Letters to the Editor
Send letters to: Model Aviation, 1810 Samuel Morse Drive Reston, VA 22090
July's Cover Girl
There are two major reasons for this letter. First, I thought that everyone might be interested in knowing about the young lady on the cover of the July issue of Model Aviation.
Eleven-year-old Jessica Jensen is an honor-roll fifth-grade student at Jane Langford Elementary School in Austin, Texas. She is a member of the Safety Patrol. Jessica won the 1992 Science Fair at Langford and represented the school at the citywide science fair competition. Eventually, she intends to become a lawyer. Jessica has two younger brothers and a sister. She likes crafts, dolls, coloring, and painting with both oils and watercolor. Jessica says that the Delta Dart she is holding in the cover photo "sorta" still exists — it fell victim to one of her young siblings.
Mr. and Mrs. Jensen can be very proud of their oldest daughter.
The second reason for this letter is to make perfectly clear that the principal of Langford Elementary is Mr. Sandy Leibick. He is still speaking to me, in spite of being identified as Mrs. in the July issue. We all apologize to you, Mr. Leibick!
Robert J. Spivey, Austin, Texas
Thank You, AMA
(Editor's note: The following letter was addressed to Geoffrey Styles, AMA's Director of Marketing.)
I am writing on behalf of the Suburban Aeroclub of Chicago (SAC) to thank you for the help that you and AMA have given the club over the past three years in helping us to retain our flying field.
We fly on a county-owned forest preserve site in the south suburban Chicago area. Although we enjoy very good relations with the forest preserve authorities, a group of wealthy businessmen — "farmers" — made a very strong bid to take over our site for a museum/theme park/farm. Money talks, especially in Cook County, and for a time it seemed almost certain that our site would be lost. However, our club, together with a coalition of environmental groups, put together a strong case in opposition. Materials supplied by AMA, as well as correspondence from AMA on our behalf, played a significant role in making our case. In particular, our credibility with other groups in the coalition (such as the Sierra Club and the Audubon Society) was greatly enhanced by information supplied by AMA about how model aviation is an environmentally sound use of recreational lands.
Although, technically, the site is still under consideration, the reality of the situation is that the "farmers" have decided to look elsewhere. We remain vigilant, but believe that our site is secure.
Dr. John Kallend, Glenwood, Illinois
Should RC Combat Be Allowed?
In light of the recent decision to allow RC Combat on a limited basis, I feel compelled to offer my opinion on the matter.
To successfully convince the AMA that RC Combat should be allowed tells me that the International Dogfighting Association (IDA) certainly did their homework and presented a good case. After reading the article in the July MA, I would tend to agree that the event as outlined in the AMA rule book, under the watchful eye of an experienced CD, at a sanctioned contest, can very well be pulled off with no major problems. But this is where we part company. My problem lies not with the above, but with the rest of the 75% or so of RCers who don't compete in sanctioned contests but sport fly, time permitting, at the local club field, or in some instances, outlaws with no club affiliation or AMA membership who fly anywhere they can.
Do you honestly believe that Joe Average Modeler who, after becoming inspired by your article and believing that according to you, RC Combat is okay now, will go out and build a brand-new airplane within AMA guidelines — or will he use whatever old clunker is expendable? I would be inclined to believe that the latter will be the first choice. So we'll have old clunkers chasing streamers above people's heads — old, expendable clunkers that may range in size from .049 to, God help us, Giant Scale behemoths with chainsaw engines. This is the real world that nobody wants to admit exists.
Your article stated that midairs are a rarity and RC adds a whole new dimension that can't be obtained on CL. The first statement is almost laughable, if it didn't have such serious overtones. Nobody has eyesight that good. Suppose there are two different-size planes. How do you judge distance at 300 feet? I have a hard time at 60.
(Continued from page 5)
The second statement is absolutely true. RC does add a whole new dimension. I get the willies just thinking about it.
Before things get out of hand and we have a tragic incident involving one of these alleged Combat planes, perhaps your magazine should issue a statement detailing the difference between a sanctioned AMA event and what I consider nothing more than willful negligence. Six ways, no less. Read the fine print on the 1992 AMA renewal form about negligence.
If these Combat wannabes are serious about getting involved in an event that is about as challenging as you're going to get, perhaps they should look in the AMA rule book under — gasp — Control Line. There, right next to the picture of the dinosaur, printed in black and white, with circles, arrows, and diagrams, is explained the safe, proper way to engage in mock dogfighting as has been repeatedly demonstrated over the years by people like me.
Fred Stetter, Brick, New Jersey
Keep the Full-Size Planes Coming
I am writing in response to Ed Hagerlin's letter about full-size airplanes in a model airplane book.
I don't know the man or how old he is, but I still have fond memories of a monthly mag called Air Trails. That magazine had a mix of full-size aircraft and model aircraft that was wonderful.
I remember, in particular, a time that I received a model kit of a Buzzard Bombshell as a promotional item when I paid for a year's subscription.
I am now 67 years old and have built models of one kind or another since about 1934. I served in the AAF in the 15th Air Force in Italy. I was in armor on B-24s.
When I read about the all-American B-24 that was rebuilt, I was elated. They had the plane over at Reading and I went to see it. I was like a kid at school. I have had some pictures of my models in your great mag on two occasions. I do a lot of scratch-building and I love to build biplanes.
I am now working on a quarter-scale SE5A. I also have completed a Waco F3 for which I drew up the plans. I also built 36 ribs on a jig like the full-scale plane. I don't think one should criticize you for having articles on full-size aircraft, as it helps a person like me who scratch-builds to get details.
Anyone can put a kit together, but to draw plans and work out all the parts takes a little bit of smarts.
I could go on and on, but I will close for now.
William C. Zartman, Dover, Pennsylvania
Finished Project
I am sending a photo of my Tamecat from Model Aviation plans. I haven't flown it yet, but it was fun to build.
Keep up the interesting projects.
George Jones, Stow, Massachusetts
Father and Son—Together
My son Gary and I, of the Milan RC Club in Milan, Michigan, built this Carl Goldberg Sky Tiger; Gary created the color design.
Since my son Gary and I started flying RC in November 1990, we have found a friendship and bond like never before, and for this I am grateful.
Gary L. Warmanen, Belleville, Michigan
Photos Tell the Story
Eddie Earl performs inverted flat spins and lomcevaks for dad, Dan Earl, manager of Pec's Hobby Shop in Mountain View, California.
Guy D. Cochran, San Jose, California
Plans, Pictures, and Planes
Here is a picture of the vintage BT I built from your plans. Once I become more proficient at the stick, I may even fly it!
Mike Zsak, Charlotte Hall, Maryland
Show and Tell
This scaled-down Astro Hog has a round fuselage made in two halves, then joined. It sports a Wankel .30 with a homemade exhaust.
I love the '30s racers — open cockpit, round cowls, and wheel pants.
Ernie Heyworth, Horseheads, New York
Flying Site Lost
(Editor's note: The Temple Aeromodelers' airstrip is in McGregor Park. Remember back in April when Texas was deluged by torrential rainstorms? This is one result.)
Our flying field here in central Texas is also covered — with water, that is. The heavy rains in Texas caused lakes to reach record flood levels. Lake Belton went over the spillways for the first time in history. Our field was entirely under water, and, as you can see from the photo, the water is receding. The engineers believe that the road leading to the field will reappear by the end of May.
Bill Murray, Temple, Texas
A Puzzlement?
Several issues ago, I wrote regarding the Microcherry page where there were six (6) pilots and one (1) dog flying seven aircraft by radio. In that one I commented on the concentration of the single dog.
Currently, there has been a portrayal of five (5) dogs flying six (6) models. This has taken a little time for me to figure out, but I think I have it. There is another dog behind me flying the sixth airplane and taking the picture of the others at the same time. This is why there is one plane a bit more erratic than the rest. I must have a long talk with Ed Henry.
And this is the "ego trip." It took me too long to figure it out, so you published it twice in successive issues so I'd have a second chance.
John W. Rawlings, St. Peters, Missouri
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
