Letters to the Editor
Send your letters to: Model Aviation, 5151 East Memorial Drive, Muncie, IN 47302
Community Involvement
In 1993, the Staunton‑Augusta R/C Club voted to become more involved in the local community by participating in Virginia's "Adopt‑A‑Highway" program, a program designed to help overcome the litter along state highways. The club members felt that, as citizens, they had a responsibility to help maintain the roadsides near the club flying site as well as to promote the sport of RC flying within the community.
After accepting the club into the program, the Virginia Department of Transportation assigned a two‑mile section of road near the flying site to the club as their work area. One requirement of the program is that there shall be four trash pickups made each year by the assigned citizens/club.
The club's first pickup resulted in 18 large bags of trash being collected along the road. Four months later another pickup yielded 13 bags, and two months later seven bags were collected. Unbelievable. Unless a person has participated in such an activity, it is hard to comprehend just how much trash the public carelessly discards while traveling.
But aside from this, what has the club (and the community) really gained? Without question, much satisfaction has been received knowing the club has helped preserve the environment, kept the nearby roadsides cleaner, helped preserve Virginia's natural resources, and projected an image of responsibility within the community. Knowing this, the future and image of RC flying can't help but grow within a community.
To my knowledge, the Staunton‑Augusta R/C Club is the first Virginia club to demonstrate such proactive community involvement by adopting a highway. I'm sure most other states have similar programs. I am hopeful this letter will stimulate other AMA members and clubs to follow our lead.
Richard R. Smith Waynesboro, Virginia
Donation
I was treasurer for an AMA‑sanctioned model glider club in Anaheim, California, called Pacific Soaring Association for the year 1987. In July or August of 1987 we lost our flying field to an adult soccer club that was willing to pay $50 per weekend for use of the high‑school athletic field.
Several other sites were tried with limited success. Club activities declined as members sought out more active or closer‑to‑home clubs. From July 1987 through June 1989 the treasury decreased due to service charges of about $4 per month. Wanting to safeguard our remaining funds, I moved the funds from checking to savings.
From 1987 through 1990 I advised one of the club's more prominent members that the funds still existed and that I was hoping for a club comeback. Although I still have the same telephone number and haven't moved, I have not heard from any former club members. So, as the last known club treasurer, I wish to donate all remaining funds ($345) to the National Site Development Program in the name of Pacific Soaring Association and all former members.
To all former club members who may read this, thanks for your sharing, teaching, and support during my three‑year membership.
Doug Lawrence Orange, California
Read Officer Columns
As a member of AMA, I receive Model Aviation magazine. This periodical is also the voice of all AMA modelers nationwide. It behooves me that many modelers with whom I correspond outside of District II never read the AMA district news. This also applies to many District II members.
Upon presenting an interesting item found in this section of Model Aviation, their reply is always the same: "Who told you that?" My response is: "Read the AMA district news columns." Getting input from AMA members throughout the districts nationwide gives us a closer look at our fellow modelers' backyards. One gets a sense of the various stages of modeling projects. Trends often conform to location: warm, sunny states bring year‑round flying and therefore many skilled fliers, while colder states provide more building time, with many projects completed quickly, supplying a greater number of aircraft.
This viewpoint is gleaned from the input of the AMA district reports. Last, but by no means least, many accolades to each and every district AVP and VP and to every AMA member who puts time and effort into the field. Thanks to each and every one of them. Keep reading!
Harry Botkowsky Brooklyn, New York
Status in Question
It may not seem important to the editor, but in my letter to the editor (March '94) describing Jim Sears' dislike of free flighters, you printed my address as Renton, Washington! I live in Arlington Heights, Illinois, so you missed by 2,000-plus miles. As a member of the AMA since the early 1940s, I'm proud to say I have attained Leader Member and Contest Director status, and I enjoy having the low (200) AMA number. This bit of information was also omitted.
After volunteering for duties including directing contests since the Plymouth meets, I feel my present status in the AMA should be noted. In addition, and also included in this letter, you will find a citation from the AMA for doing a beautiful job of restoring Gerry Ritz's A2 world‑champion glider. This glider was built in 1959 and the amount of time I spent in restoration was considerable. The glider is now on display at the AMA museum in Muncie, IN.
Add to this and other volunteer efforts and you may understand why I want my AMA status noted.
Art Christensen Arlington Heights, Illinois
More Fun!
I enjoy the magazine on the whole but feel there is too much talk about competition rules and changes. Also too much talk about meetings.
I would like more about fun flying and sport scale, and encouragement for each modeler to have more spare models in the barn in case of a crash—especially for sport flying.
I enjoy studying plans and reading about building techniques.
Thank you for whatever you can do about my comments.
Mike Olin McAllen, Texas
Likes to Learn
I am pleased to be a member of AMA (again) and enjoy Model Aviation. My modeling experience predates "AMOCO white and motorcycle oil" and includes about a forty‑year hiatus.
Strangely, my perception of the universe has changed over time from one of black or white to one which just may possibly, for brief periods, contain a touch of gray.
I'm writing in regard to the "deBolt" controversy which seems to have taken on the proportions of the Tonya Harding affair, in modeling circles anyway.
It seems that words, and each individual's definition of them, are at the bottom of the issue. The Lion, with a somewhat abbreviated vocabulary, seems to be able to make himself abundantly clear to everyone, with no difficulty whatsoever. Unfortunately, our definitions as well as our reactions are colored by a lifetime of experiences which are unavailable to the reader (who has his own drastically different set), and "there's the rub."
Controversial articles and their responses are generally good for us. Problems arise when egos get involved: "I'm smarter, more sophisticated, (insert appropriate word) than you are." When that happens, discussion deteriorates.
(Unsigned)
Response to "Haught Corner"
I'm in the hobby for enjoyment, and that includes learning. I learn a lot from what I read, although I don't always agree with it, and frequently don't always understand all I read about a subject. Generally, when I "total" an airplane it isn't because of my lack of comprehension of the laws of physics, or anything Hall does. Andy Lennon has confused me with Greek letters, a bird flew by, or someone moved.
Your April "Haught Corner" was right on target. I hope to continue to hear opinions, facts and, by all means, "the straight word" from divergent viewpoints including deBolt, Raskin, and others. It would be refreshing, however, to have the pros and cons presented by their advocates in a manner which addresses the issue in question, and avoids references to the other author's level of knowledge.
Frank Hasty Brunswick, Georgia
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
