I Am the AMA: Joshua Bardwell

Written by Jay Smith and Matt Ruddick FPV Know-It-All creator As seen in the February 2018 issue of Model Aviation.

Jay Smith: How did you get involved with model aviation? Joshua Bardwell: My first RC plane was given to me by my uncle when I was 15. Eventually, I failsafed it into the woods and lost it. Fast forward to about three years ago, when a friend brought his DJI Phantom over to my house. It really blew my mind. It inspired me to get back into fixed-wing models for a while, but eventually I got bit by the FPV quadcopter bug and never looked back. JS: How has model aviation impacted your life and/or career? JB: The biggest way is that it’s given me an opportunity to make a living doing something I really love. I’m not at a point where I could fully support my family on the work I do in the RC hobby, but it’s a possibility for the future. JS: What disciplines of modeling do you currently participate in? JB: Mini quads pretty much exclusively. I used to fly fixed-wing [aircraft], but mini quads are so dang fun that I never really feel inspired to fly anything else. JS: What other hobbies do you have? JB: Other than flying? Umm ... making videos for YouTube and answering strangers’ questions on the internet. Yeah, I like mowing my yard. I think my partner would call that one of my hobbies. It’s kind of relaxing. We have approximately 2.5 acres that need to be mowed, so I get a lot of opportunity to do that. JS: Who or what has influenced you the most? JB: I have to give a big shoutout to Flite Test. When I was struggling to get started in RC, Flite Test’s YouTube channel was the place I went to learn and be entertained at the same time. Without them breaking down so many complicated topics for me, I wouldn’t be here today. It’s an honor that I can provide that same service to people to some degree. The other thing that influences me a lot are the comments and emails that I get from people I’ve helped. It’s especially moving to hear from people whose lives have really been changed by the RC hobby, and who I was able to help get into the hobby, such as people who might have lost mobility and who are able to regain a sense of that mobility via FPV flying, or veterans who struggle with PTSD and who find building and flying to be good therapy for that. JS: You’ve been producing educational content for more than two years now. In that time, what is the most important thing you’ve learned about the hobby or the hobbyist community? JB: Always take your propellers off before you plug in to work on your quad. If you focus on helping people, you will probably be successful. Joshua Bardwell is the “Head Know-It-All” at FPV Know-It-All, a company whose purpose is to help people enjoy FPV flight. His YouTube channel is www.youtube.com/joshuabardwell, where he posts educational videos and product reviews. He also produces the Ultimate FPV Shopping List (www.fpvknowitall.com/ultimate-fpv-shopping-list).