MiniRobot LittleHaldon

50 years ago - in 1965 - I had my first successful flight with an RC model. 2015, and I have made a replica of that original model, operated by a home-made single channel system driving a rubber-band powered escapement. This flight is on the same site as that original 1965 effort!

[@MrBobWareham]

Top marks that take me back to my Cardinal many years ago when I used to fly 45 years ago, warm summer nights at the flying field, good fun but now at 76 it's all gone.

[@xjet]

Ah, happy days. I had a super-regen system so had to grab all the 27MHz frequency pegs if/when I wanted to fly my old single-channel craft. I still have an OS Pixie super-regen single-channel set and two escapements -- a compound with "quick blip" to operate the throttle escapement. One day I'll get it all flying again... just for the sake of nostalgia. I have a couple of Cox engines also ready and waiting.

[@Holliethedog]

Superb video, thanks for posting it!

[@adrianbassett9190]

Well done Pete.

[@peterfullard]

"Ah", The memories, My 2nd model was a Mini Robot with a Frog 100 I still have a 1974 built one I flew that again a couple of years ago but fitted a PAW 1.5cc first flight as was, further 6 flights & a lot of packing under the tailplane great fun as it used to be !!

[@pchristy102]

Wow! It must have gone like stink with a PAW 1.49! I'm surprised the wings survived, they are notoriously weak! My first one clapped hands on its second flight, back in 1965, powered by a TeeDee .049! When I built this one, I used spruce for the main spars....!

[@peterfullard]

@@pchristy102 Trust me it did Hence the packing , The Paw is the only small engine I had that works still , that first flight started with the engine burbling nicely then then it pick up & was a tiger by the tail, mine has Spruce spars too on the advice of a clubmate when built .. we flew them back in the day when when it was too windy for the multi's to fly & land back at your feet Magic times ..

[@pedrosilvaprado]

Cheers from Brazil ! 🇧🇷 I had one exactly the same here in Brazil during 1968... impossible to fly it 🤣🤣🤣... mine with three "clicks " lower the engine rpm (Japanese radio).... cheers!!!!

[@montigobear]

I did the 'blip' control thing with a Babcock rubber escapment in a Rascal, and Schoolboy. What fun!

[@pchristy102]

Yes, flying s/c still brings a big grin to my face! Funny thing is that I get as much fun out of flying these as I do out of much more sophisticated aircraft!

[@ChuckPlains]

Excellent video! Hehe, you should have added a few seconds of 8mm home movie effect, just to confuse people. I hope to be up at Little Haldon this Friday evening if I don't spend the entire second half of the day installing carpet tiles. I commented on you '65 playback using my other channel wordreet. (to be honest, two KZbin channels is too much and I forget which one I'm using quite often.

[@BassSwirls]

This little film made my day. . Did you ever fly Easter field in Torquay...next to the golf course? I flew elastic launch non rc with my father up there 60-70's .. We used to stop and watch the Torquay Club fly. Our house was across the valley ...I'd rush up when I heard that screaming noise! ...Regards from Ian.

[@pchristy102]

Hi Ian, I never actually flew up there, but I knew some of the guys who did. I started off flying control-line in Clennon Valley in the early 60s, and after the club got kicked of there, I believe they went up to Easter field. For a while that was the only Council approved site in the area. I lost track of them around then, but later discovered them all flying RC at Little Haldon, having moved on to RC. Happy days!

[@BassSwirls]

Well I never ... I'm just popping to Mike Fords ( little Haldon member and friend ) to look at a glider he no longer uses!! I'm like a kid st Christmas... thanks for replying.. I may bump into in the non to distant future then... happy flying... Ian .

[@G4NRR]

Like............!!............