Stories from the world of RC car racing

Recently I had an opportunity to travel to an RC Race Meeting by Plane.
With so many cheap flights available it is becoming more and more affordable these days, and of course it’s a must for any wishing to travel to International events. Unfortunately most of us that race have collected a lot of “Indispensable stuff” that we struggle to part with. Plane Travel will fix this for sure…  
 

A couple of Facts….

  • If you haven’t used the item at the last 3 meetings, then you won’t need it at this one either.
  • If you can’t fit your personal hygiene products in your luggage, then you’ve got too much RC Stuff.

Keith Mackrill set the old mark for the “heaviest luggage ever taken on a plane” at 28kg. Quite comically, rumour has it that he threw a suitcase around his Pit Box and that was it, very imaginative Keith…lol well done.
 
 

To help you out with purging your excess, here are a couple of suggestions.

  • Contact the Host club/organisation and see what they can provide/assist you with? This could be as big as cheap accommodation or as convenient as a pit table and chair.
  • The first suggestion will help you identify what your “essentials” are, and what you’ll need to take with you. Don’t look at this as a bad thing; it will help you spring-clean your RC stuff and force you to throw out all the unnecessary stuff you’ve been hoarding for years.
  • Do a trial run. Select the largest legal suitcase you’re able to stow according to the Carrier you’re flying with. Not all Carriers have the same legal size or the same maximum weight so it’s best to check this out with the Carrier in advance.
  • Once you’ve packed everything in your suitcases, it’s time to weigh them. Ideally, a set of railway scales would be great at this point in time, however they’re hard to come by, so use what you have (eg. Bathroom scales). Ensure you allow a little margin for error in the scales (as I discovered).
  • Make sure you allow space for all the trophies you’re going to win as well… after all that’s half the reason you’re flying there.

BTW: The New “(Unofficial) Heaviest Luggage to be stowed on a plane” is mine. Weighing in at an incredible 30.7kg, it dwarfs the old mark by a country mile. On Qantas, the maximum weight before excess luggage will cost you is greater than 32kg… whew just made it….
 
 
You should be right to go from here…   Hope this helps,
Regards,
Peter 

17 responses to “Ever thought about travelling by Air?”

  1. scott Avatar

    Don’t forget you need room for me in your suitcase when packing for the Thailand race…

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  2. Ryan Avatar
    Ryan

    Pete,
    Nice read and very interesting. Wonder if you can post how you go with batt’s and transmitter with airlines. What can you carry on these days or does all of it have to get stowed underneath?
    ps. One of these days i have to replace my 20kg power supply with something a little lighter.. 😉
    It alone would kill the baggage allowance!!
    Cheers,
    Ryan McColl

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  3. PeterD Avatar

    Scott,
    Yepp no problem, I’ll see if I can fit you in… but how will you be classified? Are you part of the RC stuff or part of the personal hygiene products?

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  4. PeterD Avatar

    Ryan,
    Battery packs need to be stowed along with all your tools. Anything that you think could be class as a sharp object or used as a weapon will need to be stowed as well. Apart from a few heavy jackets that I used as padding, I stuff all my RC in my stowed luggage and only left out fragile stuff like car bodies, etc. Strange as it may seem I was allowed to pack my setup station and transmitter (batteries included) in my carry-on luggage without any issues with security scans.
    And yes, thank God for switch-mode power supply, controlled tyres race meetings, and brushless motors. All we need now is LiPo’s to be legal……lol

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  5. HarrisRc Avatar

    Peter i must make a slight correction to your post in regards to carry-on luggage Which may also assist others.
    When a bunch of us travlled late last yr ,The airlines werent consistant with what they would and wouldnt allow thru. We travelled one-way with out an issue but on our return I got pinged with my transmitter as carry on and had to re-check it back in thru stowaway luggage. It will solely depend on the discretion of the people who are on shift, Suggestion is stow it dont carry it.
    After some heated discussion their explanation was if it could be mistaken as a firer arm at a glance it WANT be allowed as carry-on
    I had to pay $105 excess luggage

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  6. tones Avatar

    yeah it depends on the people working security. except for this last trip i’ve always carried on transmitter, batteries and motors. got pulled up every time obviously because of the cells coming up on the xray. but other than the hassle of explaining what they are and how theyre used i’ve (luckily) never been asked to stow anything.
    i think your record is safe pete… untill leonard ‘out of control’ lai takes to the skies that is!! 🙂

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  7. PeterD Avatar

    Tony,
    Yepp I agree with you about the transmitter. It’s a strange one… Another trick when hauling heavy luggage is to get to the airport early as I’ve heard that they’re less strict on the passages that check-in well before time.

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  8. scott Avatar

    I am sure Leonard’s ticket price will be cheaper than his excess baggage.
    There is only one answer………(I know you know it’s coming)……..
    ..
    ..
    ..
    ..
    ..
    that’s right, let’s say it together…
    ..
    ..
    ..
    ..
    ..
    CONTROL TOOLS!

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  9. HarrisRc Avatar

    Will agree with you there Peter
    I am sure it also depends on how many seats are taken on that particular flight as well

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  10. heavy Avatar
    heavy

    Thinking about flying to melb for teh vintage race later in the year – how many vintage offroad buggies can I get in one suitcase ?

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  11. leonard Avatar

    Haha!!! You’re all laughing now!!! But next time you’re at the track and need some of my ‘out of control tools’ don’t come a knocking!!! 😉
    Scotty……..what are those H.A.R.D Tools doing in your pitbag??? hehe!

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  12. scott Avatar

    I think you have me confused with someone else. i only “borrow” them from Heavy when I want to look professional (or when you have shamed me with the range and volume of your tools…).
    Heavy, only one is necessary….the Optima Mid will demolish all other pre-1990 buggies…

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  13. Jaybo Avatar
    Jaybo

    Hey Peter, i wish to claim the record for heaviest luggage 🙂
    heading to the national titles last year i took 3 suitcases, weighing a total of 62kg between them 🙂
    i’ve also had a case hit 33kg and had to take stuff out and carry it on with me to actually get the suitcase onboard 😦

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  14. tones Avatar

    not even mr outta control himself could surpass that total!

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  15. leonard Avatar

    maybe…..mabye not! But I will certainly try when I go to the nats later this year!!! haha 🙂
    Don’t come crying to me for support or tools at the nats!!! you dirty little flea!!! (ie. ____ ___) haha 🙂

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  16. PeterD Avatar

    OMG… let me know which flight it is, cause I doubt the plane will leave the ground….hahaha!
     
    and stop using my saying’s !!!! (Eg. Edited just for you!!)

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  17. Ryan Avatar
    Ryan

    Thanks Peter,
    Appreciate that, and everyone else’s comments. Am thinking of flying to the next offroad nats so its good to see what you can and cannot do.
    I guess the hard part is working out what you can leave behind and what you ‘really’ need to take. And besides, who really needs fresh clothes everyday!! 🙂

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