Letters to the Editor
Send your Letters to the Editor to: Model Aviation, 5151 East Memorial Drive, Muncie, IN 47302
Helicopter Help
I wanted to tell you and the AMA membership of my experience at the last Nats competition in Muncie this past July 8–11.
I fly helicopters and was registered to fly in the F3C FAI competition. Mike Goza and I had been planning to attend the competition for the previous year, and were looking forward to competing and visiting with friends made at previous competitions and fly-ins. While practicing at the flying site on Sunday afternoon, I had the misfortune of a midair collision with another competitor. The other pilot was able to safely land his helicopter with only minor damage, but the impact took the rotor blades off my machine and the resulting crash produced considerable damage. This was the only machine I had to compete with, so the competition was over as far as I was concerned — or so I thought!
After picking up the pieces, I was amazed to find myself surrounded by many pilots offering assistance in the way of parts to rebuild my helicopter. I was offered everything I needed from rotor masts, landing gear, and frame pieces to a fully assembled rotor hub, ready to go. When I found that my engine had sheared its connecting rod on impact, I was offered an engine, complete with cooling fan.
This outpouring of support and camaraderie was unexpected and overwhelming, to say the least. I always knew that helicopter pilots were a great group of people, and this experience only goes to prove it.
Ultimately, I decided not to try to rebuild the machine at the field. I felt that while I could have had the helicopter physically rebuilt by the end of the day, getting it set up for the competition by the next morning wasn't practical.
Enter Mike Fortune of Memphis, Tennessee. Mike is a fellow heli flier that I have met at other competitions and at a fun-fly or two. He had an extra machine that he didn't intend to compete with at the motel room, and he offered it to me for the duration of the contest.
I was floored. I would never have thought that someone would offer a $2,000 machine to another without hesitation, but Mike did and because of his generosity, I was able to compete and enjoy the contest.
I would like to thank all the people who offered their help in repairing my helicopter for the 1996 Nats, and a very special thanks to Mike. He is a glowing example of what the best of our RC hobby is all about.
Steve Rhodes Texas City, Texas
Applause
Your readers might be interested in the truly fine service I received from Carl Goldberg Models and Tiffany, an employee of Carl Goldberg. Tiffany is a cheerful, affable, friendly person who made what I thought was a difficult problem easy.
I bought out somebody who wanted to get rid of some of his RC equipment (a couple of engines, miscellaneous equipment, and the item I wanted most: a Goldberg Eagle II kit).
When I got home (150 miles away) I discovered one plan sheet was missing. I called Goldberg; they sent the plan sheet and parts inventory sheet (no charge). I was appalled to discover (when filling out the sheet) that a tremendous number of parts and hardware were missing. I called Goldberg again and talked to Tiffany, who said they would replace missing parts (no charge except postage).
I sent them $5.50 and the inventory sheet. A short time later (like magic) a box arrived with the parts.
I would like to say thanks to Tiffany and Carl Goldberg Models and give them a round of applause.
George Harris New York, New York
Promotion
I've read a lot lately in MA that the younger membership is much lower than in the past. If you look in the March 1995 issue of MA you'll see the demographics of the magazine and, ultimately, the persons our hobby reaches. Present households have changed into single-parent homes, many without a clue where to get started, even if the kids are already interested in getting into RC aviation.
I have been interested in model aviation for as long as I can remember and never heard about the AMA — not until I started flying RC at age 30. I can't recall an ad about the AMA in any other aviation-related magazines that I have read. None in Boys' Life, comic books, Aviation Heritage, Wings, Air Classics ... starting to see where this is headed? If you don't belong to the AMA, you've probably never heard of the AMA.
I have worked in the television industry in South Florida for the past ten years; eight of those in on-air promotion. The last three years we have earned the honor of being the top Fox station in the nation. I can honestly tell you what has worked for us is brand awareness. We're known as Fox 29. It enables the viewer to know what network we represent and where we are found. Brand awareness also means using print and radio advertising. Fox has a greater budget than the AMA, but the idea is the same. Get our name into more national magazines that cross over into our hobby, just as advertisers use MA and other aviation mags to cross-promote.
You wonder why the younger membership has fallen; maybe it's because they haven't even heard of the AMA. They don't even know we're alive. Besides, if they don't fly at age 13, maybe they'll start at age 30 ... 40 ... whatever, just as long as interested modelers join and "fly for the fun of it."
Ralph T. Capobianco West Palm Beach, Florida
Training
In response to a letter in the July issue sent in by Bob Blase, I would like to say I feel strongly opposed to Mr. Blase's viewpoints. Although I agree that a modeler should not "show up" at a field and expect to be trained on the spot, I do believe it is the club members' responsibility to greet any new member with open arms.
It is new members who contribute to the long-term growth and success of our sport. Face it, every club has active and non-active members. (This is true of most any organization.) These non-active members are just as important as the active ones, even if they aren't able to come out and mow the grass.
I am the father of two small children and work long hours. Right now I am lucky to get flying more than once a month, but to me that is better than not at all. I belong to a local club and the best support I can offer, at this point in my life, is to pay dues to help maintain our club and flying site. Most clubs, I believe, understand the importance of members like myself. I ask Mr. Blase: if every one of your club members came out every weekend to fly, how much flying time would you get in? Most likely, not much!
I do agree that an instructor's time is invaluable, but like a mentor to a new modeler, the instructor must nurture a student to success. This is part of the responsibility you accept when you become an instructor. An instructor has every right to let the student know they must be tutored according to the instructor's schedule; however, Mr. Blase made it sound like a newcomer must do penance before he earns the privilege to use the field. Field maintenance, like flying itself, is something the student must be taught. In time they should understand their responsibilities when at the flying site, and yes, they should be encouraged to help maintain the flying site if there is any way they can help out.
He also mentioned the hobby shop that sold the plane to the newcomer. If the club and hobby shop work together, you will never have a case of a newcomer blindly showing up at the field. Our local hobby shop, Props & Wheels Hobby, is actively involved in our sport and has always been a source for good advice. Your club should work with local hobby shops to establish a mutually beneficial relationship that would make introducing newcomers to our sport a pleasurable experience.
When my sons are older I am sure we will be club regulars, and of course, we will be the ones out mowing the grass and maintaining the field. For now, the best I can offer is my dues, AMA membership, and love of the sport.
I hope others will write in response to this issue (club member responsibility vs. strength in numbers). I would like to hear how other club members feel.
Dale R. McCandless Lehighton, Pennsylvania
Taylor Cub Plans Correction
I just received the August issue of MA, where my article on the Taylor Cub appeared. I think it turned out great. You did a terrific job; however there's one mistake on the plans:
Just under the fuselage side view there is a note that the fuselage is sheeted with 1/16" balsa sheet. That's not accurate; the fuselage is an open-frame structure.
I had written you in the early stages of this project that after flight testing the Max .20 was a bit much for the Cub, and that it flew nose heavy. I took out the .20 and installed an old Max .15 and a 9 x 4 Rev-Up. This proved to be absolutely perfect, and is highly recommended.
Jim Coveney Valley Stream, New York
BOM Rule
Just re-read your "Haught Corner" in the July 1996 issue. This column again discusses BOM. The pro and con points have all been discussed many times before.
Also discussed at length is the fact that participants in other competitive sports do not build their own equipment. Dale Earnhardt didn't build his race car; Arnold Palmer didn't build his golf clubs; Nancy Kerrigan didn't make her skates, nor does she even sharpen them; your quarterback neither makes his own football nor helmet, etc.
In today's society, people just do not have the leisure time they once did. Some people enjoy building; I am one of them. But if I was going to start competing in RC aerobatics, I would purchase the best pro-built equipment I could get, learn to fly it, and then enter the highest class of competition that would accept my entry. If I am going to try to beat, I want to be the best.
The man who builds will beat the man who buys? Maybe. If the two have similar piloting ability, but the buyer practices while the builder builds, which will most likely win? I know who I'd bet on.
The point that seems to be missed in all these discussions is that some people have absolutely no interest in building models. Ability to build has nothing to do with it. Time to build might have a bearing, but I don't really think so.
A little on Bud Tenny's question concerning multiple national records. An individual's best performance can set a new record. But everyone who sets a new record has earned a record certificate.
Joe Sullivan Richardson, Texas
Korda Cover
Congratulations on the cover photograph for the September issue.
If prizes are awarded, that cover should take the Nobel and Pulitzer.
Korda and his Wakefield? That's model aviation at its finest hour.
No glitzy plastic ARFs and mechano-marvel gyro-stabilized helicopter buzz bombs. The simplicity and beauty of the rubber motor and the perfect model. No, I am not a Luddite and I do enjoy somewhat more sophisticated SAM (Society of Antique Modelers) stuff myself, but I do long for those thrilling days of yesteryear. More! More!
Mitchell Heller Glenview, Illinois
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
