Letters to the Editor
Send your Letters to the Editor to: Model Aviation, 5151 East Memorial Drive, Muncie, IN 47302
Good Times in Puerto Rico
We would like to use this forum to thank Gustavo Díaz, the Borinquen RC Model Club, and all the people of San Juan, Puerto Rico, for inviting us to participate in their airshow, "Fantasia Aérea 1994." We all had a great time.
The food was good; the people were friendly; the driving, well...; the weather was great. Everyone worked really hard to put on a good airshow and to show us a good time.
We would also like to thank Mr. Don Lowe for his amazing demonstration of five consecutive low, low Lomcevaks. That, however, is one trick I don't intend on stealing.
Thanks again for the wonderful time. We really enjoyed ourselves.
Wild Bill Gowing and Anthony Greco Cape Coral, Florida
Perspective
The December issue of Model Aviation carried a letter written by Mr. Gary G. Antene of Oklahoma City, and I could not resist responding.
I began flying RC back in the days of the Lorenz receivers and have been flying off and on ever since. Although I am into RC, every facet of aviation is of interest to me and I read Model Aviation cover to cover, including U‑Control, Indoor, or whatever.
I take the broader view that we are all into aviation. The AMA was built by men and women of vision and, from what I see, it looks like it's still being run by people of vision.
Mr. Antene, read "The Microhenrys," and don't throw the magazine away. The rest of us will enjoy reading the many informative and interesting articles.
Bob Wilson Franklin, North Carolina
No Doubt
I keep seeing plate names in AMA mag.
This is mine.
Raymond Pignone Catskill, New York
Music Wire
Congrats to Bob Hatschek for his article about music wire (November issue) and to Model Aviation for publishing it.
Bob did his homework properly regarding the unique and somewhat weird metallurgical properties of music wire, and he has the smarts and decades of experience to cast it all into a useful "how‑to." I hope to be able to read more of his stuff.
Bob Meuser Oakland, California
ARFs: Another View
The ARF debate rages on, this time in the form of the response from Mr. Amir Ali Khani in December's "Letters." Mr. Khani states that he "avoids" telling prospective RC entrants about ARFs because they "detract from the feeling of the sport." He then lists potential performance problems one would encounter if he or she started with an ARF.
Mr. Khani is not alone in his thinking, as other fliers have voiced similar comments. I respect Mr. Khani's opinion, even to a limited extent, but I urge him, and others who share his views, to broaden their discussions with prospective pilots.
As part of his argument, Mr. Khani states there are no high‑performance ARFs. Assuming Mr. Khani's definition of an ARF is a prefabricated airframe requiring minimal building skills, there are plenty of ARFs capable of advanced maneuvers, be they power planes or gliders.
A manufacturer may not label a "carbon‑fiber‑reinforced white composite fuselage with ready‑to‑cover pre‑sheeted wings and tail surfaces" an ARF, but by the previous definition it is. Semantics? To some extent, yes, but these days ARFs come in many forms, including competitive designs.
The issue is not about ARFs—or at least it shouldn't be. It's about moving the hobby forward by attracting new pilots. Every day we lose hobbyists, and every day we need to attract new ones. Because our political and economic voice is relatively small, we should assume some responsibility. More pilots provide a louder political voice in acquisition and retention of flying sites, a greater base for manufacturers to spread their costs (thus lowering product prices), and ultimately lead to more diversity in the hobby. All those things are good.
ARFs are one method for introducing someone to R/C—and accomplishing our goals. It is the individual pilot's choice to build or buy. Presenting both sides of the "build or buy" debate is good. Deliberately ignoring ARFs because of a personal view cannot, and will not, produce positive effects on the hobby, or ultimately, on the people who hold that view.
Paul Kopp Anaheim Hills, California
Help Wanted (Piper Skycycle Plans)
I am writing in hopes of finding an AMA member who may be able to help me in the search for some plans.
I would like to build a Piper Skycycle. At this time the only plans that I have been able to locate are from Cleveland Model Supply, and these are for rubber power. These are super plans; however, I would like to build an RC model which would be powered by a .60 to .90 two‑cycle engine (even larger, if need be).
So if anyone can help me, please write to me at the address below.
Jesse Danielson Rt. #2, Box 455 New Martinsville, WV 26155
Autogyro Fly‑In
A small but enthusiastic group of modelers dedicated to exploring the mysteries of autogyro aerodynamics by building and flying a wide variety of these aircraft, including a few scale versions, has decided to gather in Phoenix, Arizona next March.
An informal fly‑in will be held at Sun Valley Model Airfield, home of the Sun...
(Printed copy is incomplete.)
High‑Altitude Flying
I had questions about how altitude would affect the performance of my electric model: would the motor deliver the same shaft horsepower, would a larger prop be required because the air is less dense, how would lower temperature affect battery performance, and how would higher true airspeeds affect takeoff distance?
Armed with this unquantified technical info, I set out to try flying my Ace Puddle Master at Horseshoe Lake (near Mammoth, California) at an elevation of almost 9,000 feet. The temperature was 32°F. The model uses a standard "can" motor, a Futaba Attack 4 radio system (with speed control and BEC) and a 7‑cell 1,000‑mAh battery pack. It weighs 39 ounces. I had been flying it successfully at lower altitudes (500 to 2,300 feet) with a 7 x 4 APC prop.
With the 7 x 4 prop it wouldn't even get on the step at the high altitude. I switched to an 8 x 4 APC prop and made two successful flights. The takeoff distance and climb at 9,000 feet seemed about the same as with the 7 x 4 prop at lower altitude, but the flying and landing speeds were noticeably faster. Power duration was only about two‑thirds of what I had seen on flights at lower altitudes. Before flight I also had to make large adjustments in the Golden Rod pushrods to re‑zero the rudder and elevator at the low temperature.
Bob Hoey Lancaster, California
Treated Well in Florida
After reading about all the poor treatment of entry‑level modelers, especially involving Florida, I would like to share my own story.
Last year I purchased a Telemaster 40 kit and was totally dumbfounded by what I encountered inside. I read this was a perfect beginner's kit, but when I opened it, I found more wood in the box than there could be in a log cabin. I mean, the last time I was surrounded by that much wood, I was putting out a campfire.
Anyway, I went to the local airfield of the Crestview Model Aviators and when I explained my problem of being an absolute beginner with no idea what I had gotten myself into, a gentleman gave me the name of one of their members and suggested I contact him.
Well, a few months later and a lot of hard work, my Telemaster is almost ready for flight. I would like to personally thank Mr. Pat Shuman for his unselfish dedication to the hobby and for helping me accomplish what I thought was going to be an impossible goal. Not only did he give me his expertise, his advice and a large amount of needed parts when I didn't have them, but most importantly he gave me his time. A lot of his time.
Raymond Pignone Catskill, New York
World Champion
As a member of the 1994 Indoor World Championships Team I am writing to express my appreciation to the AMA for supporting us in our trip to the salt mine in Romania. The contest was a success for the U.S., as you have probably already heard. Our team took the gold, silver, and bronze medals individually, and the team gold medal.
The journey to Romania was a long and arduous one, but our Team Manager, Bud Romak, did an outstanding job. Bud arranged special handling for our boxes and made arrangements for transportation and accommodations that smoothed the whole process. Our delicate models arrived in good condition for the contest.
Thank you for the opportunity of representing the AMA and the U.S. in the World Championships.
Steve Brown 1994 Indoor World Champion San Dimas, California
Korda and Flying Fields
I noticed in my December issue of Model Aviation a request from Tom Ponjee of St. Augustine, Florida, with regard to Dick Korda. Just to add a bit to your answer, it was Dick Korda Jr., Dick Korda's son, a longtime member of Space City R/C Club in Houston, Texas, who died in 1990. And yes, it was cancer.
Our club has since designated our sanctioned yearly Big Bird event in honor of Dick Korda Jr.
For some clubs having a problem with a flying field, I would mention how Space City R/C Club, Inc. solved the problem. In the 1970s and mid‑1980s we were being moved from one flying location to another. Finally in 1987 we found the owner of 40 acres of land who would sell us 3+ acres out of the back side of his land. A corporation (SC R/C Investments, Inc.) was formed; 12 members of our club (at that time we had about 75 members) agreed to each pay to the new corporation $500 per year for five years. With that commitment, we purchased the land.
Now owning the land we added permanent improvements such as a water well, electricity, phone, a 150 x 15‑foot concrete area with a cover, a new fence around the field, and a garage for our tractor and other items needed for maintenance of the field and for equipment used in our 40 Star Forty races. The original land was paid off in January 1992. Then it was decided that if the landowner would sell, we would purchase an additional two‑plus acres for parking, etc. A price was agreed upon and we found 12 more members willing to buy stock in our corporation so as to pay for the additional land.
Our membership is now up to over 125 members. New members need to pay only a nominal initiation fee plus our normal yearly dues so as to fly in one of the best model flying fields in the Houston area.
By the way, we have over 20 instructor pilots in our club, welcome Junior members and visitors, and will assist anyone who has a new plane and would like to learn to fly.
Jack LaFave Houston, Texas
Almost Ready to Fly
As a newcomer to RC flying I felt compelled to reply to the letter by Mr. Ali Khani ("Letters," December 1994) regarding ARFs. It is true that this sport is not for everyone, but it is not just for those who can scratch‑build their own planes. If this were the case, the number of fliers would decrease, instead of increasing as we know it today. ARFs play an important part, not only by acquiring new fliers but also new members in the long run. ARFs also teach the basics needed to build future airplanes. There is also pride for first‑time fliers in seeing a boxful of pieces transformed into an actual flying machine. I consider ARFs a stepping‑stone in this sport, and everyone had to start somewhere — including you, Mr. Khani.
Louis Hernandez Pueblo, Colorado
Help Wanted (Two‑Prop Childhood Model)
Can someone please do me a favor? When I was a boy five and six decades ago, I saw a diagram of a model airplane with two propellers. One was in the front and the other was in the rear. The diagram was either in Popular Science or Popular Mechanics or another magazine of that type.
The front propeller rubber band was wound up and hooked on to a lever which kept the rear propeller from turning until the tension of the rubber band began to go slack. When the tension eased, a small stretched rubber band attached to the top of the lever pulled the lever away from the rear propeller. The wound‑up rubber band on the rear propeller, once freed from its restraint, gave the now airborne plane an added boost and thus extended its airtime. I made such a plane from scraps of balsa and tissue paper salvaged from my age‑mates' crashed planes at an orphanage I attended. The plane did fly twice until one of the guys "accidentally" broke it.
Can someone please help me pin down the reference and source of this boyhood experience? I am writing stories of my youth for my children and their kids. The construction of the airplane and its flight is still very clear. I would very much appreciate your help.
Walt Fluegel Minneapolis, Minnesota
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
