The Inside Loop
Once again the idea of being "green" has been presented to us, and the ideas we have are effective on a number of levels: what we fly, how we fly, and the way we fly. That's green, as in the conscious manner in which we affect the environment. I would extend that into the manner in which we treat each other and ourselves.
Soaring and energy
First, take a look at Ed Anderson's view of soaring. His article describes the use of an energy source that is all around us every day. I have yet to dare him to find thermals that occur at night. That would likely lead to a discussion including a lot of hot air, which would prove that, indeed, thermals could exist 24/7. Ed is very much about how efficiently we can enjoy model aircraft.
The lead point about Ed's article is that the grace of soaring can be experienced on a number of levels and from a number of locations. In the Long Island, New York area, Ed is well known for his clinics on how to be an RC soaring pilot.
We hope to hear him again at the upcoming WRAM Show in White Plains, New York, at the end of February. Do take a listen if possible, and let us know what you think.
Solar power at the field
Solar energy is still a budding resource yet to be fully discovered, but it is starting to become more commonplace. Resources are available that offer kits of solar-power collection systems in various quality and output grades. The Chino Valley Model Aviators did what I would have done: they found the most economical system out there and adapted it to the resources at their site.
The how-to article about solar battery charging is basic but gets the idea out there and suggests that this type of limited energy solution can benefit AMA clubs. It's basically a wireless power station, and it has the potential to make just about any flying site more user-friendly—especially now that electric-power modelers are demanding so much juice to fly.
How power is put to use is up to the individual. If you're a pilot of any model type, consider these ongoing factors:
- Battery condition
- Fuel
- Weather
Training and flying efficiently
All of those thoughts put together equal a lot of information a pilot has to handle; that's on top of what we do with the transmitter to make the model do what we want.
Pilots of full-scale aircraft regularly seek training to increase and validate the skills practiced at the field and in the aircraft. That kind of diligence with a model aircraft isn't a bad idea either. Have you ever thought about going back to the instructor that signed off your solo to ask for further training?
"Have fun learning how to be green."
I feel fortunate to have had friends who flew way better than I did; they probably still do. From them I asked for help and consultation—more than just the heckling comments from the pits. I know when my loops aren't round, thank you. The encouragement led to practice in AMA and IMAC precision aerobatics that I enjoy to this day. If you want to be a better RC pilot, enter an aerobatics contest.
Another great way to learn is to seek professional flight instruction. As mentioned before, the way we fly leads to thinking "green," because being a better pilot makes more efficient use of our models' time in the air. Not to mention that it keeps the parts of the airplane looking recognizable.
When Jay Smith said that he was going to spend a few days at the 1st US Flight School, we were at the field doing a little sport flying. The first thing I did was get out from under the rock I had been hiding under and congratulate him on his decision. Just kidding.
Actually, admitting that there's more to learn and the need to be taught spoke volumes to me. Jay is very much an accomplished pilot—I let him fly all of my stuff—and taking it upon himself to find out what more there is to learn also meant he was having fun and not afraid.
When Jay returned from the experience, it was apparent that his lessons paid off. Now I'm learning from him, and he's under the rock. I'll bet that if a club sent a member to a flight school, everyone would have fun learning how to be green.
—MA
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
