Letters to the Editor
Model Aviation, 5161 E. Memorial Dr., Muncie, IN 47302
Correction
An incorrect website address was printed in Mike Hurley's January column. The address for Aeroworks is www.aeroworks.net.
We apologize for the error.
—MA staff
Airplanes and the Wind
I have just finished reading Ralph Grose's article on wind in the January MA. This is easily the best explanation of this subject that I have ever read. And, just as important, the technical accuracy is dead on.
Richard Aley Whitefish, Montana
This was an excellent article and hopefully cleared some misconceptions. I would like to point out that there are two instances when an airplane traveling in an airmass is affected by the wind.
All aircraft are affected by horizontal wind shears, even the largest commercial types. Also, our models are affected whenever the airspeed (IAS—not measured on models) slows below the velocity of the airmass in which we fly.
As this point is reached our model will weather vane into the wind's direction relative to the ground. We take advantage of this when we do stall turns into the wind direction, as an example.
Ralph Grose wrote an excellent article and many thanks to him.
Lou Matuska South Barrington, Illinois
MA Content
I guess you know by now that Bob Hunt's January column was a profound one. This is probably one of many letters you'll receive.
I always felt the spectrum of articles and topics in MA did not reflect the interest of the members, but I did not realize 96% are involved in some aspect of RC. As a result it seems like a great idea to tailor the content of the magazine accordingly.
As a modeler, or sporter, or ARFer who has been in the hobby since 1936, I like what you've said, and trust the AMA staff is in accord.
Good luck and thanks for your "telling it like it is" article.
Dawson Gillaspy Long Neck, Delaware
I joined AMA because the flying club suggested that membership was required in order to join the local organization and use the local field. I've received a few of your publications and looked through them all hunting for something of interest to a guy that hasn't bought his first RTF sailplane yet. So far, your piece about the content of Model Aviation has been the only thing of value to me. Right on. I have no plans to build my own airplanes. Buying them ready to go is fine with me. Maybe I will, in time, gravitate to a SIG as you suggest—but for the present, simpler content is more beneficial to this reader. What you called how-tos and informational articles. The magazine, as it exists, isn't of any value to me.
My membership in AMA is of doubtful value also—it turns out that the local flying club is so informal that it can't keep track of who has paid dues and who hasn't—let alone who has a current membership in AMA. Great group of people. Membership is $10 per year. They are super helpful with teaching poor folk like me how to fly. Give lots of good and conflicting advice on what airplane to start out with. Big and enjoyable arguments on what to tell the new guy.
What might be useful in your publication to me, the really casual ARF or RTF modeler? The subjects you mentioned are just what I want. Start printing some articles along those lines and I might even renew my membership for 2003 at five times the cost of my annual dues to the local organization. I'm even going to get around to buying that 2 meter EP glider one of these days.
George Williams via E-mail
I just finished reading the Jan. 2003 issue (I can't believe it's nearly 2003, I'm still trying to figure out where the 50s & 60s went) and I think the concept for the magazine's new approach is good and long overdue. But please, please, don't forget us old timers (Nostalgia & Old Timers). I have been purchasing many old-time magazines from the 1930s & 1940s, and I think the editors of today's magazines need to go back to some of those old issues and take notice of the types of articles which appealed to modelers of all types. Ever since the late 1950s, I have considered most magazines to be rather mundane and flat out boring. One need only look at all the changes made in the old Air Trails magazines in an attempt to attract more interest.
Whether one flies Free Flight, Gas or Rubber, Control Line, or RC, young modelers need to learn how to do things, whether it's building or flying. One of the big problems with today's youth, and even adults, is that they want instant gratification; hence the proliferation of ARFs and RTFs. Also, with computers, PDAs, MP3s, video games, etc., the model industry has a lot more competition for today's dollars than they did when I started building and flying Free Flight in the late 1940s.
Modelers have long recognized that there are serious problems in the industry, and I'm pleased to see that Model Aviation is looking for a new approach. I just hope you don't miss your mark by overreacting and forgetting about us Old Timers.
Gary Phillips via E-mail
Our Greatest Pastime
I've read with interest the various comments on how we should regard our hobby as a sport. And I have gone to our aging copy of Roget's [thesaurus] to find a new word that might encompass both terms; however, I couldn't find one. But while talking to someone I realized a great metaphor to describe our hobby to other people: it is our "greatest pastime." As the boys of summer take to the field to play baseball, we too take to the field to fly, show off our latest purchases, or our latest building projects.
There are those who argue that this is a sport, and should be promoted as such. But do we want the media to become our voice? Take a careful and close look at what the media is promoting in the area of sports. But also think about how you became involved with this pastime, and compare the two. I don't think anyone ever becomes a participant just because they are a spectator.
By advertising for the spectator, while people spectating may be good for public image, it does not necessarily bring people into a pastime. Many people go to car shows and appreciate looking at restored automobiles. But these spectators at shows do not become enthusiasts who actually want to try having an active restoration project; they remain spectators and an extended memory for those interested in cars.
What produces new members for this hobby is the participation in the process of creating it, or the enjoyment of using and flying what we have created. The thing that excites the spark of interest is participation. That is why clubs that produce road rallies or promote family involvement are more likely to produce an enthusiast.
A great Studebaker-like club that I am still a part of does not go to car shows. The philosophy is to provide a way for the owner to drive the car on a tour where the family can also partake of something of interest. So the car becomes a participant in the event for the day and also a part of the memory of the day.
And it is going to be hard for someone to appreciate our pastime until they actually try it. Hands-on participation, whether it be at a school, air show, county fair, or other venue, is what will bring people to appreciate the time and effort needed to participate. The ability to take a project from bench to sky—and an airplane is a project whether it is an ARF or a scratch-built model—is another positive. These are things to think about when rushing to have the public view our pastime. Please emphasize the positive, and invite people you know to participate.
I don't think asking the outside world to come in and promote for us is necessarily a good thing. We are the ones with knowledge. We understand the limitations and requirements. And by using the media to promote this pastime, the limitations and requirements are going to be edited from the production. Why? Because people want action when spectating; the boring stuff that will keep you from hurting someone else or yourself is going to be on the cutting room floor.
I think most of us do still view this as a hobby. Something to provide relaxation and enjoyment away from the craziness of the world in which we live. For the competitors it provides an outlet for their competitive spirit. Too often today people are looking for a quick fix to bring a great return. I've learned many times the hard way; there are no quick fixes.
What we need for this pastime is involvement, and this is something that I do see in the hobby. From the material I have read and the people I have met there is a great core of activists for model aviation within AMA. This needs promotion and expansion to others in the hobby through invitation. That Studebaker club I mentioned succeeds by asking its members to participate; we don't wait for volunteers.
Asking the media to do this for us will only open us up to the reactions of the media. Remember the sixties when modeling received a bad name because of the products used in its process. Beware what the media can do to you to take away exactly what you're trying to promote. The media's product is hype, and hype may sell, but it doesn't bring commitment.
One more thought on this subject. "If you build it they will come." That haunting statement from Field of Dreams should be our outlook to providing a safe and enjoyable pastime. For it is up to us to do it properly, for we are the only ones who can. Understanding and appreciation of any endeavor are what produce the commitment to become an enthusiast and provide the sense to do it properly.
Randy Mahl via E-mail
Denny's Models
Seeing the photo of the Dennyplane in the December (2002) "Focal Point" brought back old memories of my youth when we lived in Hollywood (CA) during the big war. Does anyone else remember Reginald Denny's hobby shop that was, as I recall, on Sunset Blvd. near Western (or was it Gower?) I do remember that all of my paper-route money went there ($4 a week). Of course, there wasn't a large variety of kits and supplies available because of material diverted to the war effort. Not much balsa, but I remember cardboard kits that went together fairly well.
Later, after we moved to Phoenix, my uncle gave me my first airplane engine—a Denny mite. I can't recall the displacement, but it was a standard-ignition engine which barely powered my first control-line airplane. I wish I had kept it as a memento.
So, it looks as though old Reginald was into the model aircraft scene in more ways than the one Dennyplane photo suggests. Perhaps other readers may remember some of his other exploits into this area and could share them. Better hurry; at our age, memories tend to fade (or to be silenced by the slamming of the lid).
Carl Gotch Phoenix, Arizona
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
