Free Flight
SPORT/SCALE Bill Warner
Ever notice that the majority of modelers who fly in your club's contests are in their forties and fifties? When they die off, what is going to happen to the art? Where are the Juniors? I'd like to have a buck for every time that line has appeared in an AMA publication.
A note from Doug Dahlke up in Oshkosh, WI, got me to thinking a little more on this perennial problem. He suggests that a club might give any modeler who brings a "ready-to-fly" Junior to a contest a free entry fee. Also, let the Juniors fly first.
At the Flightmasters West meets in L.A., Juniors fly free, and they have even tried having an hour set aside in which the "expert" modelers do nothing but help the beginners of all ages. I've seen a lot of things tried, and I've seen plenty of failure.
I remember when a great Delta Dart program was tried in L.A. by distributing a thousand kits to playgrounds, with the grand event for them to be flown at the Sepulveda Basin. The number of kids who showed up at the contest could be counted on the fingers of one hand!
At many FF Scale contests, no one even knows what to do with a Junior if one shows up. No special class to fly in, no one who makes sure he or she has help, no one even designated as an envoy to this nearly-extinct group of modelers or would-be modelers.
Having dealt with literally thousands of young modelers in over 20 years of teaching and sponsoring model clubs, I have seen much talent wasted for the lack of one-to-one help, lack of modeling events which they know about and can get to, and lack of interest on the part of people in high places to set up meaningful and continuing programs in the schools and community. Basically, I think it boils down to a lack of interest; on an individual level, a club level, and even in the AMA itself.
Solutions to the problem can be found, but first the causes of the problem ought to be systematically investigated. There are plenty of contributing factors, it seems to me, that are beyond our control. Maybe what we need to do is to think through some of the facets of the problem individually and collectively in relation to the degree that we feel we are willing to do something about them. Assuming that the "real" model airplanes are ones which we make ourselves and get a kick out of in direct proportion to the amount of work we invest in making, consider this poem:
Who Killed Model Airplanes? by C. Howie Stalls
Who killed the model planes which once did grace the sky? Everyone I interviewed said, "Certainly not!"
"Not I!" exclaimed the TV set, "I merely entertain. It's not my fault kids have no time to make a model plane."
Who killed the model airplanes that Grandpa used to get?
"Banana oil and tissue, the dime or nickel kit?"
"Not I!" say manufacturers of the costly RC gear And pre-cut parts and instant glue which cost so very dear.
Who killed the pride in building, the work all done-by-hand?
"Balsa sticks and printwood, we learned to cut and sand?"
"Not I!" says the plastic man. "With parts pre-formed and such, Anyone can make a plane, the effort isn't much."
Who killed the model gliders once bought for a cent? That looped-the-loop and made us laugh. I wonder where they went?
"Not much profit selling those!" the local druggist chimes. "Pennies will not pay the rent, nor nickels, even dimes!"
Who killed all the flying sites, there's no place left to fly? Where's the local vacant lot with grass so green and high?
"Don't blame me!" the builder says, with "Keep Out" signs in hand. "People want houses, and houses use up land!"
Who killed model plans once found in mags of yesteryear That you could use that very night, not have to send away?
"Not I!" say all the editors, "We need the space for ads! RC is what pays the bills, not kid-directed fads!"
Who killed the rubber-powered planes we kids all used to fly Before the city ran us out of park and field and sky?
"Not I!" the councilman disclaims, his golf club in his hand: "Your planes are much too dangerous, and take up too much land."
Who killed the model airplanes, so small and pure of line That challenged skill and heart and soul and cost but one thin dime?
"Not I!" shouts Macho Melvin, whose plane is big and loud. Without which Melvin's manhood might be questioned by the crowd.
Who killed model airplanes? Is their time now past? Can it be that times have changed and that the die is cast?
In a pre-cut, plastic world where batteries are a must Will the skills of yesterday become but balsa dust?
Who'll save model airplanes? Is there still time to win? Where do model planes leave off and where do kids begin?
Will other people save them? I'll have to disagree... Find a Junior, show him how. Don't leave it up to me!
Some people are trying to do something on an individual basis: getting a kid or two together and helping them get started in building and flying. Others are trying different approaches:
- Larry Miles in San Diego is working on a booklet or program that can be of help to schools.
- Some believe that if better kits are available, more kids will come in; others question whether manufacturers have overpromised on box covers that don't deliver.
- The National Free Flight Society is working on public relations and has put out a call for concerned modelers and clubs to help get a national campaign to make Free Flight more visible. (Write or call Jack Woodward, 7840 Madison Ave., Suite 185, Fair Oaks, CA 95628; (916) 961-1829, if you'd like to get involved.)
Modeling's future involves you!
Photos
A new photo service for those of us who like to build the planes of the '30s and '40s is now offering a sample WACO 5 x 8 B/W and their catalog listing 3,684 pix for $2.00. Send to Hank Clark, 7285 May St., Ft. Edward, NY 12828. Yep, Hank not only draws ’em, but he’s snapped plenty of ’em, too. (Editor: Hank Jr. now operates the photo service.)
Send any hints and tips, especially on de-warping and on winders, for upcoming columns to:
Bill Warner, 423-C San Vicente Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90402.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
