After taking a break from RC for a few decades I returned to RC towards the end of 2015 flying F5J gliders (electric launch). I had lots of fun and a fantastic first contest season in 2016 culminating in winning the South Africa F5J 2016 league by the end of 2016.

That was fun but somehow it almost felt like it was too easy so I decided towards the end of 2016 to take a break from RC again. While having fun with full-size aircraft during the first half of 2017 I was thinking that I still enjoy RC but I need a more challenging class. Way back from about 1983 to 1990 I flew competitive F3A, pattern.  Maybe I could try that again?

First I had to see if I could still fly a power plane and if I still had the "feel" and reflexes to steer an aerobatic plane around the sky. As a start I decided to get a simple foam plane and at the same time also start using a tray mounted radio again. I knew from past experience that I could fly with more precision using a tray mounted radio than a handheld radio like the Taranis X9D+ that I used for F5J.

Deciding on a radio was easy, since starting to use the X9D+ I fell in love with OpenTX and I really got to trust the FrSky radios. It was also easy because I had a brand new, unused, X9E just waiting to be used.

As a first plane I chose an E-Flight Timber, the main reason was that the local shop had one in stock!

The Timber and X9E ready for the first flight.

The first flight went well, I was a bit rusty but soon I could feel the old confidence coming back. 

Using the tray radio felt strange for a while after more than a year of intensive practice and competition flying with the X9D+ but I could see that it was the way to go.

As much fun as the Timber was I knew it was very limited and I needed something a bit more aerobatic and I needed it quickly!

The search started.....