The Joy of Flight

You’ve always had that dream. You know the one, you take a step and all of a sudden you’re soaring above the clouds. Ever since childhood, the mysteries of the deep blue sky above have attracted you. You wanted to be an astronaut, a pilot, anything to get you up there, where you’d have limitless freedom to bank and turn and glide above the static world below.

But, sadly, life got in the way of your flying dreams. Somehow, at some point, the line of people destined to become pilots diverged from your own. How and why this happened is a personal tale, but it doesn’t mean those dreams must be lost forever (and if you did end up becoming a professional flyer – well done!).

Thousands of people take up flying each year, but they attend no courses, enter no cockpit, and don’t even visit an airport. Still they get the sensation of freedom, the command of controls, the satisfaction of a great landing on a blustery day.


We’ll discuss something that’s more a passion than just a simple hobby. The type of model airplanes in which we’re interested can have wingspans of up to 20 feet, can reach speeds up to 200 miles per hour, and can travel as far as the eye can see. These are serious planes for serious hobbyist.


The great thing about model airplanes is that there is something for everyone. You can choose a simple plane, perfect for a child or novice flyer, or build one from the ground up and get involved in some serious competition. Prices for model planes vary from $30 for an offthe-shelf model to thousands of dollars for a one-of-a-kind creation.


Because of the hobby’s great diversity (and the wonder of flying), you’ll have a blast getting started and quickly become hooked! And this is a social pastime--there are many clubs where you can meet other model plane enthusiasts, plus get the opportunity to watch experts at work.

Convinced? Well then, you’ve got a lot to learn. So sit back, tighten your seatbelt, and put your hand on the throttle--it’s time for lift off!