RC Plane Lab
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.
Episodes
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 ...
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 ...
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 a...
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:
- ...
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 th...
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 wi...
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. Th...
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.
Durafly Curtiss P‑40 Warhawk V2 (Aleutian Tiger)
Ron, Tom, and Dave cover extreme summer weather, camping with RC rock crawlers, a new UMX‑sized OV‑10 release, their local club fly‑in recap, and a deep dive into how each of them sets up their vehicles for hauling airplanes.
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 transmitt...
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 ...
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.
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!
Tune in to hear how the 2026 Toledo RC Swap Meet and Expo went for the guys!
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:
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Dynam’s E‑2C Hawkeye with its rotating radar dome
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E‑flite’s latest lineup — Beechcraft D18/RC‑45J 1.5m, V1200 1.2m, 2m Conscendo, ...
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 ot...
A bittersweet week in the RC world as we announce the BF‑109 kit winner, talk through the closing of Grayson Hobby after two decades, and recap the Fox Valley Aero swap meet—including a couple of irresistible new additions to the hangar.
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Get your Electrostreak Short Kit from RC Plane Lab!
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This week we remind listeners that Electro‑Streak short kits are back on the bench and available now. We take a quick look at Banana Hobby’s X‑Fly new 4‑channel business jet, the new little E‑Flite UMX GeeBee, and talk through Dave’s rebuild of Ron’s old E‑Flite Cub. Then we wrap with a fresh “What’s in Our Hangar?” rundown.
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Happy New Year! Tune in as we talk ElectroStreak kits, the BF109 giveaway, FCC rule changes, new plane releases, RRAMS (Beloit, WI) swap meet finds (a flying fish!?!?), Brazilian flying friends, and a handy Spektrum battery checker!
Get your Electrostreak Short Kit from RC Plane Lab!
Ron & Dave chat with Jack and Steve Niezgoda from the 13th Squadron about squadron life, RC aviation, and building passion that lasts.
🎁 Plus—we’re giving away a 13th Squadron BF109 kit! Enter now at 👉 https://rcplanelab.com/bf109giveaway
Tune in, join the fun, and don’t miss your chance to win!
Visit them at https://13thsquadron.com/
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