Flying for Fun
D.B. Mathews 909 North Maize Road, Townhouse 734, Wichita, KS 67212
This column will reach you just before Election Day 1996. Need I mention how disproportionately important the candidates' media images have become? Issues are now almost secondary to how the office-seeker looks and sounds on camera and in the newspapers.
I mention this as a lead-in to something that involves the model aircraft sport/hobby and the image we frequently present to the public. All too frequently, our image is that of a bunch of senile older men flying toy airplanes! This image is not going to get us "elected" by the voting public!
It is not my intent to insult or disparage the efforts of show teams. These dedicated, hard-working volunteer groups are to be commended for their efforts to put model aviation on display for the public.
Rather, I'd like to add my voice to those who have written letters to various publications (most notably the IMAA) expressing their very real concerns over the questionable image presented to the public when we fly stop signs, doghouses, witches, and other "novelties" at public gatherings.
Many of us have been subjected to some good-humored teasing from fellow workers and family members over the usual show team activity. There is a message to us in this, and perhaps we should listen a bit more closely.
Charismatic Images
Two recent local air shows with model flying exhibitions illustrate my point:
- The first example was an Air Force open house; according to the local newspaper, it drew more than 100,000 spectators in two days. A group of modelers was invited to fill the gaps in the full-scale program with .15-size RC Combat demonstrations. When high winds forced cancellation of some of the scheduled events (such as the Golden Knights parachute team), the modelers were asked to fly several additional times.
The public and media reaction to these wildly exciting and entertaining Combat flights was very positive, and generated many complimentary comments from the spectators—including the base commander! Our hobby/sport certainly presented a positive image at this event.
- The second example was an old-fashioned civilian air show to benefit Wichita's new aviation museum. The event drew a large crowd of spectators, many of whom were aviation enthusiasts. Several aerobatic pilots were on the program, including National Champion Patty Wagstaff and her Extra.
The organizers asked local modeler Mike Hammel to exhibit and fly his 87-inch-span Extra 300 just before Patty's flights. Mike's model is decorated exactly like Patty's full-scale aircraft. It's equipped with an excellent smoke system and Mike is a splendid RC aerobatics pilot. The reaction to Mike's flights was very upbeat from the spectators, the public-address announcer, the local TV news, and Patty herself. Patty was very complimentary about the RC flights. In the TV interviews she said, "After watching Mike fly and do all my maneuvers so well, I thought I could just go home and no one would notice." Patty is a very gracious and lovely lady; she exudes tons of charm to the public and is a most charismatic celebrity.
A steady stream of nonmodelers came by to compliment Mike on his model and his flying. They asked several intelligent and penetrating questions; I'm sure they walked away with a new-found respect for the construction and flying skills they had seen.
This is excellent image projection! Modeling made a lot of new friends and influenced a lot of positive reactions on those two weekends. Those who know organizers of full-scale aviation events just might want to mention those two situations I've related. Groups asked to fly exhibitions may see something worth thinking about here as well.
Model aviation can present a very positive image to the public. The dividends can range from positive reactions from municipal officials about flying-site issues to a better appreciation of what we are doing from our friends and families.
New Covering Materials
In his May 1996 "Old Timers" column, longtime friend (and I don't want to add up how long) Bill Baker reviewed Litespan and Polyspan—two new heat-shrinkable covering materials well-suited for use on rubber-powered and smaller gas-powered Free Flight (and RC) models. I've tried both and I concur with Bill's comments. (If you missed them, by all means go back and read them.)
Another material has become available that deserves some mention—Oracover Light from Hobby Lobby. Since Oracover and Goldberg UltraCote are essentially identical, one can almost presume that the soon-to-be-introduced UltraCote Light will be close to Oracover Light.
This material is a relatively shiny, very light, almost-transparent heat-shrink plastic. It has the adhesive on the inside, attaches to framework (and itself) pretty well, goes around compound curves nicely, shrinks beautifully, and is very strong and puncture-resistant for its weight.
It would make a durable and easily applied semitransparent colored covering for several different types of models, including larger rubber-powered Free Flight models, smaller powered Free Flight and RC models, and some Two-Meter sailplanes. It would be especially useful for Old-Timers and RC hand-launch sailplanes.
The material is really almost too transparent; the manufacturer's stamp on the balsa shows through, and any sloppy construction errors are emphasized. On the other hand, the pale colors look gorgeous in flight.
While Oracover Light doesn't have the same structural rigidity as the heavier opaque version, it should be adequate for any model that would have been covered with doped silk (or silkspan) 30 years ago. Its significant advantage is that it's far less technique-sensitive.
Please send some photos! For the first time in several years my supply of interesting photos is getting low. I can always use unusual subjects, kit-bashes, and most importantly, Control Line and Free Flight models. The photos can be color or black-and-white.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
