[RKDinOKC]

I think what caused being "in the zone" flying radio controlled planes was the risk of the investment of time building the plane if you crashed, and that it took full focus of attention to stay in control of the plane. Take your mind off the plane for just a second and it would go out of control.

I let one of my nephews fly one of my planes after it was up in the air. I talked him through flying one lap of the field. In his second 180 degree turn he started losing control and I took the radio. As soon as I took it he fell to his knees and was visibly shaking.

Got a RC flight sim that has a serial controller that was just like an RC controller. It did not bring on the same sort of focus/concentration.

My first autocross lap, trying to go as fast as I could without sliding out or missing a gate did take the same sort of focus/concentration. The only thing I remember the seasoned instructor saying during my first lap was. You don't have to go thru the middle of the cones. And him reaching over and turning off the windshield wipers I had inadvertently turned on trying to turn the steering wheel faster.

After learning to setup my car got a NASCAR driving simulator/game. It did not require the focus/concentration even though the setup changes were surprixingly accurate and I did very well.