66 M ODEL AVIATION
(Editor’s note: In this thought-provoking article, a seldom
talked-about subject is handled head-on by the author.
In Alex’s own words, “I’m 74 years of age, been a member
of AMA since 1938, was a CD [Contest Director] in the mid-
’50s under Keith Storey, and know from personal experience
that sometimes we deny what might be obvious to others: our
age is affecting our reaction time while flying RC [Radio
Control] airplanes. Not to worry! In RC model flying there is
an alternative to just hanging it up because of the effects of
aging.”
This article presents a solution that has come onto the
scene in the last few years. It is encouraging because it allows
us to transfer our interest to another category of models
without missing a beat in the “Greatest Sport on Earth!”)
ou’re up there in age, and you’ve just returned from the
flying field and plunked down in your easy chair to think
about the experience you had a few minutes ago—in front
of all your friends!
You didn’t seem to have enough time to get your RC airplane
out of a no-win attitude, and it crashed.
In the paper “A Literature Review on Reaction Time” by
Robert J. Kosinski of Clemson University, he states that with
respect to age, “Reaction time shortens from childhood into the
late 20s, then increases slowly until the 50s and 60s, and then
lengthens faster as the person gets into his 70s and beyond.”
There is a solution to some of the troubling aspects of slow
reaction time (and less-than-perfect eyesight). You don’t have to
hang it up and quit just because you’re getting older.
A slow flyer flown close presents a larger image than a normal .40-size RC model flown at a greater distance.
Y
Don’t Quit
the Greatest Sport on Earth!
May 2001 67
n Alex Morton
For roughly the last eight years, RC flight
has held first place in my modeling life.
Scratch-built, museum-quality, military
fine-scale, trainer, Pattern, and flying-boat
models—I’ve built and flown them all.
During those days, my reaction time
and eyes were in good shape. But
recently I decided to turn to another type
of RC airplane that is enjoyable for any
age! It also answers a very practical
question we will all face someday.
My AMA club (Marymoor RC Club
of Redmond WA) is primarily devoted
to teaching, and for several years I have
had the honor of being one of the ground
crew that preflights the typical .40- to
.46-cubic-inch-powered training
airplanes with a comprehensive
checklist, to assure their airworthiness.
My best friend, one of the flight
instructors, drives the two of us to the field
every Tuesday at 5 p.m. for Training
Night. He and I were recently talking about
age and its affect on overall flying ability.
Many may not talk openly about
this, think they are not that old, or think
“it’s the other guy, not me”—but it is
worth discussing.
We’re both in our early 70s, and he
made the comment that he thought this
year would be his last as a flight
instructor, because his eyes and reaction
time are less than what is required to
assure confident instruction to a student.
He said it isn’t fair to the student or to
himself if there is any question about his
full ability to handle any situation, so he’s hanging it up with
respect to teaching others hands-on.
Flying a buddy-box system as an instructor is more demanding
than flying alone with your familiar transmitter/receiver/aircraft
combo. When the student has the airplane in an unsafe attitude,
you have to judge whether or not he or she will correct in time. If
not, you have to let go of the training switch with the familiar
“I’ve got it,” and act in time to maintain safety in the situation.
My friend came by today and said he had handed in all his
buddy-box equipment to the club flightline manager.
The Federal Aviation Administration has already spoken regarding
airline pilots: 60 years of age is mandatory retirement—period. RC is
not airline flying, but it still has to do with reaction time and eyesight.
And it is the safety aspect of the sport I want to address.
Most RC airplanes fly at speeds of 35-100 mph (and
sometimes more) at a typical model flying field. They can be
lethal weapons in an uncontrolled situation.
People who no longer have the skills they once had because of
age should reduce their involvement and eventually leave the
larger, faster, heavier RC airplanes to others, and choose another
type of RC model to enjoy.
This is precisely where the RC park flyer type of model comes
in! These little bugs can do virtually anything the “big boys” can
do, and do it slower. That’s the beauty of these teeny guys.
After reading a report about it, I downloaded the plans and
built the StarLITE from Herr Engineering Corp. (1431 Chaffee
Dr. Suite 3, Titusville FL 32780), which has a 36-inch wingspan
and a total flying weight of 4.5 ounces!
I used the WES-Technik 5-2.4 motor with 8:1 gear ratio, a
WES-Technik carbon 9 x 4.7 propeller, and the Hitec Feather
receiver with two Hitec HS-55 servos and a JMP-HF9
electronic speed control (ESC), all powered by a set of seven
Sanyo 1⁄3AAA 50 mA batteries.
I bought all this from fellow club member Todd Long, who is a
pioneer in park flyers. Todd’s Web site is www.toddsmodels.com,
Don’t curtail RC flying when eyesight and reflexes begin to diminish; simply adjust
the size and speed of your models!
Photos by the Author Graphic Design by Jill Ann Cavanaugh
Don't Quit the Greatest Sport on Earth!
68 M ODEL AVIATION
Recommendations For Mature Modeler s
1) If you have problems with building (arthritis, loss of dexterity, or
eyesight loss, etc.), buy an Almost Ready to Fly (ARF) instead of a kit.
There are plenty of each available.
2) Stick with the recommended motor/equipment package for the
ARF or kit you’ve chosen until you are versed in this category. You
can experiment later.
3) Research the field. It’s new, and there are many types of
airplanes/motors in the category. Pick a slow one to start with; get
the feel of park flying.
If you have access to the Internet, it will be invaluable to you. There are
many sites that invite you to download lots of information. Once you get
on and surf around, you’ll have more sites than you can use!
One site that proved very helpful to me is
www.emipsinc.com/motdata.html; Dick Miller gives you an up-to-date list
of most of the motors available, and tells which propeller to use, current
used, thrust, rpm, number of cells, motor weight, frame weight, total
ready-to-fly model weight, and total wing area.
Dick has two lists; one is “Sorted by MOTOR” and the other is “Sorted
by AREA.” He gives data that lets you scratch-build within the proper
parameters, which is my cup of tea! I’m approximately 95% finished with a
scratch-built, 30-inch-wingspan Curtiss JN-4D2 (Jenny). Total weight of
the (uncovered) airplane parts is 1.395 ounces!
A valuable and inexpensive piece of equipment you absolutely
need is a beam balance scale, good from 0.001 ounce to 1.000
pound, available from Micro-Air Precision Products, Box 1129,
Richland WA 99352. Ask for part number 1081.
There are more-expensive scales out there, but this one is adequate
for those of us on a fixed/limited income.
4) I’ve gone to the Focus III FM (Mode One) transmitter and the Hitec
Feather Receiver (www.hitecrcd.com/catalog/air/radio/focus_3fm.html). Park
flyers are usually rudder/elevator/motor control or elevon/motor control; the
Focus III has these capabilities in either case, along with servo reversing.
Or you can continue to use your present transmitter and buy a
micro-lite receiver, of which there are many. I can’t use my Channel 6
(Ham) transmitter, because a micro-lite receiver in the Ham
frequencies is not presently available.
5) There is a basic tip I found very helpful for flying your model. Because it
is a new category and I was ignorant about park flyers’ flight characteristics, I
took the StarLITE out in front of the condo on a quiet afternoon when there
weren’t even any birds singing to disturb the air! I sat it down on the pavement
and slowly increased the throttle until it started moving.
I taxied the model all around to see how it handled. I increased the
throttle until it was barely airborne, then I gently reduced the throttle
and let it settle back to a nice, smooth landing.
After doing this 15 or 20 times, I took my courage in both hands and
increased it until the model was in the air approximately 20 feet, flying
free as a bird. I did some gentle turns and a U-turn at the end of the
street, so the model was heading straight at me.
After a bit I was in heaven, having a blast at my manageable
speed of three to eight miles per hour and loving every minute of it.
You’ll love it too!
6) Caution: Some of the receivers (including the Hitec Feather) are of
limited range and are not to be used for high-altitude or long-distance flying!
The Feather is good for roughly 500 feet, but at that distance you can hardly
see the model! Such receivers are for relatively close-up flying.
7) Another caution: Remember that when you’re flying out in front of
your home, your transmitter affects roughly a two-mile radius; you should
be sure you’re not interfering with any other model sites nearby.
8) Please don’t kid yourself about your age. Perhaps the biggest
problem some will face is admitting that they are getting older. Lighten
up! Be realistic! Enjoy the time you have by flying what suits your
situation. It will be more pleasure for you and safer for others!
and there are many other Web sites
related to this new category.
To hold down the weight, I rigged
the electronics together using Radio
Shack D-subminiature connectors
(#276-1429) and shrink tubing held
together with cyanoacrylate.
I can almost write my name in the sky
with the StarLITE for five to seven minutes.
When the electric motor slows down, I
know I need to bring it in for a landing.
I plug the battery pack into a l2-volt
field charger, grab a cup of java, and 15
minutes later I’m getting another five to
seven minutes in the sky!
And I don’t have to go to the club
field to fly! Out the front door of my
condo or in the nearby school yard or
meadow is adequate space. Reaction time
is less of a concern, since my micro
speed demon is racing around at roughly
three to eight miles per hour!
Even if I end up hitting someone
with one of these gems, I am likely to
just surprise him or her. How much
damage can I do with a 4.5-ounce model
going that slow? Almost the only thing
damaged would be my pride for having
bumped into a person!
Things to do with these models are
unlimited. You can stay in competition
if you like; articles have been written
about indoor Pylon races, rise-off-water
contests, “endurance flying,” and the
list goes on. Or you can just lay back
and have plain old fun by yourself or
with a friend.
Now, if you decide to get into park
flying you’ll be competing with younger
people. Not to worry; they don’t have the
years of experience you have!
I should clarify something: This
category has been called various
names; I’m using the term “park flyer,”
but it includes slow flyers, indoor
flyers, etc. There are even micro flyers,
with wingspans as small as
approximately five inches.
This whole new category, by
whatever name, includes fixed-wing
airplanes and helicopters!
So you say, “Okay, I’ll give it a try—
now what?”
I’ve included some
recommendations on equipment and
techniques for the “mature” modeler (if
you’ll pardon the expression)!
This category of models can be the
answer not only to those who are getting
up in years, but also to those impaired in
some other way that would exclude
them from this great sport.
When my flight-instructor buddy and I
had finished our discussion that day in
the car, we agreed: RC park flying is a
good way to keep active in the greatest
sport on earth! MA
Alex Morton
3604 225th Pl. SE
Issaquah WA 98029
