Tom's R/C Airplanes

When I was a young boy growing up in the San Joaquin Valley of California I can remember several lazy summer days watching crop dusters, private and military aircraft flying overhead, and I guess it sparked an interest that has always stayed with me. My first model plane was a small plastic P-40. Mom and Dad helped me put it together and I was so proud of it that it's about the only thing I ever remember taking to "show and tell" at Jefferson Elementary School in Lindsay, Ca. A few years later after learning to read, I read anything I could find about airplanes and flying. When I started taking flying lessons in the early '70s everything about it felt so right and natural.

My interest in flying has been something I have enjoyed sharing with my son. In '75 we took a flight together in this glider at Vacaville, Ca. Later as an adult Eric trained at Spartan in Tulsa and earned his wings. This will probably be the only full scale aircraft you will see on this page, unless by some miracle I realize a life long dream of owning and flying my own J-3 Cub.

My first R/C airplane was sent to me by my brother, Terry, in '95. He had bought the plane in California in the early '80s. In '96 I was very involved with a local club trying to establish a flying site in the Eufaula, Ok area, but changes in work keep me from being as active as I was then.

I have built and maintained a flying site on the back of our place, and we have hosted several fly-ins for friends we have met the past few years. We usually try to make these events family style gatherings with a wide age range with something for everyone.

We usually try to spend the whole day at the field flying, talking about flying, working on planes and radio equipment, eating lunch together and watching the days events.

My collection of glow and diesel powered airplanes.

Gus Bagby getting set to fly

When the R/C flyers take a break, the field is always open for the little flyers to try out their gliders. Grand kids Danny and Emily always put on a pretty good show. Joanna enjoys flying her "Dragon" kite here also.

Ok guys...let's head for home