Letters to the Editor
Send your Letters to the Editor to: Model Aviation, 5151 East Memorial Drive, Muncie, IN 47302
Fun in Vancouver
We just wanted to share the fun our third-graders had in March, using your model airplane kits. A big thank you goes to the Fern Prairie Modelers in Camas, Washington, and Evergreen Model Aircraft Club in Vancouver, Washington for their contributions of $30 each toward the airplanes (AMA Cubs) and materials. Many individuals gave their time as well, coming in three different mornings from 9:15 to 11:30 to work with our classes.
Mr. Henry Bartle and Mr. Alan Sprague were both natural teachers, leading our students through the exciting experience of making their own planes. Other volunteers include:
- Donna Bartle
- Ralf Bleemel
- Dave Rawlings
- Jason Tait
- various parent volunteers
This was a very positive activity, and one that we hope we can repeat in the years to come. A great time was had by all: teachers, parents, volunteers, and most importantly, our third-graders.
Steve Beu, Rosilee Waite, and Karen Mickelson Orchards Elementary Third Grade Teachers Vancouver, Washington
Special Request
Hi! My name's Dan McGirr and I'm eleven years old. I'm very interested in the RC Sukhoi SU-26M. If anyone out there owns an RC Sukhoi and would like to send me some information, or pictures of it, I would really appreciate it. Thank you for reading my letter. If you would like to send me some info, please write to:
Dan McGirr 1582A Harksell Road Ferndale, WA 98248
Positive Influence
The following was received by our FF Sport and Scale columnist and longtime youth modeling instructor, Bill Warner:
In reading your column in Model Aviation, it appears we have two common interests: model airplanes and kids. I am 67 and have been a modeler since about age 10. I also was director of Kern County's Camp Own (a residential treatment center for delinquent, court-committed boys) for 24 years, and retired in 1984. In 1989 the director who took my place called me back to run the volunteer program. One of the first programs I developed was a model program.
We have 125 wards in residence, and extra attention or training can go a long way in helping to develop a feeling of self-worth and interests that are not street-oriented.
I recruited five fellow modelers who are also in my Lions Club. Our RC club, KMAK (Kern Model Aircraft Kontrollers), encourages the boys with programs, and are in attendance at our field when the boys fly. We began with rubber power in the gym, and now are mostly involved with RC. The Lions Club sponsors the program financially.
The sparkplugs of the group have been:
- Don Panek
- Walt Washburn
- Ken Hed (recently deceased; we have named our flying field for him)
They have been unselfishly giving almost every Thursday night and many Saturdays to the field for their boys for five years. Their classes consist of a maximum of six, and the boys learn every phase of construction, radio installation, and hands-on flying.
After a flying session they can usually be found at Kern Valley Airport, sitting in Don Panek's Pitts one at a time, and learning something about the real thing. We are still waiting for one of our boys to show up at our field with a model under his arm and his son in the other, but if we hang in there it will happen.
I am presently building a 1/3-scale Fairchild 24, but I also go back to free flight and Scale; that's why your section grabs me. That and your comments on kids.
Ken Durant Kernville, California
Help Wanted
I found your address in an Aldrich Special Custom Kit for CL flying. At the age of 44 I have just discovered the name Bob Palmer, Fox .35s and a whole load of interesting American design! I have returned to model aircraft construction after an absence of 20 years: motorcycles; marriage; mortgage; divorce — Yep, model aircraft — that's the answer to life.
What I am unable to get in this country is books and literature regarding CL model aircraft. Can you help? From a teaching point of view I would like to aim my project at the 12–18 year age group. I am a school teacher, wishing to hand down to the next generation some basic tactile, design, and technology skills, before the black-box mentality completely takes over!
B. Mitchell 16/18 High St. Auchtermuchty Fife Scotland KY14 7AP
Flying as Therapy
I am writing this mainly to give encouragement and hope to men, women, and children who have a disability and would like to fly these radio control airplanes, but think they cannot because they have a disability.
I also have a disability. I will not go into detail, but would like you all to know that if you have the desire to do so, you really can.
Our club, Cen-Tex Modelers Inc. of Killeen, Texas, is one of the best clubs around. The members and instructors are so helpful and make a person feel real good about themselves. They will continue to teach anyone who wants to learn.
I am so proud to be a member of this club. They help me so much. My husband and my instructor started with me. It took me a long time to learn, but I finally got it because they stood by me.
All of our members still will help anyone who is willing to learn and is very interested in flying and building. This is good therapy because we concentrate on flying and building, not on ourselves.
There are a lot of great clubs out there, and when anyone wants to learn, please help them, and give them encouragement and hope. Remember, each and every one of us had to learn sometime, and we all had difficulties at first.
Jan Hodge Killeen, Texas
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
