The ardent RC hobbyist belongs to the Salinas Area Modelers (SAM), a group of local RC enthusiasts who have their own field at 2460 Chualar River Road. Although he tends to stay close to home, Stanley does occasionally venture to other parts of the state for Fun Flys, where other RC club modelers gather.
"The Fun Flys tend to be categorized and specialize in one type of airplane," he said. "It might be large-scale planes, helicopters, electric-powered models or water aircraft."
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Thanks to the evolving technology where once gas-powered planes were the norm, now electric RC models are very common. The electric planes can't stay in the air as long as the gas powered, but the new, lightweight batteries can power virtually any size model, from some that fit in the palm of one's hand to the larger planes that require both hands to carry.
Along with the power plant, another huge advancement is the lightweight materials that make even the largest models easy to get off the ground and into the air.
When he began modeling, Stanley relied on lines connected to the flying model to control it. The models cost between $10 and $15. Then he graduated to the early stages of radio control and more expensive, single-channel RC systems.
Today, he employes a multi-channel system that allows him to control the flight of his models in a manner very similar to how a pilot handles a full-size airplane. The cost obviously advanced, as did the complexity of the models.
"We've come a long way in the technology," Stanley said. "The more channels on the control system now, the more the models can do in flight."
Stationed at Fort Ord for 15 months in the late 1960s, Stanley liked the area so much that he moved here after his hitch was up. He worked at Gadsby Music for a while as a service technician and manager before starting his own electronics business in 1984. For 20 years, he operated Denco Systems.
Semi-retired, Stanley still is a dish
network dealer and services the systems. His expertise in electronics also relates to his long-time interest in radio-control modeling.
Although his primary focus is airplanes and helicopters, Stanley has also dabbled in radio-controlled boats and cars. As a youth growing up in Southern California, he built and flew gas-powered airplanes.
"That early interest never went away," he said. The only change was that over the years, Stanley's hobby evolved into flying more and more sophisticated radio-controlled models.
"It's an evolutionary process," he said. "You keep moving on into something more exotic or complicated with time."
As part of this transition to more complex equipment, Stanley has moved into jet propulsion. His jet models sound like the real thing when they take off, have onboard computers and are the "créme de la créme" of his collection. They are the costliest, too. One of them set Stanley back $4,000 and change.
"This large jet model generates a lot of attention when I fly it," he said with a laugh. "It has an eight-channel control system, which includes retractable landing gear and actual brakes, along with the usual in-flight controls."
To accommodate his expanding hobby, Stanley purchased a trailer that he modified to store his RC airplanes and gliders. This also makes it easier to transport them to places where he flies the planes.
Like most RC enthusiasts, Stanley has a collection of models. He estimates that he has 15 flyable airplanes. Some are quite large, like his Super Chipmunk, which is a quarter of the size of the actual plane it is a copy of. One of his smallest models is a four-channel, full-control helicopter that fits snugly in the palm of his hand.
How often does he purchase a new model? Stanley responded that sometimes some deals come along or you get an "itch" to get something new. "Of course, it is all relevant to having a few extra dollars burning a hole in your pocket. too," he said. "Sometimes you find something you just can't live without."
Occasionally, there have been crashes that necessitate either rebuilding or replacing a plane but, fortunately, that hasn't happened too often. Given his years of experience, Stanley hasn't "totaled" a plane very often.
A long-time member of the Salinas Area Modelers, Stanley encourages anyone interested in radio-control modeling to consider joining the club.
"We have an Academy of Modeling"-sanctioned field and follow their safety procedures," he said. "We also offer free instructional flights and have training planes for those who want to try their hand at radio-control flying."
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