The Haught Corner
Nats Issue
Unless you begin reading with the back of the magazine, by now you have seen the reports from the various Nats venues on this most diverse of championships. With the number of sites used and the large number of volunteer workers needed, this Nationals represented a significant transition year as the entire contest moves to Muncie in 1996.
There has been some criticism about insufficient manpower here and there, but I wonder if most of those doing the criticizing realize the magnitude of the effort it took by a relatively small group of people to make the Nats happen at all. It was a hectic few weeks, with an enormous amount of planning, coordination, and just plain hard work required.
And this is likely the way of future Nats. True volunteers will be needed to help make everything happen. Sure, there will be increased involvement by Special Interest Groups, and Headquarters personnel can help to a limited extent, but there will still be plenty of tasks for knowledgeable folks (with strong backs, too, most likely) to make future Nats really go.
Hats off to everyone involved in Nats administration this year. You did a tough job with a short deck. And to those who will be coming to Muncie in 1996: check the schedule when it comes out, see if there aren't some times when you can fill in here or there, and let it be known you are available. It can only help make things better for everyone!
It Ain't Me, Babe
There have been a few offhand remarks and nasty rumors circulating about the Vindicator construction article and other pieces I've written for MA; specifically, that I am paid for these articles as other authors are. Let me borrow an old cliché and set the record straight.
Aside from my salary as Managing Editor, I am not compensated for anything that appears in this magazine under my byline. This includes construction articles, contest reports, how-tos, and this column. In fact, I had to give up the bimonthly "FF Duration" column when I joined the magazine staff, because it was considered a conflict of interest to be a paid columnist and a full-time staff member.
Articles written by me follow the same proposal-review-accept/reject process as those of other authors, unless I receive an assignment from my boss, Publications Manager Rob Kurek. In fact, some of these assignments have come as a result of my squealing in staff meetings about some real or perceived need!
Along those lines, we will soon begin a series of how-tos on preparing articles for publication—what we need and would like to see in terms of incoming material. We will cover event reporting, construction articles, how-tos, and other subject areas. We'd love to be buried in great stuff!
There have been a number of nice cards and letters concerning the Vindicator RC design and the companion "Haught Corner" column in the October issue. I am gratified at the positive reaction to both pieces, and I am pleased to know that others are going to try the model.
Readers' Reactions
The discussion about why I "do that FF thing" brought some interesting reaction from several readers, including Don Typond. Don flies all types of models, and finds something interesting in each:
"I get a different kind of enjoyment from each model that I build and fly. I fly free flight for the pleasure of watching the model take to the air, with no input from me. . . .
"Radio control is a piloting game. The pleasure comes not from watching a good landing, but doing it . . . [with] a model that's straight and true and properly balanced and flies exactly as it should. A model that wants to help you perfect your flying skills in the same way a good tool aids your building.
"[But] only control line gives you the feel of the model in flight. . . The model talks to you through the lines. Only in control line is there this tactile connection to the model in flight.
"And I love it all."
That's the point I was trying to make in the column. I found the part of modeling that suits me best, and I hope everyone else can, too. Only a few, like Don, get real satisfaction from each discipline.
Some writers once struggled to describe a famous athlete and his contribution to his sport. While he didn't possess great athletic ability, his drive and desire more than made up for his physical shortcomings. He played with a zest and verve—a love for the game—that was nearly tangible to those around him.
The phrase "joy of participation" was the most apt description of the athlete. That's what I feel when I'm out flying, and I hope that everyone who participates in this hobby can share that feeling.
Occasionally I'll be in the middle of the flying field, model in hand, and stop to take a look around. I see my friends and fellow competitors, busy with their own flying. I note the blue sky, gentle breeze, and think, "You know, there's really no place I'd rather be than right here, right now, with these people."
Clarification
A couple of letter-writers asked for more information about changing Vindicator's radio setup to accommodate the test pilots, who were used to flying a more conventional arrangement (ailerons used instead of rudder).
"I, too, kept steering with the wrong stick," wrote John Cuomo. "It's not easy to switch from three channels to four and back again."
All we did was:
- Pull the rudder servo plug.
- Insert it into the aileron jack on the receiver.
That gave rudder and elevator on the right stick, with throttle on the left. This was a bit easier for the experienced pilots to use. Since I had much less experience, it wasn't a big deal for me to relearn the orientation. It took a few extra practice flights on the Dave Brown Flight Simulator, and that pretty much took care of it.
Steve and Jay (the two test pilots) would still have preferred ailerons—I have the feeling we'll see a four-channel Vindicator some day—but this seemingly crude "fix" did the job.
Jim Haught Managing Editor
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
