Skip to content

Go ahead birds, make my day!


By Ralph Dickerson
Last fall I started flying radio controlled airplanes. To start I purchased a Duet trainer from Horizon Hobby, and taught myself how to fly the airplane. Shortly thereafter, I purchased another aircraft, a Delta Ray One, also from Horizon Hobby. I did not fly it until roughly three weeks ago.
Starting early last week, I began flying at the walking trail at North Hancock Elementary School due to it being flat land, few obstructions and large enough to fly the plane around. Tuesday evening I took my plane to North Hancock and began flying it around. Though I was still flying in beginner mode, which limits the degree of climb and bank, the plane is still quite maneuverable. On Tuesday I was flying my plane close to the ground, banking and climbing the plane sharply to get a feel for the Delta Ray’s handling characteristics.

As I was flying around, five Martins flew up and started being bullies. The birds did not have nests in the area because I noticed they flew to my plane from the direction of Hwy. 60, meaning they purposely came over to be ornery. What ensued was the mother of all bird fights between the five Martins and my airplane!

When the birds started darting down at my plane, instead of trying to outrun them, as most large birds do when being attacked by the birds, I turned in toward them and started to give chase. When a bird started to dart down at my plane, I would bank or climb toward the birds and go after other members of the attacking posse!

This tactic was new to the birds, and they did not quite know what to make of this “bird” refusing to run, but took a stand and attacked back. They would dart away, with me in pursuit, and try to regroup for an attack.

Though I was in the beginner mode, I noticed my plane was about as maneuverable as the Martins, which made the whole aerial battle quite fun! It also let me dart, swoop and bank at extreme angles to learn the abilities of the Delta Ray.
The five-on-one bird fight lasted about one minute to one and a half minutes before the Martins gave up. As they left, one bird decided to take one last dive at my plane, and as he darted down toward my plane, I climbed and banked toward him, which freaked him out. He quickly darted away and joined his buddies. I then took a victory lap around the field in my plane and then landed my plane and changed out the battery so I could fly for five more minutes.

Leave a Comment