Corrections
In the AMA Convention 2003 coverage in
the June Model Aviation, there was a mistake
in the caption for Bruce Tharpe Engineering’s
new Super Flyin’ King.
This model spans 11 feet and weighs 36
pounds. It is designed to be powered by a 50-
to 80-cubic-centimeter gas engine. The allwood
kit was designed for sport flying or
utility work such as aerotowing and lifting
payloads.
Visit www.btemodels.com for more
detailed information about the new Super
Flyin’ King and all of BTE’s other great
products.
The “AMA Walk of Fame Donors” listing
on page 108 of the July Model Aviation
should have read that a brick was purchased
in the STARS club’s name instead of Pete
Seiffert’s.
Photos in the July “Shoestring” feature
were taken by Larry Hutson.
—MA staff
John Pond Plans
First, I want to thank [Bob Hunt] and the
AMA for working towards restoring,
archiving, and making the Pond plans
collection available. I have a great love for
plans and am glad to see that this collection
won’t fall into the hands of people who may
not appreciate their value. For that matter, I
hope the Model Builder plans collection ends
up protected in the same way at some point in
the future!
Also, I want to give you my personal
appreciation for your efforts in returning both
Model Aviation, and indirectly, the direction
of the AMA back towards the values of
modeling, not the monetary value of
modeling. We all have busy lives, and the
current buffet of pre-built models are not only
beautiful, but are certainly convenient to timechallenged
people.
But I think the hobby needs to be led, in
this case by the AMA and Model Aviation, to
remember what makes modeling lasting.
Thanks for the great work. I actually read the
“editor’s” column these days. And that’s a
step in the right direction!
Carl Dowdy
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raves for Project Extra
I can’t tell you how much I’ve enjoyed
reading and re-reading “Project Extra.” I may
never build this design, but the notes, tips,
advice and expertise you have shared with us
is super, a definite “keeper” for future
reference.
I’ve been into building all sorts of things
almost all my life. My modeling interests run
the entire spectrum of model airplanes, but
mostly just sport scale, with pattern, IMAA,
and VR/CS overtones. I enjoy building and
flying any of them, kits, plans or my own
designs. I’m nearing retirement age and
hopefully will soon have a lot more time to
spend on this wonderful hobby/sport.
Congratulations and thanks to Mike
Hurley, Erik Richard and AMA/Model
Aviation for providing this most interesting
series for a great project.
Allen Johnson
La Place, Louisiana
From the Ground Up
Just wanted to drop you a line to tell you
how informative I am finding your series on
radio control system operation in Model
Aviation. I am relatively new to RC systems
and am currently interested in electric
powered park flyers. I also may try electric
powered gliders. I have been flying and
building rubber powered competition models
and towline launched competition gliders for
many years.
I am looking forward to more of your
articles. Keep up the good work.
Paul Kelly
Costa Mesa, California
Co-Pilot a Boon
As a flight instructor I have found the
FMA Direct Co-Pilot to be a boon for
teaching student pilots.
Unfortunately, there seems to be a lot of
resistance amongst traditional flight
instructors to using the autopilot for teaching
purposes and I find this short-sighted and
regrettable. Many insist on using the buddy
box system and while this system is great, it
does have its shortcomings.
One gentleman I spoke to admitted that he
had never taught a student with an autopilot
and had no intention of ever doing so because
the student won’t learn anything. His head
remains stuck in the sand.
On the contrary, students learn much
faster on the autopilot and while I cannot
account for the difference, there seems to be
less fear and knee knocking amongst the
students and this seems to inspire them to
learn quicker. If one can remove the fear
factor, learning comes quickly.
For the first time ever, I can actually walk
away from the student and not worry that he
will do something dumb. The autopilot will
prevent this.
One of the most difficult things to teach, at
least with my students, is the turn from base
to final which quite often ends up in an overbank
dive toward the ground. This seems to
not occur at all with the autopilot.
Our only crash occurred when a student
lost power during a go-around at low altitude
and stalled it in. And yes, had I been using the
buddy box I could have prevented this crash.
But this was offset by the fact that he had
been making some very good landings,
having only to line up with the runway and
adjust his throttle to land.
Different students learn on different
learning curves but I am so convinced that the
autopilot method is the best and safest all
around that I will no longer teach anyone
without having an autopilot installed. And for
certain it prevents a lot of crashes and instills
enough confidence in the students that they do
learn faster.
Things work even better if the student has
a transmitter that is capable of turning off the
autopilot during flight, or, in the case of flap
knob, reduce the amount of autopilot
sensitivity, gradually eliminating it entirely.
Bob Wilson
Franklin, North Carolina
Encouragement and Advice
This is in response to 14 year old John
Lodge’s letter in the June issue. John, I truly
sympathize with you. I know what it’s like to
want something so much that it’s on your
mind from the moment you wake up until it
fantasizes you to sleep at night.
Don’t despair, you’ll get there. But first,
you must go to your nearest flying field, and
observe, listen, be a frequent spectator, and
don’t hesitate to ask questions. There isn’t an
adult modeler alive who doesn’t know that
glistening, exciting look in the eyes of a 14
year old boy.
Don’t be discouraged when they start to
tell you they started with little rubber powered
airplanes, and gradually reached the day when
they got their first glow engine, which
powered their first CL Ringmaster. Over the
years those modelers accumulated great
quantities of building materials. When they
started into RC their biggest expense was the
radio which, in those days, was the equivalent
of 1,200 dollars today.
To me you sound like the kind of kid we
want in our hobby. I’m guessing you’ll find a
way to realize your RC dream.
John P. Cuomo
Whiting, New Jersey
John Lodge writes that he’s from a lowincome
family and that a good cheap basic
trainer and support equipment cost $400.
Someone’s been giving him poor advice.
Even a fancy nearly ready-to-fly Megatech
Merlin (just to pull one name off the web)
with transmitter and charger costs $200.
That’s all you need.
Electric trainers start at $35, with radio
gear adding another $70. Add a charger and
battery pack (about $25) for a total of $120.
That’s buying new stuff (all prices from
current web sites or magazine ads).
At our club, we often sell airplanes and
used equipment at very low prices to lowincome
members, especially youngsters. I’ve
given away a few airplanes, and so have other
Model Aviation, 5161 E. Memorial Dr., Muncie IN 47302
Letters to the Editor
August 2003 9
Continued on page 189
08sig1.QXD 5.23.03 3:17 pm Page 9
club members. It is not unusual for a
beginner to get in the air for well under $100.
And we have club trainers that they can fly
for free.
If you want to fly RC, get in with the gals
and guys who know how to fly
inexpensively, and who know how to
welcome and support beginners.
Jef Raskin
Pacifica, California
I’ve been a club member for 5 years
now which includes a group of beginners
through advanced fliers. At least 3 times a
year, some of the pilots are looking to give
airplanes away, just to make room for new
ones. Some sell radios and engines as well.
If you go to fields where men fly their
airplanes and question them about getting
started, I’m sure you will get plenty of
advice and plenty of help learning how to
fly. Our club even has a trainer with a
buddy box that works great for the first
time flier.
Bob VanderHorn
Butler, New Jersey
You are absolutely correct in saying
that it costs $400 to get the RC equipment
you described. However, today, the RC
world has changed radically. You need not
spend $400, and you can still get into RC.
The era of miniature RC is here, and
booming. For about $130 you can get a
micro electric RC outfit, complete with
transmitter, receiver, and airplane. Just
look through the ads in Model Aviation.
You can also learn to build an RC
airplane if you buy one of the many small
kits (which begin as low as $39.95), and
buy larger airplanes as your skill and
financial situation grow, as they are bound
to.
Today, there is no reason for a young
man like yourself not to get into this
wonderful hobby. Even though your
situation is a tough one, and no one knows
better than you how tough it really is, you
can do this.
I am very much older than you, John,
but I came from the depths of the Great
Depression. My life was very hard, and as
we both know, it isn’t any fun being poor.
But I love aviation, and got into this hobby.
I love it and am still in it—in every aspect.
Join a local club—the help you get will
be invaluable. Join the AMA for $1.00 a
year—they can educate you into every
aspect of this great hobby. Read this
magazine—it will educate you on the right
path. Don’t go it alone—there is no need
to.
Start small. Get an RC “park flyer” that
can crash and fly again because it’s made
of foam and plastic. It isn’t the airplane of
your dreams, but its cost is low, and the fun
is high. Many very experienced pilots are
flying these!
Learn all you can on this “toy” airplane,
and then graduate to the bigger ones when
you can afford it. It may mean mowing
lawns, getting a paper route, washing cars,
or some other job to get the money to
pursue your dreams.
Many have done it before you, and
become successful in the world for it—you
can, too. More power to you, John!
David Crown
Des Plaines, Illinois
I have a few words of advice and
encouragement for young John Lodge who
wrote a letter in the June issue bemoaning
the high cost of RC.
Firstly, RC has nearly always been an
adult hobby. That is not to say youth should
not participate, just that their numbers will
in all likelyhood be small by virtue of the
funds required, skills and responsibility
inherent in flying RC. If he is getting
discouraged now, just wait until the first
crash. That will determine if he really
wants to fly or if it’s just a passing fancy.
When I was his age, RC was an
impossibility for me (and plenty of others
I’d bet); Control Line was not. I did not say
it was cheap either. I found ways to earn
money in a small town/rural area and set
realistic goals. John should also not
overlook two other obvious things; He can
go and get some summer jobs to earn the
money. At fourteen, he should have enough
energy to do most anything.
Why does the equipment have to be
new? He should not overlook the option of
good, used equipment, either from a swap
shop or club member. With the right
purchases he could fly at surprisingly low
cost. Get involved in anyway you can in the
hobby.
In the mean time, there are some
inexpensive free flight airplanes out there.
He could be learning about the various
parts of the airplane as well as how to set
balance and trim, things that will be helpful
when he finally takes his first lesson. MA
John Wolf
Spring Lake, North Carolina
Edition: Model Aviation - 2003/08
Page Numbers: 9,189,191
Edition: Model Aviation - 2003/08
Page Numbers: 9,189,191
Corrections
In the AMA Convention 2003 coverage in
the June Model Aviation, there was a mistake
in the caption for Bruce Tharpe Engineering’s
new Super Flyin’ King.
This model spans 11 feet and weighs 36
pounds. It is designed to be powered by a 50-
to 80-cubic-centimeter gas engine. The allwood
kit was designed for sport flying or
utility work such as aerotowing and lifting
payloads.
Visit www.btemodels.com for more
detailed information about the new Super
Flyin’ King and all of BTE’s other great
products.
The “AMA Walk of Fame Donors” listing
on page 108 of the July Model Aviation
should have read that a brick was purchased
in the STARS club’s name instead of Pete
Seiffert’s.
Photos in the July “Shoestring” feature
were taken by Larry Hutson.
—MA staff
John Pond Plans
First, I want to thank [Bob Hunt] and the
AMA for working towards restoring,
archiving, and making the Pond plans
collection available. I have a great love for
plans and am glad to see that this collection
won’t fall into the hands of people who may
not appreciate their value. For that matter, I
hope the Model Builder plans collection ends
up protected in the same way at some point in
the future!
Also, I want to give you my personal
appreciation for your efforts in returning both
Model Aviation, and indirectly, the direction
of the AMA back towards the values of
modeling, not the monetary value of
modeling. We all have busy lives, and the
current buffet of pre-built models are not only
beautiful, but are certainly convenient to timechallenged
people.
But I think the hobby needs to be led, in
this case by the AMA and Model Aviation, to
remember what makes modeling lasting.
Thanks for the great work. I actually read the
“editor’s” column these days. And that’s a
step in the right direction!
Carl Dowdy
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raves for Project Extra
I can’t tell you how much I’ve enjoyed
reading and re-reading “Project Extra.” I may
never build this design, but the notes, tips,
advice and expertise you have shared with us
is super, a definite “keeper” for future
reference.
I’ve been into building all sorts of things
almost all my life. My modeling interests run
the entire spectrum of model airplanes, but
mostly just sport scale, with pattern, IMAA,
and VR/CS overtones. I enjoy building and
flying any of them, kits, plans or my own
designs. I’m nearing retirement age and
hopefully will soon have a lot more time to
spend on this wonderful hobby/sport.
Congratulations and thanks to Mike
Hurley, Erik Richard and AMA/Model
Aviation for providing this most interesting
series for a great project.
Allen Johnson
La Place, Louisiana
From the Ground Up
Just wanted to drop you a line to tell you
how informative I am finding your series on
radio control system operation in Model
Aviation. I am relatively new to RC systems
and am currently interested in electric
powered park flyers. I also may try electric
powered gliders. I have been flying and
building rubber powered competition models
and towline launched competition gliders for
many years.
I am looking forward to more of your
articles. Keep up the good work.
Paul Kelly
Costa Mesa, California
Co-Pilot a Boon
As a flight instructor I have found the
FMA Direct Co-Pilot to be a boon for
teaching student pilots.
Unfortunately, there seems to be a lot of
resistance amongst traditional flight
instructors to using the autopilot for teaching
purposes and I find this short-sighted and
regrettable. Many insist on using the buddy
box system and while this system is great, it
does have its shortcomings.
One gentleman I spoke to admitted that he
had never taught a student with an autopilot
and had no intention of ever doing so because
the student won’t learn anything. His head
remains stuck in the sand.
On the contrary, students learn much
faster on the autopilot and while I cannot
account for the difference, there seems to be
less fear and knee knocking amongst the
students and this seems to inspire them to
learn quicker. If one can remove the fear
factor, learning comes quickly.
For the first time ever, I can actually walk
away from the student and not worry that he
will do something dumb. The autopilot will
prevent this.
One of the most difficult things to teach, at
least with my students, is the turn from base
to final which quite often ends up in an overbank
dive toward the ground. This seems to
not occur at all with the autopilot.
Our only crash occurred when a student
lost power during a go-around at low altitude
and stalled it in. And yes, had I been using the
buddy box I could have prevented this crash.
But this was offset by the fact that he had
been making some very good landings,
having only to line up with the runway and
adjust his throttle to land.
Different students learn on different
learning curves but I am so convinced that the
autopilot method is the best and safest all
around that I will no longer teach anyone
without having an autopilot installed. And for
certain it prevents a lot of crashes and instills
enough confidence in the students that they do
learn faster.
Things work even better if the student has
a transmitter that is capable of turning off the
autopilot during flight, or, in the case of flap
knob, reduce the amount of autopilot
sensitivity, gradually eliminating it entirely.
Bob Wilson
Franklin, North Carolina
Encouragement and Advice
This is in response to 14 year old John
Lodge’s letter in the June issue. John, I truly
sympathize with you. I know what it’s like to
want something so much that it’s on your
mind from the moment you wake up until it
fantasizes you to sleep at night.
Don’t despair, you’ll get there. But first,
you must go to your nearest flying field, and
observe, listen, be a frequent spectator, and
don’t hesitate to ask questions. There isn’t an
adult modeler alive who doesn’t know that
glistening, exciting look in the eyes of a 14
year old boy.
Don’t be discouraged when they start to
tell you they started with little rubber powered
airplanes, and gradually reached the day when
they got their first glow engine, which
powered their first CL Ringmaster. Over the
years those modelers accumulated great
quantities of building materials. When they
started into RC their biggest expense was the
radio which, in those days, was the equivalent
of 1,200 dollars today.
To me you sound like the kind of kid we
want in our hobby. I’m guessing you’ll find a
way to realize your RC dream.
John P. Cuomo
Whiting, New Jersey
John Lodge writes that he’s from a lowincome
family and that a good cheap basic
trainer and support equipment cost $400.
Someone’s been giving him poor advice.
Even a fancy nearly ready-to-fly Megatech
Merlin (just to pull one name off the web)
with transmitter and charger costs $200.
That’s all you need.
Electric trainers start at $35, with radio
gear adding another $70. Add a charger and
battery pack (about $25) for a total of $120.
That’s buying new stuff (all prices from
current web sites or magazine ads).
At our club, we often sell airplanes and
used equipment at very low prices to lowincome
members, especially youngsters. I’ve
given away a few airplanes, and so have other
Model Aviation, 5161 E. Memorial Dr., Muncie IN 47302
Letters to the Editor
August 2003 9
Continued on page 189
08sig1.QXD 5.23.03 3:17 pm Page 9
club members. It is not unusual for a
beginner to get in the air for well under $100.
And we have club trainers that they can fly
for free.
If you want to fly RC, get in with the gals
and guys who know how to fly
inexpensively, and who know how to
welcome and support beginners.
Jef Raskin
Pacifica, California
I’ve been a club member for 5 years
now which includes a group of beginners
through advanced fliers. At least 3 times a
year, some of the pilots are looking to give
airplanes away, just to make room for new
ones. Some sell radios and engines as well.
If you go to fields where men fly their
airplanes and question them about getting
started, I’m sure you will get plenty of
advice and plenty of help learning how to
fly. Our club even has a trainer with a
buddy box that works great for the first
time flier.
Bob VanderHorn
Butler, New Jersey
You are absolutely correct in saying
that it costs $400 to get the RC equipment
you described. However, today, the RC
world has changed radically. You need not
spend $400, and you can still get into RC.
The era of miniature RC is here, and
booming. For about $130 you can get a
micro electric RC outfit, complete with
transmitter, receiver, and airplane. Just
look through the ads in Model Aviation.
You can also learn to build an RC
airplane if you buy one of the many small
kits (which begin as low as $39.95), and
buy larger airplanes as your skill and
financial situation grow, as they are bound
to.
Today, there is no reason for a young
man like yourself not to get into this
wonderful hobby. Even though your
situation is a tough one, and no one knows
better than you how tough it really is, you
can do this.
I am very much older than you, John,
but I came from the depths of the Great
Depression. My life was very hard, and as
we both know, it isn’t any fun being poor.
But I love aviation, and got into this hobby.
I love it and am still in it—in every aspect.
Join a local club—the help you get will
be invaluable. Join the AMA for $1.00 a
year—they can educate you into every
aspect of this great hobby. Read this
magazine—it will educate you on the right
path. Don’t go it alone—there is no need
to.
Start small. Get an RC “park flyer” that
can crash and fly again because it’s made
of foam and plastic. It isn’t the airplane of
your dreams, but its cost is low, and the fun
is high. Many very experienced pilots are
flying these!
Learn all you can on this “toy” airplane,
and then graduate to the bigger ones when
you can afford it. It may mean mowing
lawns, getting a paper route, washing cars,
or some other job to get the money to
pursue your dreams.
Many have done it before you, and
become successful in the world for it—you
can, too. More power to you, John!
David Crown
Des Plaines, Illinois
I have a few words of advice and
encouragement for young John Lodge who
wrote a letter in the June issue bemoaning
the high cost of RC.
Firstly, RC has nearly always been an
adult hobby. That is not to say youth should
not participate, just that their numbers will
in all likelyhood be small by virtue of the
funds required, skills and responsibility
inherent in flying RC. If he is getting
discouraged now, just wait until the first
crash. That will determine if he really
wants to fly or if it’s just a passing fancy.
When I was his age, RC was an
impossibility for me (and plenty of others
I’d bet); Control Line was not. I did not say
it was cheap either. I found ways to earn
money in a small town/rural area and set
realistic goals. John should also not
overlook two other obvious things; He can
go and get some summer jobs to earn the
money. At fourteen, he should have enough
energy to do most anything.
Why does the equipment have to be
new? He should not overlook the option of
good, used equipment, either from a swap
shop or club member. With the right
purchases he could fly at surprisingly low
cost. Get involved in anyway you can in the
hobby.
In the mean time, there are some
inexpensive free flight airplanes out there.
He could be learning about the various
parts of the airplane as well as how to set
balance and trim, things that will be helpful
when he finally takes his first lesson. MA
John Wolf
Spring Lake, North Carolina
Edition: Model Aviation - 2003/08
Page Numbers: 9,189,191
Corrections
In the AMA Convention 2003 coverage in
the June Model Aviation, there was a mistake
in the caption for Bruce Tharpe Engineering’s
new Super Flyin’ King.
This model spans 11 feet and weighs 36
pounds. It is designed to be powered by a 50-
to 80-cubic-centimeter gas engine. The allwood
kit was designed for sport flying or
utility work such as aerotowing and lifting
payloads.
Visit www.btemodels.com for more
detailed information about the new Super
Flyin’ King and all of BTE’s other great
products.
The “AMA Walk of Fame Donors” listing
on page 108 of the July Model Aviation
should have read that a brick was purchased
in the STARS club’s name instead of Pete
Seiffert’s.
Photos in the July “Shoestring” feature
were taken by Larry Hutson.
—MA staff
John Pond Plans
First, I want to thank [Bob Hunt] and the
AMA for working towards restoring,
archiving, and making the Pond plans
collection available. I have a great love for
plans and am glad to see that this collection
won’t fall into the hands of people who may
not appreciate their value. For that matter, I
hope the Model Builder plans collection ends
up protected in the same way at some point in
the future!
Also, I want to give you my personal
appreciation for your efforts in returning both
Model Aviation, and indirectly, the direction
of the AMA back towards the values of
modeling, not the monetary value of
modeling. We all have busy lives, and the
current buffet of pre-built models are not only
beautiful, but are certainly convenient to timechallenged
people.
But I think the hobby needs to be led, in
this case by the AMA and Model Aviation, to
remember what makes modeling lasting.
Thanks for the great work. I actually read the
“editor’s” column these days. And that’s a
step in the right direction!
Carl Dowdy
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raves for Project Extra
I can’t tell you how much I’ve enjoyed
reading and re-reading “Project Extra.” I may
never build this design, but the notes, tips,
advice and expertise you have shared with us
is super, a definite “keeper” for future
reference.
I’ve been into building all sorts of things
almost all my life. My modeling interests run
the entire spectrum of model airplanes, but
mostly just sport scale, with pattern, IMAA,
and VR/CS overtones. I enjoy building and
flying any of them, kits, plans or my own
designs. I’m nearing retirement age and
hopefully will soon have a lot more time to
spend on this wonderful hobby/sport.
Congratulations and thanks to Mike
Hurley, Erik Richard and AMA/Model
Aviation for providing this most interesting
series for a great project.
Allen Johnson
La Place, Louisiana
From the Ground Up
Just wanted to drop you a line to tell you
how informative I am finding your series on
radio control system operation in Model
Aviation. I am relatively new to RC systems
and am currently interested in electric
powered park flyers. I also may try electric
powered gliders. I have been flying and
building rubber powered competition models
and towline launched competition gliders for
many years.
I am looking forward to more of your
articles. Keep up the good work.
Paul Kelly
Costa Mesa, California
Co-Pilot a Boon
As a flight instructor I have found the
FMA Direct Co-Pilot to be a boon for
teaching student pilots.
Unfortunately, there seems to be a lot of
resistance amongst traditional flight
instructors to using the autopilot for teaching
purposes and I find this short-sighted and
regrettable. Many insist on using the buddy
box system and while this system is great, it
does have its shortcomings.
One gentleman I spoke to admitted that he
had never taught a student with an autopilot
and had no intention of ever doing so because
the student won’t learn anything. His head
remains stuck in the sand.
On the contrary, students learn much
faster on the autopilot and while I cannot
account for the difference, there seems to be
less fear and knee knocking amongst the
students and this seems to inspire them to
learn quicker. If one can remove the fear
factor, learning comes quickly.
For the first time ever, I can actually walk
away from the student and not worry that he
will do something dumb. The autopilot will
prevent this.
One of the most difficult things to teach, at
least with my students, is the turn from base
to final which quite often ends up in an overbank
dive toward the ground. This seems to
not occur at all with the autopilot.
Our only crash occurred when a student
lost power during a go-around at low altitude
and stalled it in. And yes, had I been using the
buddy box I could have prevented this crash.
But this was offset by the fact that he had
been making some very good landings,
having only to line up with the runway and
adjust his throttle to land.
Different students learn on different
learning curves but I am so convinced that the
autopilot method is the best and safest all
around that I will no longer teach anyone
without having an autopilot installed. And for
certain it prevents a lot of crashes and instills
enough confidence in the students that they do
learn faster.
Things work even better if the student has
a transmitter that is capable of turning off the
autopilot during flight, or, in the case of flap
knob, reduce the amount of autopilot
sensitivity, gradually eliminating it entirely.
Bob Wilson
Franklin, North Carolina
Encouragement and Advice
This is in response to 14 year old John
Lodge’s letter in the June issue. John, I truly
sympathize with you. I know what it’s like to
want something so much that it’s on your
mind from the moment you wake up until it
fantasizes you to sleep at night.
Don’t despair, you’ll get there. But first,
you must go to your nearest flying field, and
observe, listen, be a frequent spectator, and
don’t hesitate to ask questions. There isn’t an
adult modeler alive who doesn’t know that
glistening, exciting look in the eyes of a 14
year old boy.
Don’t be discouraged when they start to
tell you they started with little rubber powered
airplanes, and gradually reached the day when
they got their first glow engine, which
powered their first CL Ringmaster. Over the
years those modelers accumulated great
quantities of building materials. When they
started into RC their biggest expense was the
radio which, in those days, was the equivalent
of 1,200 dollars today.
To me you sound like the kind of kid we
want in our hobby. I’m guessing you’ll find a
way to realize your RC dream.
John P. Cuomo
Whiting, New Jersey
John Lodge writes that he’s from a lowincome
family and that a good cheap basic
trainer and support equipment cost $400.
Someone’s been giving him poor advice.
Even a fancy nearly ready-to-fly Megatech
Merlin (just to pull one name off the web)
with transmitter and charger costs $200.
That’s all you need.
Electric trainers start at $35, with radio
gear adding another $70. Add a charger and
battery pack (about $25) for a total of $120.
That’s buying new stuff (all prices from
current web sites or magazine ads).
At our club, we often sell airplanes and
used equipment at very low prices to lowincome
members, especially youngsters. I’ve
given away a few airplanes, and so have other
Model Aviation, 5161 E. Memorial Dr., Muncie IN 47302
Letters to the Editor
August 2003 9
Continued on page 189
08sig1.QXD 5.23.03 3:17 pm Page 9
club members. It is not unusual for a
beginner to get in the air for well under $100.
And we have club trainers that they can fly
for free.
If you want to fly RC, get in with the gals
and guys who know how to fly
inexpensively, and who know how to
welcome and support beginners.
Jef Raskin
Pacifica, California
I’ve been a club member for 5 years
now which includes a group of beginners
through advanced fliers. At least 3 times a
year, some of the pilots are looking to give
airplanes away, just to make room for new
ones. Some sell radios and engines as well.
If you go to fields where men fly their
airplanes and question them about getting
started, I’m sure you will get plenty of
advice and plenty of help learning how to
fly. Our club even has a trainer with a
buddy box that works great for the first
time flier.
Bob VanderHorn
Butler, New Jersey
You are absolutely correct in saying
that it costs $400 to get the RC equipment
you described. However, today, the RC
world has changed radically. You need not
spend $400, and you can still get into RC.
The era of miniature RC is here, and
booming. For about $130 you can get a
micro electric RC outfit, complete with
transmitter, receiver, and airplane. Just
look through the ads in Model Aviation.
You can also learn to build an RC
airplane if you buy one of the many small
kits (which begin as low as $39.95), and
buy larger airplanes as your skill and
financial situation grow, as they are bound
to.
Today, there is no reason for a young
man like yourself not to get into this
wonderful hobby. Even though your
situation is a tough one, and no one knows
better than you how tough it really is, you
can do this.
I am very much older than you, John,
but I came from the depths of the Great
Depression. My life was very hard, and as
we both know, it isn’t any fun being poor.
But I love aviation, and got into this hobby.
I love it and am still in it—in every aspect.
Join a local club—the help you get will
be invaluable. Join the AMA for $1.00 a
year—they can educate you into every
aspect of this great hobby. Read this
magazine—it will educate you on the right
path. Don’t go it alone—there is no need
to.
Start small. Get an RC “park flyer” that
can crash and fly again because it’s made
of foam and plastic. It isn’t the airplane of
your dreams, but its cost is low, and the fun
is high. Many very experienced pilots are
flying these!
Learn all you can on this “toy” airplane,
and then graduate to the bigger ones when
you can afford it. It may mean mowing
lawns, getting a paper route, washing cars,
or some other job to get the money to
pursue your dreams.
Many have done it before you, and
become successful in the world for it—you
can, too. More power to you, John!
David Crown
Des Plaines, Illinois
I have a few words of advice and
encouragement for young John Lodge who
wrote a letter in the June issue bemoaning
the high cost of RC.
Firstly, RC has nearly always been an
adult hobby. That is not to say youth should
not participate, just that their numbers will
in all likelyhood be small by virtue of the
funds required, skills and responsibility
inherent in flying RC. If he is getting
discouraged now, just wait until the first
crash. That will determine if he really
wants to fly or if it’s just a passing fancy.
When I was his age, RC was an
impossibility for me (and plenty of others
I’d bet); Control Line was not. I did not say
it was cheap either. I found ways to earn
money in a small town/rural area and set
realistic goals. John should also not
overlook two other obvious things; He can
go and get some summer jobs to earn the
money. At fourteen, he should have enough
energy to do most anything.
Why does the equipment have to be
new? He should not overlook the option of
good, used equipment, either from a swap
shop or club member. With the right
purchases he could fly at surprisingly low
cost. Get involved in anyway you can in the
hobby.
In the mean time, there are some
inexpensive free flight airplanes out there.
He could be learning about the various
parts of the airplane as well as how to set
balance and trim, things that will be helpful
when he finally takes his first lesson. MA
John Wolf
Spring Lake, North Carolina