Learning to Fly RC Planes: A Father-Son Journey
For John and his son, Eoghan, building and flying remote-controlled (RC) planes became more than just a hobby—it was a journey of bonding, learning, and shared passion.
John had always been fascinated by flight, but life’s responsibilities had kept him from pursuing RC aviation. When Eoghan developed an interest in RC planes (Small park flyers), John saw the perfect opportunity to not only dive into the hobby but also strengthen their father-son relationship.
Building a Connection Through RC Flying
Eoghan’s journey began with little park fliers (Wing Size 400MM) and wanted to advance his RC plane abilities to an EDF Jet (Quite advanced), once we had assembled the plane I had realised that this was not a toy and we needed the talk to the professionals, so we joined the SFRC, an official RC Plane club overlooking stunning views of the Sugarloaf in Wicklow. I completed the membership application, tests, etc for IAA(https://iaa.ie) and MACI(https://maci.ie/), not an insignificant activity!
The club was welcoming, filled with experienced pilots who shared advice, encouragement, and plenty of laughs over failed landings (Tks Barry/Seamus/John/Neill). Crashing, they and we learned, wasn’t failure—it was just part of the learning process. The club’s seasoned members helped us a lot to understand aerodynamics, radio frequencies, and the delicate balance of throttle, elevator, rudder, and aileron controls.
When the Student Becomes the Teacher
I soon realised flying RC planes is not a spectator “sport”, so instead of standing around I decided to also start my flying journey with the purchase of a Tundra Durafly 1.3M wing length, it’s a foam starter/trainer plane (~260 euro), paired with a Turnigy i6 radio and receiver (~100 euro), throw in another 45 Euro for extra propellers – At around €405 total (You’ll also need to account for SRFC Club and MACI membership), it was an investment in adventure!!
Eoghan, with his natural reflexes and quick learning, mastered take offs, smooth turns, and even advanced/complex aerobatics while I struggled with just keeping the plane steady. It was quite natural to take direction from Eoghan as he was the expert and I just decided “Alright, son, looks like you’re teaching me now.” What a role reversal 😉 Eoghan took on the challenge, “patiently” guiding me, just as the club had guided us both. I also eventually managed to also take-offs flying and landings with the Tundra, we both achieved our A Certs, an exam (Practical and Theory) that allows a pilot to fly without a trainer..
The Reality of Crashing—And Why It’s Okay…
One crisp Saturday morning, after hours of practice and a lots of successful flights (Take off, flight manoeuvres, landings), Eoghan took off confidently, but a gust of wind sent the plane spiralling down and hit the ground with a sickening crunch. Silence followed. Then, laughter erupted from the club members. “Welcome to the club, Eoghan!” an older member chuckled. “If you’re not crashing, you’re not flying enough!”, we retrieved the plane “Pieces” and amazingly, one of the members said that’s easily repairable!
With support from the club, they repaired the plane (Lots of glue and sticks!) and took it as a lesson in resilience. Eoghan realized RC flying wasn’t just about success—it was about learning, adapting, and enjoying the process. Within 1 week the Eoghan’s plane was repaired and was back in the air!
I also had multiple crashes, had to repair both wings twice, replace parts of the landing gear and went through multiple props!!!! Lots of reasons for crashing e.g. forgot to recharge the batteries, stalled turns causing a death roll, etc.
Benefits of Flying RC Planes
Beyond just being a fun pastime, flying RC planes comes with many benefits:
- Improves Hand-Eye Coordination – Fine motor control is essential to piloting.
- Boosts Concentration and Patience – Flying requires focus and careful manoeuvring.
- Encourages STEM Learning – Concepts of physics, aerodynamics, and electronics are at play.
- Relieves Stress and Enhances Relaxation – Flying is therapeutic and provides an escape from daily life.
- Promotes Outdoor Activity – Getting fresh air while engaging in a mentally stimulating hobby.
- Enhances Problem-Solving Skills – Diagnosing crashes and fixing planes sharpens analytical thinking.
- Encourages Social Interaction – The RC community is welcoming and full of knowledgeable enthusiasts.
- Develops Engineering and Mechanical Skills – Understanding plane construction and repairs builds technical knowledge.
- Teaches Responsibility – Pilots must care for and maintain their equipment.
- Provides a Sense of Achievement – Every successful flight is a rewarding milestone.
Getting Started: Advice for Beginners
If you’ve been considering RC flying, now is the time to start, it’s never been easier (Or cheaper to get started), a setup like the Tundra Durafly 1.3M, Turnigy i6 radio, and a few batteries (~€405 total) is perfect for beginners. Expect crashes—don’t get too attached to your first plane!
The most important step? Join a local RC plane club. The support, guidance, and camaraderie make the learning process even more enjoyable.
So, if you’ve been thinking about it for a while, take the leap. Get into it, start flying, and enjoy the journey!