AeroMail
If you have a letter to the editor, please submit it to MA Editor-in-Chief Jay Smith at 5161 E. Memorial Dr., Muncie, IN 47302, or email [email protected].
From Joe McPhail (Page, AZ)
I have to be honest: when I opened my mailbox and saw Free Flight's "Fabulous February" cover issue for July 2012, I became disappointed and said to myself, "The majority of readers are R/Cers; what are they thinking?"
I then opened the issue and began reading your column, and read down to the paragraph where you mentioned that readers would appreciate an issue dedicated to our roots and beginnings in flight. I felt out of touch with my fellow hobbyists. I then found myself engaged in reading the entire issue dedicated to "Fabulous February," the "Beginner's Guide to Free Flight," the construction of the Bestetti-Nardi BN.1, and the "Gravity Trigger" articles. I have to admit I learned something reading your articles—not only about the hobby that started it all, but also that just because I don't do it doesn't mean it's not enjoyable to the rest of the population.
As an avid R/C model plane hobbyist, it's not about dividing lines across different platforms; it's all about doing what we love as individuals and organizations, and doing it with the ones we love. So, Free Flighters, you have a new fan! Great issue, Jay! Thanks for opening my eyes.
—Joe McPhail, Page, AZ
From Harry Grogan (Weaverville, NC)
I was thrilled to see how much Free Flight coverage was in the latest issue of Model Aviation, including the cover! For the past 50 years I have flown and competed in Control Line, outdoor Free Flight, indoor FF, and Radio Control. I am a life member of AMA and NFFS. My true love is Free Flight.
I realize the vast majority of modelers are interested in R/C, but it is refreshing to see a major magazine publish another side of the hobby. I especially liked the beginner's guide to FF by Don DeLoach. He is an excellent writer as well as practicing what he preaches.
Thanks again for an excellent job.
—Harry Grogan, Weaverville, NC
From Paul Bradley (MA's "Small-Field Flying" author)
I just wanted to drop you a short note to say how much I appreciated the Free Flight focus in the current issue of Model Aviation. You and the staff did a terrific job of capturing the present happenings within the Free Flight community. The issue also did an excellent job of explaining things to people who may not be familiar with the world of Free Flight model aviation.
I especially appreciated the contributions of Don DeLoach and Louis Joyner. Both are solid contributors to the world of Free Flight and their individual contributions to the July 2012 issue were spot on.
The world of model aviation has very deep roots thanks to Free Flight aeromodeling. It is so nice to see our national organization bring an occasional focus to this important part of our hobby's heritage.
—Paul Bradley, MA's "Small-Field Flying" author
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
