Letters to the Editor
Send your letters to: Model Aviation, 5151 East Memorial Drive, Muncie, IN 47302
Still Going...
I read in your June 1994 issue the nice letter from Charlie Harper wherein he claims a record for the longest elapsed time between flights. I believe I have a better claim.
The enclosed photo shows my Springfield Fokker D.VII free-flight model. I also enclose copies of pages from my model flight log, which I have kept since 1953. The log shows an entry for this little plane on a Friday in August 1958. The model spent many years in attics and shops until June 15, 1992, when I dug it out and took it to the SAM 8 meet at Harts Lake Prairie. There was no class for it, so I didn't enter it in any competition, but I did fly it again—34 years and 3 months after the previous entry!
The Springfield company kitted several of these tiny sport free-flights in the '50s. I still have a D.VII kit in the box—"going to build another someday." Wingspan 14 inches, power K&B .035. The engine had been so reliable in the past that I didn't even test-run it at home before packing it for Harts Lake. I had a spare plug but didn't need it. The old plug was fine and the engine took off on about the sixth flip.
This little job climbs like a homesick angel, sometimes even making a loop as the engine leans out before stopping. The glide is fast but flat—no DT needed on this one. Early on I replaced the very vulnerable underslung fuel tank with a loop of tubing. Fifteen to twenty seconds is plenty of time to nearly lose it.
Leonard Good Langley, Washington
I read Charlie Harper's letter (MA June 1994) about his Jai-Fai staying in the hangar for 20 years. That is certainly a long time between flights, but I would submit another candidate for the record.
The enclosed photo shows a plane that was built in 1961 while I was stationed at Minot AFB, North Dakota. Originally built for single-channel radio and powered by an Enya diesel, it went into retirement in 1963. That far back is beyond my memory horizon, so I don't remember the plane's name or the plans source.
In 1993 I dug it out of the crawl space and installed multi-channel radio gear and a .05 electric motor. The original silk covering required only minor patching. So, after 30 years, old "What's-It's-Name" still flies great.
Al Flesher Baltimore, Maryland
Porno?
Model Aviation magazine goes porno again! I told you guys once before and now I'm going to do it again. Your June issue was again stark naked. Shame, shame—omitting the Microhenrys. This is a no-no and unacceptable.
My wife and I are simple folk with little means of recognition. When Ed puts us in one of his cartoons, our cup runneth over. He's also supposed to buy us a dinner when we appear—and we're getting hungry as hell.
Jacque & Wilma Microhenry St. Louis, Missouri
P.S. Pardon the printing—Wilma is the typist but she's busy repairing one of my crashes and couldn't come to the typewriter.
So you finally abandoned the Microhenrys page! (June 1994) Too bad—that was one of the best pages in the magazine.
S. J. Angelico Hanford, California
Editor: A space crunch resulted in the "naked" June issue.
Special Message
Bill Kimbell's letter to the editor in the June issue of Model Aviation really sparked something in me: the realization of why I build models! I build models because when I was five years old (I am 28 now) my father and I sat down and built a plastic model of a top-fuel dragster. I will never forget all those little engine details and that metallic gold paint I brushed on.
When I was eight we built a stick-and-tissue Guillow Spitfire. The image of that airplane gliding across the front yard will never leave my memory.
I am now an accomplished machinist and modeler with well over one hundred models under my belt. I particularly like model airplane engines and working on them.
This all leads to one special message. Parents and grandparents, sit down with your children and grandchildren and build a model with them! Start simple; the kids will take it from there.
Charles Nienhouse Stockbridge, Georgia
Grateful for the Help
I am fourteen years old, and I just joined the AMA in April. I received my first issue of Model Aviation this month and I really enjoy reading it because I am new at this sport and I'll take any advice I can get.
My plane is a PT-20 trainer built from a kit. It has an O.S. 20 engine and for me, it's perfect. After about a year, it's finally finished and I took it out for the first time a month ago. I try to fly every weekend in hopes of becoming a good pilot. I think it might be working.
Of course, I didn't learn by myself. I was lucky enough to find an experienced modeler in my town who is kind enough to help me with whatever I need to know. His name is Robert Garrett and if you decide to print this letter in your next issue I would like him to know how much I appreciate his help. I also met other helpful people when I joined an RC club in my area, the Hobbs Cloud Dusters. I am one of the youngest people in my club right now.
I believe that model aviation is a very interesting hobby and sport, and would encourage anyone to try it out.
Paul Hearing Hobbs, New Mexico
Cover Story
I enjoyed the July issue but how could you print a photograph of a model on the cover without identifying it? The floatplane is the Aqua Sport by Mitch Poling and is available as a plan from Radio Control Modeler, number 908. (The plan number you gave in the February issue is incorrect.)
David Segal Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
When you say, "no jump..."
Thank you, thank you, thank you. Your layout of having continuous articles is great. No more flipping pages looking for the rest of the article only to find the pagination wrong.
The magazine has improved over the many years and there's something for everyone. Keep up the good work. I know it is hard work and I want to let you and your staff know that I appreciate the fine magazine.
Please don't clutter up the cover as another magazine has. Thanks again.
Takashi Hoshizaki Los Angeles, California
Peer Review
Just a short comment on peer reviews. Having written many articles for scientific journals, differences of opinion always exist, especially when reaching the edge of technology. I think your solution of putting in comments of reviewers is a good approach. At least the younger members will learn that nothing is really cast in stone, and progress is made by asking questions and testing the presently accepted dogma.
I was disturbed to read Gary Honis' letter in the May '94 issue. I've seen this attitude about the magazine many times at our flying field, but I can assure you that I, for one, really enjoy the magazine. I'd say it's filled with more good information than any other magazine, and I read it all—CL, RC, and FF. The folks that don't like the magazine here seem to prefer lots of pretty color pictures, but the majority of us in the Clarksburg club really do like the magazine.
So, please keep up the good work! You really seem to strike a good balance between the different types of modeling.
Glen Ward Bridgeport, West Virginia
Concerning the article by A. G. Lennon in the July 1994 issue of Model Aviation, I was surprised and dismayed at the method of presentation.
Although I have always felt that Mr. Lennon wrote more to impress rather than to inform, I do not feel that criticism of his work should have been done in the manner you undertook. Further, the professional act of an engineer who would edit the published work of another in such a manner is in question.
L. F. Randolph Dallas, Texas
In the recent past I wrote a letter that was critical of the way technical issues were handled in Model Aviation. The steps you have taken to correct the situation are quite effective. I applaud the changes and hope that they can be continued in the future.
David Schenken St. Louis, Missouri
Attention: Ladies
I am writing to ask a very simple question: are there very many women in the AMA?
I started training in the spring, and I'm very excited. My husband and I just finished my Telemaster 40, and he has test-flown it.
There is one problem, though. The club that we are in has only one female member, and she has a glider. There are two other women who might start training. The club has about 175 members.
I feel extra pressure because of this. I'm afraid that the club will be more critical of me because I'm a female. And I definitely don't need to be any more nervous!
So, back to my question: of the female members, about what percentage of them renew their AMA each year? I think if I knew that there were other women really enjoying it and doing well, it would help to ease my nerves.
I don't want to be made to feel like I'm intruding in their guy sport! I just want to have fun.
Tammy Pustelnik Taylor, Michigan
P.S. I love "The Microhenrys" and would really enjoy reading about one of the wives trying to fly!
Editor: Tammy, while women fliers are definitely in the minority, you can and should be able to enjoy the hobby as much as any man.
It is true that you may feel more pressure to fly well, but much of this can be self-imposed, and would be true of any new flier attempting to make a favorable impression.
Cliquish clubs?
After reading Jack Tiller's letter (August '94 "Letters") it was possible for me to feel the discouragement he felt in the actions of the club in Florida. Any group of people who form the membership in clubs will project an image that may or may not be to your liking! It all relates to who is in control. Are they egomaniacs? Are they trophy hounds? Are they secure and don't pretend otherwise?
Over the years I have been involved in model airplane clubs (president), ski clubs (founder & president), figure skating clubs (VP), and swimming clubs (parent member). Some of these experiences were enjoyable, some were not.
But free-flight building and (sometimes) flying is the number-one interest. Forty-four years ago, I joined a very well-known free-flight club and enjoyed approximately 40 years of membership. However, the complexion of the club changed during the last four years, so I did the right thing. I quit after 44 years of continuous membership. Jack, just feel sorry for the ones who wonder why they don't know what they're missing!
Art Christensen Arlington Heights, Illinois
I know just how Jack Tiller felt in Florida. Our local club has become in recent years "one of those clubs."
I was a member of the club for 12 years—treasurer for five of those—when a club from a neighboring city merged (unofficially) with us. Then came the attitude of "let's see how many members we can get and build our treasury; let's also implement rules, etc. you wouldn't believe."
What for years was a fun club with a great field became miserable. Meetings became arguing sessions. As much as I love building and flying I couldn't take this; I quit! Many other old-timers did, too. Just too old for that sort of stuff.
I have kept my AMA membership and still build some airplanes and some boats. Maybe someday I'll fly again.
Joe Manuel La Marque, Texas
Byers' Market
I just wanted to write to let you know how terrific I think Wil Byers' "Slope Soaring" column has been over the past few years. His slope soapers are a bit of a quiet crowd, as we don't put on big contests, etc., but let me tell you there are a lot of us out here, at least in California.
I'm writing because I look forward to reading Mr. Byers' column even other months, and in fact I wish it was every month. He covers a wide variety of topics and is clearly knowledgeable. I don't know what's happened to the regular soaring column, but the lack of it for two issues now makes me realize how much I miss those columns.
Please pass on to Mr. Byers that there are a lot of us out here that just do slope, and we think his column is right on! What are the odds of seeing him monthly? Keep up the great work.
Gregory Vasgerdsian Concord, California
She's Doing Fine, Thank You
I was thrilled to read a letter from a woman in your August 1994 issue. I, too, enjoy flying the radio-control airplanes and wish to see more females get into the sport.
I currently fly a Lightflyer 60H, built by my husband Steve, and hope to work my way up to an Extra 300 or an Ultraport. I have only flown a couple of months, but with the tremendous support from the members of our local club, R/C Country of Inland Empire, I know I'll be doing aerobatics and making landings on our runway (not in the weeds) real soon.
I want to thank you, Jan from Texas, and AMA for getting the news out that this can be a fun family sport.
Frances Yamaguchi Chino, California
Thanks!
Today I called your competition committee office to correct an error in a column that I composed and sent to be published in the coming events section. I had made a mistake in the date and did not discover it until I received the magazine for August. I spoke with Trina Pool and she was very helpful in getting this taken care of in time for next month's issue.
Even though I have had dealings with the AMA and the magazine staff, it seems to be handled with great service. I am amazed when I read the letters with complaints about Model Aviation magazine. The price is great, the articles are as good or better than any of the other publications, and maybe I am prejudiced but it seems better since you moved to Muncie.
Bob Ryan Greenville, Ohio
Hear You!
Not often do I take the time to say "hear, hear!" when I have a similar opinion, nor do I openly express disagreements when they exist. But in my opinion you have upgraded the quality of an already fine publication to a higher level of excellence since you became editor. And this is why I believe that:
I commend you for wanting technical matters to be error-free (who's perfect?) as stated in your July editorial, and I believe that your review policy is indeed in the interest of the reader. Your statement "But the author who hasn't made an error has yet to be born, so we will continue with our review policy" has me somewhat bothered though.
I just hope that your "reviewer" is instructed to catch the errors, which is your objective. The reviewer, however, should be objective. The reviewer should not impose his own opinions, disagreements, or interpretations of someone else's material. I'm sure that Andy Lennon wants his writings to be free of errors, but there, no one is perfect.
In my opinion, Gil Morris' comments on page 36, beginning with "the fulcrum, or neutral axis..." are his opinion and additions to clarify a point that Andy has made. Gil is not correcting an error!
Andy is right in declining your suggestion to change his text based on Gil's opinions. In the last paragraph, beginning "Figure 9A..." Andy did not state what the mathematically correct lever arm is for Figure 9B. I agree with Gil that a one-inch lever arm may not be correct as implied in the drawing. Perhaps this is the only error. Your reviewer(s) should try to catch the truly technical errors, but leave the "hill of beans" issues alone.
I didn't intend to write this much; just my opinion. I have done that, and you may now do as you wish with it. But I had to get this off my chest. Keep up the good work, and count on me as a continued reader of "The Haught Corner" and Andy Lennon's technical articles—I love 'em!
Donald H. Ogren Marathon, Florida
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
