Al Mismass punctuates his loop-the-loop with a simple reason for why he flies.

"I'm defying gravity," he said.

Mismass took up flying radio control planes about a year ago, and he's part of a resurgence of popularity in the hobby. Not so long ago, radio control enthusiasts were known for being primarily one thing - great builders.

"We'd crash a plane or a car, damage it beyond repair and need to build another one," said Ron Hall, president of the Keizer R/C Association.

These days Almost-Ready-to-Fly (ARFs) planes and plug-and-play cars can be unboxed and ready for action within a few hours. For onlookers, R/C can come off as a passive pastime. Standing around watching others with control boxes in hand may not get a spectator's pulse racing, but it's a different experience for the individual at the controls.

"It's the only thing that comes close to the adrenalin rush of racing real vehicles without the risk," said Ron Smith, owner of R/C Plus, a hobby store for R/C enthusiasts.

Smith started racing R/C cars after tearing up his shoulder in a dirt bike accident. What started out with Smith and a few friends racing cars in a field turned into a full-fledged club and a store.

Unlike most of the retail world, Smith's business has been booming.

"People don't have $5,000 for a major vacation, but they have $500 which will get them started in the R/C world," Smith said.

Getting started is not without its costs, but it varies greatly. Small-scale R/C cars can set the buyer back as little as $70; a cheap plane kit goes for about $200. Mid-range kits might cost anywhere between $250-$1,000. Cars and planes raced by the most devoted hobbyists can cost several thousand dollars.

R/C Plus, at 1685 25th Street SE, offers a carpeted indoor track on which anyone can come and practice, provided their car meets indoor racing requirements and passes a cleanliness inspection. The store hosts weekly races every Tuesday night from 7 to 9 p.m.

Getting started in R/C flying usually requires the assistance of a flight trainer, but even that has become significantly easier in recent years.

"We have 'buddy boxes' that allow trainers to hook their control box to that of the student and take control of a plane in-flight," Hall said. "It means we don't have nearly as many crashes."

For those willing to invest in something more than the basic kit, the experience of assembling the vehicle can pay off beyond the realm of the model world. Through repairing his R/C cars, Smith has learned how to repair the one he can get inside.

"When I was racing dirt bikes, I would have to go to my dad to have him change the spark plug. Since I started building R/C cars, I've barely ever needed to take my car to the shop," Smith said. "Everything is smaller, but R/C engines and full-size engines work on the same basic principles."

While the risk of crash and injury is almost nil in the R/C world, there remains one hazard - addiction.

"Chances are if you get one, you're going to want another," Hall said.

Fortunately, once there are enough of them lying around, R/C vehicles sort of become their own camouflage. Significant others lose count of how many there were in the first place and give up keeping track.