Letters to the Editor
Send your Letters to the Editor to: Model Aviation, 5151 East Memorial Drive, Muncie, IN 47302
Missing Columnist: RC Flying Today
You may have noticed a missing column in this month's issue of Model Aviation — "RC Flying Today." The author, George Myers, is recovering from a recent illness. The staff at Model Aviation would like to wish George a speedy recovery. We, like his many readers, look forward to George's return to the pages of Model Aviation.
Editor's note: The following was inadvertently omitted from the Barnabus construction article in the September issue. We apologize for the error.
FLYING
The most important part of preflight preparation is properly locating the center of gravity. Make certain that your model balances exactly 2 3/8 inches from the leading edge of the wing. You will probably have to add at least an ounce of lead to the nose to achieve this balance point.
Now try several easy hand launches (don't throw it hard yet) until you achieve a long, smooth glide with no stall. Both rudder and elevator control should be on the right stick. Carefully adjust trim levers as necessary, preferably so that you end up with a few clicks of up elevator and the rudder at neutral.
Proceed to hi-start launches, and try to get a slightly bouncy glide with quick stall recovery. Practice turns by feeding in some down elevator at the same time that you apply rudder. This maintains speed and prevents stalls when making tight turns. Make your adjustments in "dead" air, because thermals can make a poorly trimmed glider look good.
Now try some hard launches. A good breeze will help the model get high enough before you add some down elevator to level out. Better still, have an experienced HLG man give you some hard launches while you concentrate on leveling out at the proper time. You will find Barnabus a fun glider, especially when you can fly it at nearby schoolyards or athletic fields.
What's in a Name?
Your club's community image and the public perception of our hobby can be adversely affected by your club's name. Too many people already perceive us as a bunch of immature, irresponsible people who fly toy airplanes and regularly screw them into the ground. This image is supported by the Society of Aircraft Demolishers patch!
Do your city fathers perceive your club as a bunch of irresponsible noisemakers or as mature craftspeople engaged in a worthwhile hobby? How will their perception affect your chances of obtaining flying sites, meeting rooms, whatever? Please consider how your club's name will affect your image.
What about the Broken Prop Sodbuster Wing Ding Balsa Butcher Radio Kontrol Society? What kind of mental picture does this create? Well, members crash more than they fly, aren't very good builders, and somewhere along the way never learned how to spell "control."
What's in a name? Think about it.
Ben Strauss Edmond, Oklahoma
A Thank-You Note
I'm compelled to write this letter to thank the Remote Control Association of Central Florida for all the fine hospitality shown me on my recent trip to its field.
In early March, my wife and I decided to escape the land of gloom and doom here in Michigan, and head for the land of sunshine in Florida. Since I have a daughter living in Orlando, that's where we went.
Of course, I took an airplane with me, as I always do. This time I took my .35-powered Kraft Super Fli, equipped with smoke.
Upon arrival, I immediately went through the Yellow Pages, looking for hobby shops. At one shop, I picked up a newsletter titled the Fly Paper of the RCACF.
I called the safety officer for permission to fly at the field and he told me to see if there were any unusual safety rules. He invited me to fly as his guest.
I found the field near Apopka, unloaded my stuff, and was soon approached by a gentleman who helped me get ready to fly. I never did get his name, but I was also helped by several other club members. I was overwhelmed by the hospitality shown me.
I had a good time, didn't wreck my airplane, and feel as though this club deserves recognition for the way they treat fellow modelers, especially this one from the far North.
I wish the RCACF all the very best, and I will certainly spread the word about them locally.
Chuck Spencer Mecosta, Michigan
An Eagle-Eyed Member Comments
The cover of the June 1993 issue shows a Thush Mite being released on a flight. The airplane appears to be a two-times scale-up of Pond's Plans. There is an error on the plans of the Mite. The distance given for the dihedral under the tip is for each tip. The gusset shown on the plans has the correct angle. A picture of Frank Thush and the original Mite appears in the July 1988 issue of Model Builder. It is possible to draw a geometric grid on this picture and the dihedral is one chord under each tip.
The large vertical fin is what was used in that time. This combination of the large tail and small dihedral causes the spiral mode to be unstable. This is shown in the cover picture; the 2X Mite has a problem with spiral instability when not moving at takeoff. Not enough dihedral and too much tail will cause you to spin in.
James W. Kelly Los Angeles, California
A Lesson and an Invitation
Once again this year, Jack Bradshaw and I attended the Texas Airport Operators Conference as AMA's representatives. As in years past, we renewed friendships and made some new friends.
It was particularly gratifying to talk with individuals seeking to allow modelers to safely use space at their airports. However, the downside came when one gentleman told us that he had been forced to terminate the flying rights of a club at his airport. This was caused by one or two members who felt that "don't fly over parked aircraft" did not mean them personally. There were several hundred acres of land which they could legally overfly, but...!
Any members living in the Van Horn, Texas area are invited to contact County Commissioner Joel U. Sanchez at 204 Houston. Telephone: (915) 283-2794 or (915) 283-2495. Commissioner Sanchez wants to provide some wholesome modeling activity for the local school children. Also, he is interested in learning to fly RC and to get his own young children involved in the hobby. He will be contacting the clubs in Odessa to discuss a model fly-in at the airport. This is an excellent opportunity to work with a highly motivated young man to the benefit of both the youngsters in the Van Horn area and aeromodeling.
I urge anyone who is able to do so to accept Geoffrey Styles's offer to attend your state's Airport Operators Conference. Good things can happen for all of us as a result of these contacts.
Robert J. Spivey Austin, Texas
A Suggestion or Two
Item 1: Dr. D.B. Mathews's article "Just Imagine" — top left-hand picture caption. I'll accept that it be called a Cirrus Moth or a Gipsy Moth but not a Tiger Moth. The latter had swept wings and an inverted engine; the Puss Moth was a high-wing monoplane with a closed cabin. The same applies to the bottom picture. The other misinformation: the Fokker shown is a VII; the VIII was a parasol wing layout.
Comment: The top left-hand models are really superb.
Item 2: Suggestion to the Museum addition.
May I suggest that AMA ask for the Carl Goldberg control-line Trainee, the very successful beginner's control model of the late '40s. It was all solid wood; the wings were preshaped, and to avoid the U-Control patent, Carl had devised a lever on the wing tip, with a piano wire curved into a groove in the bottom of the wing and aimed at the elevator. Power suggested was an Ohlsson .23 or .29 or other make, on ignition.
Request: Has anybody got one in good condition to pass on to AMA's museum? This airplane has a place in model aviation history—for having started a great many people flying control line at that time.
Or maybe someone could, from ads of the time, make one reasonable look-alike, as there were no plans, just assembly drawings. It was hard to construct one from plans. Years ago I asked Carl if any trace of the plane were known. He commented that although he had designed the plane, it was kitted by someone else.
Ray Gareau Laval, Quebec, Canada
An RCer Speaks Out
I had to jump right to the typewriter and reply to Mike Keville's letter in the July '93 MA issue.
I don't know how old Mike is, but I think that he fails to realize just how many different subdivisions there are to this model aircraft hobby.
From the sound of his letter, I found myself wondering if he had ever built a radio control model, took it to the flying site, and experienced the thrill of watching it take off on its maiden flight. I wonder if he has ever had the opportunity to watch a Roun-Tuit, a Car, a Stop Sign, or dozens of other models fly.
To see how people driving by in their cars stop to watch in amazement that something so amazingly constructed could or would even fly.
I don't think that Mike (from the way he writes) has ever flown anything but control-line models.
Sorry, Mike, but we RCers have our models and love our radio-control models. You should try it; you just might like it.
You love your part of this hobby flying on a string, and we respect you for that, so how about respecting the other thousands of us who prefer our radios and help us worry about the damage that FCC is causing us in our hobby.
P.S. How many in our hobby do you know that have thousand-dollar accessories? I sure don't know any here.
Al Stroth St. Paul, Minnesota
More About the Japanese Balloons
I was interested in Edward Reedich's letter in your July 1993 issue. By coincidence, I had just read a detailed account of the Japanese bombing of Mount Emily in the July issue of Aviation magazine. A single submarine-launched floatplane flew two missions over the Oregon coast in September 1942. Its incendiary bombs had little effect because of unseasonable wet weather.
The Japan-launched balloons Mr. Reedich mentions were especially interesting. They are described in the August 1945 issue of Impact, a confidential photo journal distributed to the U.S. Army Air Force squadrons (reported in 1982 by Historical Times, Inc., Harrisburg, PA). One hundred sixty-eight balloons were recovered between November 1944 and the following July. They turned up in Hawaii, Alaska, Canada, Mexico, and in the states as far east as Michigan. Three were rubberized silk, the rest were layered mulberry paper. They were about 30 feet across at altitude (about 30,000 feet).
The balloon's altitude-control design would make any modeler proud. An hour after launch, a long double fuse released a jack-switch, activating a set of barometers. When the balloon got low, an air pressure closed a circuit and fired a pair of explosive plugs, releasing one of 35 weights suspended from a large ring around the mechanism. This lit a delay fuse on the next switch, preparing for the next cycle. This went on for three or four days, the time it took for the balloon to drift across the Pacific. The last four "weights" released were incendiary bombs. After dropping a fifth, larger bomb, the mechanism was supposed to self-destruct.
Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on your point of view, this mechanism was usually ineffective. It caused no property damage, although one bomb did explode and kill an adult and five children who were examining it.
In their design, these balloons were truly fascinating. I find it comforting that our hobby allows us to create equally fascinating designs that don't have to kill or cause damage, whether they work or not.
Marcus Brooks Austin, Texas
Now About Those Covers...
John Oldenkamp has captured the essence of free flight in the Model Aviation August cover photo. Terrific shot, John, and thanks for putting it on the cover, Model Aviation editors!
Jerry Fitch Sacramento, California
I have been wanting to compliment you guys for quite some time on your new approach to your magazine covers. There was absolutely nothing wrong with the old approach, but after being exposed to what you're doing now I for one would never be satisfied with anything less.
The one that stood out in my mind until now (that doesn't necessarily mean it's been the best) was of various aeronautically oriented nick-knacks on a desktop. But, ladies and gentlemen, you have really outdone yourselves with the August issue. So much so that I'm finally writing this long-posted letter. I've gone from reading Model Aviation and stowing it with the motorcycle magazines to leaving it out on the coffee table and being proud to have it there.
This concept would have been ridiculous a year ago, but you might kick around the idea of selling signed and numbered prints of work of this quality. (I'll bet the photographers won't mind the publicity and extra income!) Stranger things have happened, but you just might have soared to new heights.
Bill Fowler Stafford, Texas
The "Rockwellian" cover of the July issue was truly heartwarming. I wish I had a dime for every modeler who mussed over that nostalgic moment and pictured himself in it.
Give us more of R.A. Benjamin's work, and write an article about this painter of magic.
John P. Cuomo Forked River, New Jersey
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
