About RC Plane Lab

RC Plane Lab is an RC airplane podcast and learning resource built around the part of the hobby we enjoy most: flying, building, fixing airplanes, learning from other modelers, and sharing the stories that happen along the way. Ron, Tom, and Dave bring different backgrounds and decades of combined experience to the podcast and the guides on this site.

Ron with an RC airplane

Ron

Ron started flying radio-controlled models in 2012 after buying a HobbyZone Super Cub on Father’s Day while visiting a local hobby shop with his oldest son. A family trip to a local RC club fly-in the following weekend sealed the deal, and he has been hooked ever since. He enjoys tinkering and figuring out how things work, from RC airplanes to a 5 × 10-foot CNC machine he built in his home shop. RC cars and quadcopters have also found their way into the mix, but airplanes remain his main interest. Friendships with Tom, Dave, and many other modelers have taught him a lot about building and flying, and RC Plane Lab grew from the idea of sharing those experiences, useful lessons, and the stories that make the hobby fun.

Tom with his P-40 RC airplane

Tom

Tom has been an avid RC airplane hobbyist since 1978, when seeing a neighbor working on an airplane led him to build his first model, a Great Planes Trainer 20. He has watched the hobby evolve from traditional balsa kits to today’s ready-to-fly airplanes, but old-school balsa building is still where he feels most at home. Decades of experience have also made Tom the guy people turn to when an airplane needs troubleshooting or repair. Outside RC airplanes, his interests have included RC cars, vintage balsa kits, and LEGO.

Dave with his ElectroStreak RC airplane

Dave

Dave has been building and flying RC aircraft since 1987 and has flown a wide range of airplane types. He enjoys building whether the material is balsa or foam, with a preference for scale and semi-scale subjects even though sport airplanes still find their way into his hangar. Dave also spent more than 17 years working in a hobby shop, giving him a broad background in the equipment and practical side of the hobby. His other interests include RC cars, wooden toys, dog training and K-9 agility, vintage Matchbox cars, and plastic models.

Connect with RC Plane Lab

Have a question, a story from the flying field, a show idea, or something you think we should talk about? Get in touch with Ron, Tom, and Dave. You can also explore the podcast or browse our RC airplane guides.