Hello may wondering Im Managing Editor Model Aviation brief biographical sketch am 38-year-old second-generation free fighter flew FF during 50s 60s may recall flying against father brother both named Bill during time Baltimore Aerocraftsmen began spending time workshop age two havent really stopped aside brief lull just after got married still retain deep abiding love free flight though have built flown other disciplines well can respect accomplishments choose CL RC vast majority modeling has competition oriented starting few HLG contests 1961 progressing A-l Gas 1964 can still clearly recall first max flight 1964 Junior Air Races Cleveland Ohio won event first trophyand Mom bought ice cream celebrate bad deal mne year-old Along way Ive accumulated usual collection trophies set few records few designs published also picked up degree journalism though never gave thought merging career hobby intent write about sports general baseball other passion particular Low pay lack big break eventually forced back real world real job wrote part-time freelance basis number years until received offer join MA staff January 1993 am still heavily involved FF competition primary interest days small AIvIA Gas Nostalgia classes dabble bit Nordic Catapult Glider various events really thing Im also Regional Vice President National Free Flight Society NFFS column will likely things place respond readers comments answer questions greater detail Letters will allow discuss various modeling-related issues nearly anything else interest sounds bit like making up rules go along its oaly because first things Id like know about magazine staff Its common perception among readers Managing Editor actually runs magazine probably stems old days guys like Don McGovern Flying Models did bit everything inking plans writing copy layout paste-up days things done bit differently Id like explain staff organized Publications Manager Rob Kurek has ultimate responsibility magazine sets fees authors establishes articles will appear handles business-related matters supervises Managing Editor Production Manager Judy Hollandsworth main task Managing Editor what has described fixing da woids have limited input article selection selection photos main task edit copy magazine except ads Contest Calendar Gina Frost Editor works copyediting Production Manager charge layout design magazine staff Graphic Designers Bill Thombro Carla Kunz Andrew Vitale handle magazines graphic considerations select graphic elements used photos tables graphs etc create layouts individual pieces well overall look magazine Advertising handled representative Sue Schrock Hobby Advertising Inc works office Harrisonburg Virgiaia Chip Smiths Competitions Department handles Contest Calendar information well Non-flying events swap meets related activities format listings ads events future columns Ill explain detail about various aspects magazine s production cycle BOM infamous Builder Model Rule years cornerstones hobby Now questioning its usefulnesseven free flight used have strict interpretation rule understand rules road have changed bit advances technology aka buy-tech make possible purchase mass-produced model components can also see Chip Hyde Dub Jett can say specialty piloting model building sure seems like missing something entire construction process eliminated Ill wager number top model pilots would have difficult time constructing trimming model simple hand-launched glider Ive seen instance young flier made Junior FF team have Dad buy him couple models stopped own building build models son Several suggestions have made print type situation essential get young fliers involved Are really point Juniors should have fully-functional adult models built someone else know has C events case talk returning BOM rule FM Jumors limiting complexity now bam door R models can handled effectively has ualocked legal daddy-builts N buy-tech real question Juniorand thats long agoI lost contest build own stuff E kids didnt brother lost Junior Nats Championship day competition R last flight last daddy-built models difficult tasks Ive console own son lost kids wouldnt know X-Acto knife butter knife What kind message sending what should rules BOM rule worth much say CL Speed events engines performance real deciding factor sure does seem theres good engine man behind dominant Speed flier young old argument has made athletes dont make equipment use sports modelers shouldnt have either understand reasoning didnt make softball glove golf clubs situationthe environmentis different hobbys appeals respect given ones peers outstanding modeling effort real sympathy anyone loses crashes model hundreds thousands hours construction time Can say same about model major claim fame amount money cost what about skills can leamed through hours workbench modeler/pilots today have never carved prop made cowl covered model ancient materials like tissue silk Thats emotional outburst month Whether agree hope real message comes through care very deeply about hobby its future As months pass hope care concern evident readers everything can make best magazine possible Ive made mistakes already will probably make some wont lack effort concern about final product h 1994 39