Ep 211: Tom Returns (Remotely), Crashes, Cap Builds, and Field Adventures
Tom returns to the RC Plane Lab podcast after a 12-month deployment, reconnecting remotely from the desert Southwest with a mix of nostalgia, humor, and hard-earned lessons from crashes, repairs, and field mishaps. The episode unfolds as a candid reunion: Tom shares how he’s been flying small planes remotely, building kits like the Balsa Workbench ACE 440, and even assembling a new cap from Facebook Marketplace—only to crash it in storage. Meanwhile, Ron recounts a disastrous F-18 Hornet flight caused by misconfigured AS3X gains, a mistake he blames on outdated setup habits before learning proper switch-based gain control. Dave reveals his own F-16 repaint and flight struggles, including a servo disconnection mid-launch, and details his truck’s transformation into a mobile RC hub with 12-volt power, solar-ready wiring, and a clever wing rack. The conversation spirals into wild tangents—Reggie’s wing-latching fails, Daniel’s paramotor launch disasters, and a bizarre battery-ejection incident where a slow Ultra Stick flew perfectly without power. Despite the chaos, the core message emerges: the joy of flying isn’t in perfection, but in persistence, community, and the willingness to laugh at your own mistakes.
Tom’s F-18 Hornet crash was caused by misconfigured AS3X gains set on a rotary knob instead of a switch—highlighting the critical importance of standardizing control setups.
Ron’s F-18 crash was entirely avoidable: he flew a two-year-old plane without verifying gain settings, leading to violent oscillation and a nose dive.
Dave’s F-16 had a hidden junction block failure—servo disconnected during launch—proving that pre-flight checks must include physical integrity checks, not just screen scans.
The Turbo Timber Evolution’s top wing was sandpapered flat from a flat spin mishap, but it still flies—proof that even brutal crashes don’t end a plane’s life.
Tom’s new cap from Facebook Marketplace flew great after assembly, showing that affordable, used gear can be a gateway to fun without breaking the bank.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Tom’s Remote Return and the Ghost Episode
“I have listened to you guys and you suck without me.”
Flying in Isolation: Tom’s Desert Adventures
Tom shares his limited flying activity during deployment, including flying a UMX Ultrix and Turbo Timber Evolution, building a Balsa Workbench ACE 440, and missing key events like Toledo and Joe Nall.
The F-18 Hornet Crash: A Lesson in Setup
“I didn't realize that one was set up to where the gains were on the rotary knob. Not the switch.”
Dave’s F-16: A Servo That Came Unstuck
Dave shares his F-16’s maiden flight, where a servo disconnected mid-launch due to a hidden junction block. He fixed it, adjusted elevator throw, and now flies it well—despite initial struggles.
Tom’s Turbo Timber Flat Spin and Sandpaper Wing
“Imagine taking a piece of 4x8 foam... placing that on, say, two-grit sandpaper and then just rubbing it back and forth. Imagine what that would look like. That's what the top of my wing looks like.”
“I have listened to you guys and you suck without me.”
“What this is telling me is this airplane is horribly nose heavy because you throw the battery out. And it still flies. That mounts in front of the... Yeah, in front of the wing. These airplanes are horribly nose heavy.”
“what happened is that one was set up to where the gains were on the rotary knob. Not the switch.”
Hosts
Guest
Ron
person
Dave
person
Tom
person
F-18 Hornet
other
Daniel
person
Turbo Timber Evolution
other
UMX Ultrix
other
Reggie
person
Balsa Workbench ACE 440
other
Toyota pickup
other
1 GCSE to £34 Million | Adam Stott
1h 16m • 5/31/2026
Hour 1: The Great Studio Flood
37m • 5/30/2026
717
53m • 6/1/2026
Honest Truth About Finding Purpose
16m • 6/1/2026
At the king’s court
12m • 6/1/2026
Start discovering podcast insights today
Start with a 7-day trial and explore a growing catalog of popular podcasts. No credit card required.
No credit card required • 7-day trial • Cancel anytime