaneLab.com.

  • #222
    October 17 · 15 min

    Ep 222: Is the AMA Selling Muncie? Our Questions and Concerns

    The AMA is considering an opportunity involving its Muncie property, and we've got questions. In this short episode, Ron, Tom, and Dave read the October 9 member email and talk through their reactions. Would selling the property make sense? What should members be told, and should they have a say? The discussion also comes back to the recent Executive Vice President candidate interviews and why Ron feels a little hoodwinked. Nobody has all the answers yet, but there's plenty to talk about. In This Episode: 00:00 – Why we recorded a separate episode about Muncie 01:09 – The October 9 member email and AMA’s statement 03:36 – Our first reactions: the property, the hobby, and what happens next 04:57 – Why the communication has left us uneasy 06:14 – What members get from AMA beyond the buildings and grounds 08:20 – Questions about the numbers, the process, and member input 09:28 – The EVP interviews and feeling hoodwinked 10:22 – Who started the discussion, and why the confidentiality? 11:42 – Revisiting the candidates’ answers about transparency 13:04 – Why the decision and the way it is handled are separate questions 14:24 – Tell us what you think Links and Resources: AMA’s October 9 statement on the Muncie property Ep 219: Randy Gibson, Candidate for AMA Executive VP Ep 220: Phil Tallman, Candidate for AMA Executive VP Ep 195: Greg Stone, Candidate for AMA President If you have a question, a topic you’d like us to cover, or just want to get in touch, visit RCPlaneLab.com. Until next time, may your landings be gentle.

  • #221
    October 3 · 37 min

    Ep 221: AMA Candidates, Warbirds & Classics, and Dave’s New Shadow Seeker X

    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.

  • #220
    October 3 · 40 min

    Ep 220: Phil Tallman, Candidate for AMA Executive VP

    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.

  • #219
    October 3 · 59 min

    Ep 219: Randy Gibson, Candidate for AMA Executive VP

    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.

  • #218
    September 19 · 1 hr 2 min

    Ep 218 – Vintage RC, Nitro, and a Few Bean-Field Landings

    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.

  • #217
    September 5 · 1 hr 9 min

    Ep 217: RC Fest, Ring of Fire Redemption, and Piper Takes the Mic

    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

  • #216
    August 22 · 1 hr 12 min

    Ep 216: Tom’s Home for One Episode—and Ron Bought a Nitro Plane?!

    Tom is home and back in the studio with Ron and Dave—but only for this episode during his brief visit. Tom’s wife, Lori, is also there and briefly joins the conversation to settle an argument about exactly how Ron was persuaded to take a day off for their trip to Dynamic Balsa. The episode begins on a personal note as Dave discusses the loss of his wife earlier that morning. He explains why he still decided to record with his friends and reminds everyone how important it is to spend time with the people closest to them. Ron recaps his visit to the Illini Jets event at Eli Field, including the strong turnout, impressive turbine aircraft, a massive twin-turbine F-14, and some of the best food the guys have ever seen served at an RC fly-in. The guys then examine the new Skynetic F-35C Lightning II Micro 30mm EDF Jet. Although its flight performance appears promising, they have plenty to say about its molding, oversized panel lines, painted canopy, unusual underside, and price. They also preview several upcoming Illinois RC events: Horizon Hobby RC Fest — August 29 at Eli Field in Monticello, Illinois Streator Fall Scramble Warbirds & Classics — September 10–12 in Streator, Illinois SIRS Vintage Fly-In — September 12 near McLean, Illinois Illini Warbirds and Classics — September 24–26 at Eli Field in Monticello, Illinois Finally, Ron and Tom recount their visit to Dynamic Balsa. Ron went looking for servos and a SIG Kavalier, forgot the servos entirely, and came home with an unidentified vintage glow-powered airplane. The guys inspect its K&B engine, old 72 MHz radio equipment, unusual appearance, and chances of successfully returning to the air. Tom also adds a Slow Ultra Stick to his hangar, while Dave discusses his BluFo, Yak 55, Blue Max, Goldberg Cub, and the restoration of Reggie’s older E-flite Ultimate. The episode closes with an important maintenance reminder: inspect the nylon clevises, snapper keepers, and other plastic control-linkage components in your airplanes. Heat, age, and dry storage conditions can make these parts brittle enough to fail in flight. Timestamps 00:12 – Tom is home and in the studio for one episode 04:04 – A personal update from Dave 07:56 – Ron’s visit to the Illini Jets event 16:10 – The Skynetic F-35C Micro EDF 24:36 – RC Fest and upcoming Illinois RC events 35:59 – The SIRS Vintage Fly-In 40:17 – Ron and Tom’s trip to Dynamic Balsa 47:31 – Ron’s unidentified vintage glow airplane 01:01:42 – Tom buys a Slow Ultra Stick 01:03:44 – Dave’s building and restoration projects 01:06:33 – Inspecting brittle nylon control linkages 01:07:34 – Illini Warbirds and Classics at Eli Field

  • #215
    August 8 · 51 min

    Ep 215: Night Flying, A Found Yak, and DIY Light Switches

    Ron and Dave catch up after a busy stretch and dive into a surprisingly full evening of RC activity. Ron rediscovers a long‑forgotten Carbon‑Z Yak in his basement and gives it a modern electronics refresh, while Dave wraps up his Beaver build and deals with a paramotor battery that’s well past retirement age. The guys recap a night‑flying session filled with great flights, blinding LEDs, and an unbelievable swarm of moths. They also talk about upcoming events, new gear—including Ron’s Losi NASCAR—and walk through how each of them powers and controls lights on their aircraft, from commercial setups to Dave’s homemade servo‑based switches. A relaxed, fun catch‑up episode with plenty of RC tinkering talk.

  • #214
    July 25 · 53 min

    Ep 214: Old Beavers, Ironic Howls, and Wing Loading

    Ron and Dave return after a summer break to talk flying, family updates, and shop projects. They highlight five new or reissued RC airplanes and touch on the science of wing loading. The episode wraps with Dave’s $50 swap‑meet Beaver restoration. Freewing JL‑8 80mm EDF Jet Durafly Curtiss P‑40 Warhawk V2 (Aleutian Tiger) Freewing Eurofighter Typhoon V2 90mm EDF Jet Skynetic P‑47 Thunderbolt “Passionate Patsy” 750mm HobbyKing Kitfox Sportplane (Plug & Play)

  • #212
    June 13 · 1 hr 14 min

    Ep 212: Switches, Knobs & Chaos: How We Actually Set Up Our Radios

    The guys are back together — sort of — and this week they dive into one of the most common listener questions: How should you assign switches on your radio? After some classic RC Plane Lab banter (Tommy’s “witchy” mic, canceled night flying, and Ron rediscovering his forgotten UMX Viper), the crew breaks down how they each map flaps, gear, lights, rates, gains, and AS3X functions across their transmitters. They compare Spektrum iX setups, talk about why consistency matters more than “the right way,” and share lessons learned — including how Ron’s F‑18 crash came down to one simple gain‑tuning mistake. Whether you’re new to programming radios or just want to refine your habits, this episode is packed with practical, real‑world insight from three pilots who definitely don’t always do it the same way.

  • #211
    May 31 · 1 hr 22 min

    Ep 211: Tom Returns (Remotely), Crashes, Cap Builds, and Field Adventures

    Tom makes a surprise remote return to the show from his extended deployment in the U.S. Southwest desert. The guys catch up on flying, mishaps, new airplanes, swap meets, repairs, and the ongoing saga of Reggie’s questionable preflight habits. Ron shares the dramatic loss of his X‑Fly Hornet, Dave talks about resurrecting and repainting an F‑16, and Tom confesses to “Tomming” his Turbo Timber into the gravel. The crew also dives into gliders, paramotors, truck upgrades, and future flying plans.

  • #210
    May 16 · 1 hr 4 min

    EP 210: A Trailer, a Charger, and a Great Day Flying

    A couple of new releases hit the RC scene, and a day at the field turns into a mix of flying, tinkering, and trailer‑powered success. With a few maiden flights, some quick repairs, and plenty of hangout time, Episode 210 is all about enjoying the hobby and the moments that come with it.

  • #209
    May 2 · 52 min

    Ep 209: The Beginner’s Lounge, Trailer Upgrades, and the RACores Yak‑55 Assembly

    In this episode we talk about the sudden closure of WACO Aircraft Company and what it means for full‑scale aviation fans. Ron goes over the latest trailer upgrades, including the rooftop AC and the new Spektrum S450 charging setup. Dave makes progress assembling Ron’s RACores Yak‑55, and we wrap up with an update on the new Beginner’s Lounge on RCPlaneLab.com. Head over to https://beginnerslounge.rcplanelab.com!

  • #207
    April 4 · 59 min

    Ep 207: From Trash to Treasure, New Releases, and Swap‑Meet Fun

    In this episode, Dave kicks things off with the story behind his April Model Aviation article, “From Trash to Treasure,” and finally shares the full tale behind the project that inspired it. From there, the guys dive into a wave of new releases hitting the RC world: Dynam’s E‑2C Hawkeye with its rotating radar dome E‑flite’s latest lineup — Beechcraft D18/RC‑45J 1.5m, V1200 1.2m, 2m Conscendo, and the new HobbyZone Trojan Motion RC’s Flightline P‑51 HobbyKing’s Tundra TPX 3D profile plane and the Durafly Brewster F2A Buffalo V2 Banana Hobby’s massive JetRuler 1/9 F‑22 Raptor 2.1m composite turbine jet The conversation takes a reflective turn as the crew talks about Dumas closing its doors after 75 years — a tough loss for the hobby, especially for fans of their classic rubber-powered airplanes and iconic boat kits. Then it’s on to swap‑meet season. The guys recap the Eli Swap Meet and why the small shows still deliver some of the best surprises and deals. With Toledo right around the corner, Ron shares the fleet he’s bringing to sell — from the V‑22 Osprey and UMX Beast to the Freewing F‑35, FMS Explorer, and more — and debates whether it’s finally time to pull receivers now that prices have dropped again.

  • #206
    March 21 · 1 hr 19 min

    Ep 206: Inside the 2026 Toledo R/C Swap Meet & Expo with Hank Rauhaus

    In this episode, we sit down once again with Hank Rauhaus, the man behind the Toledo R/C Swap Meet & Expo, to get an inside look at what’s new for 2026. Hank shares how the event has evolved since last year, the behind‑the‑scenes work that keeps a 700‑plus‑table swap meet running smoothly, and the trends he’s seeing across the hobby. We talk vendors, volunteers, rare finds, and the static contest, along with some other fun things thrown in. Whether you’re a first‑time attendee or a Toledo regular, this conversation offers a fun and informative look at one of the Midwest’s biggest R/C traditions. **************** Get your Electrostreak Short Kit from RC Plane Lab! Join our Discord server: https://rcplanelab.com/discord Take a moment to fill out our listener survey: https://rcplanelab.com/listener-survey/ Support us by becoming a Patron! https://rcplanelab.com/patreon​​​ Or Support us through Paypal https://paypal.me/rcplanelab Questions, comments? Email: Ron@rcplanelab.com Tom@rcplanelab.com Dave@rcplanelab.com Text or leave a voicemail: (818) 351-9846 Website: https://rcplanelab.com​​​

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