Letters to the Editor
About Blimps...
(The following letter was addressed to Geoffrey Styles, AMA Marketing Director. It was dated November 6, 1990.)
Dear Mr. Styles:
It was very kind of you to send your letter of October 31, commending Goodyear and Columbia’s Chief Pilot L. J. Nicolary for our flyover of the Great Pumpkin Fun Fly in Los Angeles last week.
We are well aware, and firmly believe, that the vast majority of aeromodelers are careful, responsible individuals who take great pride in practicing their avocation safely. Our flyby was simply a restatement of that fact.
However, we do appreciate your very thoughtful letter, and wish you and your many members clear skies and happy flying in the years to come.
All best wishes, /s/ Dick Sailer Manager Airship Public Relations The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company
Politicking Pays Off!
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department sponsored environmental awareness fairs in cities across the state.
Because our club, Abilene RC Society, uses a city park, we were asked to have a booth and tell how we use and give back to our park.
Our "city park" is the best city-owned and maintained flying site in the state. We have two concrete runways, 400 ft. north–south and 300 ft. east–west, plus a concrete-paved pit area and a paved road. There are two 20-ft. metal shade shelters, two sets of bleachers for spectators, and all the grass runway you can use in any direction. Needless to say, it is fenced, and the city parks department mows it every two weeks.
Attendance by the public was outstanding. Our booth's hot spot was the display airplane on a rotating turntable; a couple of unusual engines were mounted on display stands. We also used videotape shot at the park, "Robinhood 99"—that's another story. Other photos showed that we have worked with the parks department for over 25 years.
Visitors included state and local officials who commended our efforts and cooperation over the past years. Members of other clubs from out of town who visit Abilene are taken aback to see what can be accomplished through community involvement. The city will work with special-interest groups. I urge clubs to get active in their towns—join the chamber of commerce, attend city meetings, be a clean, proud organization. Send a member to parks board meetings; visit people and make your needs known. You must, however, be willing to give: we need displays, parade floats, and flying demonstrations for some groups. Flying sites are political—you must play the game or they don't know you exist.
Jerry Farr Abilene, TX
Right on! Land is valuable, so we'd better be prepared to pay the price for getting to use it—especially if it's for "free"!! — RMcM
More Thoughts on Switching RC Systems On and Off
I learned as a private pilot that there are two kinds: those who have landed gear up—and those who are going to. RC flying has a parallel. Switching your receiver on first often causes a noise that bystanders think is hilarious. That's when the retracts fold up and your prized possession goes "flop." I recommend a great deal of thought before publishing these "goody" ideas. A novice doesn't have the experience to see the consequences.
R. E. Pickett AMA 1931
It looks to me like there's a conflict of interests here: safety aspects (don't turn on your transmitter until you are certain that no one else is flying on that channel) versus potentially damaging or humiliating effects to our own equipment (such as mentioned in the letter). How to resolve them? I hope this generates more discussion of the subject. — RMcM
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
