The Inside Loop - 2008/05

ere we are, six months after the
birth of one of AMA’s most
modern and outreaching
programs, and I wanted to know how our
membership feels about the Academy’s
Park Pilot Program. The AMA is a
community first, which is what the new
program is designed to strengthen and
enhance. It reaches out and welcomes more
new people who might enjoy what we and
the manufacturers have created: a more
enjoyable and successful means by which
to get into aeromodeling.
Ed Anderson is from Long Island, New
York, and he told me about a number of
things his Soaring club is doing to adapt the
new Park Pilot Program. After reading the
article about his successful experience, it
was obvious that other clubs, Soaring
enthusiasts or not, could use Ed’s lessons to
bring new members and young people into
the hobby. The article proves that when the
AMA and its people work together, the
hobby/sport can be better for everyone
involved.
Fanatics about aeromodeling aren’t hard
to find. The “Contest Calendar” in the back
of this magazine is filled with details about
where the most serious aeromodeling
fanatics practice their art. I’ve just returned
from the Toledo Show, which is an
aeromodeling event equivalent to the Super
Bowl, Woodstock, Hands Across America,
or any other pilgrimage that is meaningful
enough for someone to have a life-changing
experience.
If you’ve been there, I’m sure the
memories are filled with inspirational
occasions. For over half a century the Weak
Signals club has hosted this mega-event
and I wish it another 50 years because it
brings the joy of aeromodeling under one
banner.
This editorial group goes to flying and
nonflying events to inquire about trends
and technology from the variety of people
(fanatics) and find out how this hobby/sport
is evolving and affecting those so happily
involved. The features we’ve covered in the
magazine for you this month are a small
cross-section of what other events, besides
the Toledo Show, inspire us fanatics.
I can’t speak for everyone, but seeing a
new person successfully learn to fly a
model airplane gives my fanatic blood a
serious boost. At the Great Planes E-Fest
there were more pilots (yes, pilots!)
between the ages of 7 and 12 than I’ve ever
seen before. These were obviously new
members to aeromodeling, and the elation
of seeing them made my jaw drop.
Mark Fadely, our reporter for the event,
mentions the same phenomenon. These
weren’t “Daddy’s helpers.” These were
young pilots standing like gentlemen and
ladies at the flightline all by themselves
(pause for a tear), flying a model airplane
Editor Michael Ramsey
[email protected]
H
or helicopter.
An event doesn’t have to be large like
the Toledo Show or E-Fest to make an
impression. In fact, it’s personal moments
that more often define our fanatic behavior.
They’re not walking-on-the-moon
moments, as Bo Lovell writes in his article
“The Biggest Flying Wing I Ever Saw,”
but glad moments that encourage us to
grow.
When I first reviewed the article, I was
reminded of the wise words from our editor
emeritus, Bob Hunt, who poignantly wrote
that we should push ourselves outside of
our comfort zones. With the help of family
and friends, Laine Stahr did just that.
Laine serves in the military, fighting for
our freedom, and I thought his fulfilling
experience with aeromodeling would be an
inspiration to the members because his
service to our country makes what we do
possible. At the very least, read the last few
paragraphs of Bo’s story and you’ll
understand my point.
As a die-hard aeromodeling fanatic, I’m
never happy unless I have at least five
projects going at one time. It’s insane, I
know, but it seems to be the way I work
and am the happiest; playing with model
airplanes is my thing.
When I attend swap meets, it’s typically
to scratch the itch for something new or
unusual (to break me out of that comfort
zone). I have to believe that I’m not alone
in the aeromodeling fanaticism
predicament because when I show up at
swap meets we share the same stories.
Dave Terry said that he was going to
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Ser ving model-air plane
fanatics like me.
6 MODEL AVIATION
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(SMS) in Perry, Georgia, and I assigned
him to cover the event. Folks here around
the AMA Headquarters building have
traveled down to this one-of-a-kind event
for years to meet with others who traveled
even farther to just spectate as they
planned. Dave’s article and photographs do
great justice to the GAMA club and its
efforts to serve model-airplane fanatics like
me.
Imagine for a moment a football field,
wide and spacious, too big to try to make a
hand-launch glider fly from one end to the
other (one I built anyway) on. Now
imagine three fields like that, and fill them
from corner to corner with model airplanes
and thirsty fanatic aeromodelers feverishly
making deals to fulfill the need for a new
airplane project. Sounds like the SMS is an
event that I could totally relate with, don’t
you think?
But now it’s time for me to finish up
some projects and head to the flying field
with my sons. MA