Flying for Fun
D.B. Mathews
909 North Maize Road, Townhouse 734, Wichita, KS 67212
The Alternative to Aging Is Unacceptable
"The alternative to aging is unacceptable!" Likely you've heard this sentiment before; consider the alternative and see if you don't agree.
Unfortunately, the aging process is both unstoppable and inevitable. That reality only adds to the importance and urgency of activities such as I am about to relate, and on a broader scale, the Celebration of Eagles that will be held at AMA headquarters July 6-7, 1996.
Have you ever considered how untimely eulogies are? Much preferred is an expression of respect and admiration delivered to the person while they are still able to appreciate it. As someone once said: "Honor the living, respect the dead."
Many of us feel a need to honor the modelers we've admired and been influenced by for many years. "Honor" is a funny sort of word; it calls up visions of someone having a medal pinned to their chest and being kissed on both cheeks, or the "honored" one standing on a platform while their national anthem is played, or cannons are fired.
On the other hand, perhaps a more fitting honor for the pioneers and leaders of our modeling hobby would be a firm handshake and a sincere "Thank you for all the fun you've provided me."
Many of us read every word written by those nationally prominent modelers of the '20s, '30s, and '40s. We studied their latest model designs for hours, used the equipment and techniques they developed, and accorded them the same "star" status usually reserved for the sport and movie personalities of the period. There is a strong need to honor them in our own way—and soon, as "the alternative" is inevitably approaching for them and for us. For that reason, those responsible for the AMA Celebration of Eagles have done a truly great service to our hobby, and not a second too soon. Far too many of those "great ones" have already left without being adequately thanked.
Winterfest '95
John Hunton (who designed the beautiful building that formerly housed AMA's headquarters in Reston, Virginia) is a lifetime modeler. He and Bill Winter have been codesigning models for the last few years, and several of these models have appeared in the pages of this magazine.
The Huntons have purchased a farm about an hour's drive due west of Washington, DC. Their farm became the venue for a really special flying session and nostalgic gathering of veteran modelers on October 7-8. As a tribute to Bill Winter's more than 60 years of designing, building, writing, and editing model airplane material, a small group of special friends spent a beautiful weekend reminiscing about the past, reflecting on the present, and speculating about the future.
The nearly ideal weather that weekend was apparently rather typical for Virginia, with the Blue Ridge Mountains forming a picturesque backdrop for this magical gathering.
Attendees included:
- Norm Rosenstock and Phil Greenberg (drove up from Florida). Norm is a true "Ancient Modeler," author of an excellent book tracing his modeling odyssey over more than 50 years. Phil Greenberg was the RC editor of Flying Models in the '50s; he gathered and disseminated much-needed technical information during a time of rapid technical progress. Winter and Greenberg had not seen each other in 41 years.
- Don Srull and Tom Schmitt (from the D.C. area); they produced the pioneering small electric power equipment of the VL line. Don Srull is considered by many to be the dean of contemporary Free Flight Scale designers; his works appear in every major modeling magazine in the world. His RC scale and electric-power designs have also earned him wide respect.
- Joe Kovel (from New York) brought a reproduction of his KG-2. Kovel and Charles Hampton Grant (longtime editor of Model Airplane News) developed this design around Bill Brown's engine and published a construction article in April 1935 MAN, making it the first published gas-powered Free Flight model in the U.S. Kovel entered and won a rubber-power event at the 1934 Nationals; Bill Winter was one of the timers. Over the ensuing 62 years many things in modeling have changed, but their friendship has remained.
- John Worth, longtime Executive Director of AMA, brought a reproduction of his unusual (and for its time, revolutionary) pusher "Cement Mixer." This was originally published in the July 1948 Air Trails; it simply boggled all of us. John has been flying this reproduction at gatherings of the Vintage Radio Control Society (4326 Andes Dr., Fairfax, VA 22030) for a year or more. It is described as a reliable, gentle, and smooth performer.
- Hurst Bowers, a noted designer of scale models and the volunteer who pulled together and restored many of the original pieces of the AMA museum, added to the weekend's fun by flying a Bay Ridge Mike RC-assisted Old-Timer.
This by-invitation event proved to be such a joy to those attending that a second Winterfest is planned. Perhaps a few more special people will be invited.
Bill Who?
Some of you might not know of Bill Winter, so perhaps I should say a few words about him. It would be difficult to list Bill's contributions to modeling within the limits of one column without missing something. This man has been designing, publishing, and writing about model airplanes for more than 60 years, making him one of the longest-running national-level writers in the history of American journalism.
From the '40s through the '80s, Bill edited almost every American modeling magazine. Almost obscured by his editing was the breadth of his writing. I recently looked through a December 1947 Air Trails and rediscovered a series written by Bill called "We Fly." That issue reported on the then-new Aeronca Super Chief—not a model, but the full-scale airplane!
Bill's influence can be seen in the writing styles of many columnists like myself. He encouraged us to start writing, and he taught us how. In turn we have passed on his influence to others. That is likely the true legacy of this man.
A story that illustrates Bill perfectly: I recently wrote him a letter and mentioned my problems with declining eyesight. Back came a two-page letter (in Bill's inimitable typing) loaded with encouragement and advice on coloration, color patterns, flying techniques, and other hints that would help me continue to fly. This man has been teaching thousands of us for 60 years, and he continues to do so in his 90s.
Don't you agree the finest way we can possibly honor Bill Winter is to fly for fun?
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
