RADIO CONTROL: JETS
Delmar Ellis 8877 Meadowview Drive, West Chester, OH 45069
Cabin Fever
It's that time of year again. It's cold and damp, especially on weekends. Winter is a difficult time to fly, and certainly to maintain any continuity. Does this sound familiar?
These winter months are always frustrating. The value of the hobby as a fun-filled interest, the rewards of self-achievement, and the opportunity to share camaraderie with others come into vivid focus when they are withheld.
This problem is probably shared with all aircraft modelers in the northern regions of the country. It is certainly most intense for jet modelers. We are always on the lookout for "dumb thumbs" with the cost, time commitment, and emotional attachment we all allow ourselves with our jet models. Frozen fingers are a more tangible and intolerable circumstance.
Many jet modelers I know just hang up their jets through the worst months. That is why we keep some other models on the shelf all summer — so we can still fly on that occasional good winter weekend day (evening flying is out, without daylight hours).
The substitute activity for most of us is building; winter is our building season. For those who love to build, it offers its own satisfaction and rewards — particularly in the spring, when we get to show off our building achievements. That's little consolation now. The winter grows long, the soul aches to soar and share the activities with others.
For those of you in climates allowing year-round flying, be sympathetic — don't gloat. By the way, how is your building coming? If I shared your fortune in flying year-round, I'd probably never get any building accomplished.
Perhaps cabin fever is what drives so many of us to DeLand in January. The holidays are over, and it feels great to jump into summer and fly for several days. We need another DeLand in February and in March, but then we wouldn't have our building done in time. We also might not appreciate the start of a new flying season to the same degree. I just can't wait!
FAI Jet Scale
The German model fliers' association (DMFV) has invited the International Jet Model Committee (IJMC) to organize and host the first Jet World Masters, a scale jet competition.
Several changes have occurred since the last report in the December 1994 Model Aviation. The first and most notable is location: it has been moved to the Erding Airfield near Munich. This field is a German Armed Forces airbase at which a maintenance unit for Tornado aircraft is currently stationed. The DMFV will arrange for transport of participants' model aircraft boxes from Munich to the flying site.
The meet is scheduled from August 21–27, 1995. A list of low-cost guest houses and hotels in the vicinity will be provided to participants in advance. There is a large camping area on base and food will be available on base and at surrounding restaurants. A major international model airshow (including some full-scale participation) is planned. Evening entertainment is also scheduled.
Key points and rule clarifications:
- The controversial rule limiting model noise level for participation has been dropped for this first meet. Noise evaluation will still be conducted; points will be distributed based on placing between the highest and lowest noise levels recorded for all competitors.
- Both ducted-fan and gas-turbine models will be allowed to compete equally.
- There will be no noise handicap for multiengine entrants.
- Kit-built and scratch-built models will be judged equally.
The United States will be allowed a maximum of five entries. At year's end, inquiries for interest produced a limited response. If you are seriously contemplating entering, please notify the Jet Pilots Organization (JPO) committee or your local JPO representative.
Jet Pilots' Organization (JPO)
It is the beginning of the year and a new flying season. Presumably you have renewed your AMA membership and are ready to resume flying. How about your JPO membership? Did you remember to renew it also? For those jet enthusiasts who have yet to join, I heartily recommend you consider it.
JPO is our national organization for all RC jet modeling and serves as our Special Interest Group (SIG) within AMA. As we watch the many changes in our hobby and observe the in-depth planning and redirection within AMA, the significance of our SIG will become more pronounced. Fortunately, our jet special interest is popular, healthy, and expanding — and so is our SIG organization.
JPO provides area representatives, distributed based on AMA district zones and elected by the modelers within each district. These representatives can support you with authority and effectiveness — they are members of JPO's governing executive board. Their voices are definitely heard. If you know and communicate with your representative, your voice is heard, too.
JPO has just completed a year of sweeping transition:
- Acceptance of a constitution and election of officers.
- AMA acceptance as a SIG.
- All subsequent organizational activities to solidify representation and goals.
Have you seen JPO's newsletter, Contrails, recently? It has developed into a quality publication, with full-color covers and a wide range of articles. More important, it truly provides a fair balance in presenting all districts of the United States and all product suppliers. It represents all of us fairly, and that's JPO's goal. It is really taking hold.
JPO is also a great fellowship of jet modelers. It provides the means of communicating, getting to know each other, working on issues of common support for our hobby, and keeping informed.
Examples of JPO's recent activities and contributions:
- Speed events: While not all members are directly involved, speed events are a popular activity that adds diversity to the hobby. JPO does not emphasize one special focus but supports all areas positively.
- Safety: JPO has contributed to safety procedures. Through encouragement of industry and individuals, we have a new speed trap that further reinforces safety. JPO bought two of these units in 1994 and offers them to jet fly-ins throughout the U.S. Through JPO event sponsoring and sanctioning, it has communicated and encouraged safety practices in all meet activities.
- Technical committee: A technical committee was formed to serve AMA directly to evaluate and establish safety standards for gas turbines. This work has been ongoing, and results are expected in 1995.
- Incorporation: JPO has officially incorporated, strengthening its capacity to serve our special interests and support AMA. Incorporation locks in the constitution, area representation, and nationally uniform goals.
JPO is internationally recognized — not only by membership, but by the modeling world — as the U.S. voice for jet modelers. It is directly involved in the international jet movement, participating in meets and planning international competition. While membership is growing (between 300 and 400 members), it needs to grow more rapidly. All jet modelers should consider joining now.
Your voice and opinions can be better heard, your special concerns emphasized, and JPO's influence strengthened if we all participate. To join JPO, contact:
- Donna Lines, Secretary
7964 Hillside Ct., Rome, NY 13440 Tel: (315) 336-0011
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
