The Inside Loop - 2008/09
Good pilots come from all over, but knowing whether a pilot is truly "good" takes another good pilot. Good pilots have something in them that is contagious; I call it skill. How do I know? Because I've found that the more time I spend with good pilots, the more I seem to become like one of them—not as good, but at least similar.
Extreme Flight Championships (XFC)
The Extreme Flight Championships (XFC) is where a lot of good pilots come to find out who among them is really good. To some, events such as these appear to be high-class trials where Unobtainium and that ailment called skill are honed to bring forth the best of the good pilots. An XFC title, as with so many other admirable events, is an honorable mention to an individual that can lead to career development.
To the competitors, XFC honors their efforts and influences. Those influences came from good pilots like you and me. To the spectators, who are typically RC enthusiasts, the benefit is far more valuable. They too want to be good pilots, but the competitive environment isn't really the place for idle chitchat. Sometimes these good pilots come off brash or snooty; I'd be stressed out too.
Down the road, what the XFC fraternity produces is good pilots who go home, or to local events, where the spectator or club member can then take the time to relate to the pilots on a more personal level; they're in a better mood. It's not long before the spectator is infected with skill, and the practice of good showmanship grows on.
Should there be more events around the country like the XFC? Hey, I'll go! They entertain and benefit the hobby and sport. However, people don't have to go to an XFC. Instead, they might prefer to visit or participate in a local event, and if the timing is right an XFC veteran will put on a demonstration.
The spectator will likely find that these pilots are very approachable. Don't be bashful; they enjoy helping others and talking about what's worked well for them.
Outreach and Training
Behind the scenes at this year's XFC, I was able to help the sponsors and, along with volunteers from the Munsee Sky Chiefs RC Club, we trained new pilots all weekend at the AMA's International Aeromodeling Center. Hobbico gave us the trainers, and all we had to do was show the visitors how much fun it was to fly a model airplane.
To these beginners, we were the good pilots. And that's a special feeling that's hard to match.
Featured Projects and Other Events
I'm honored every month to feature projects from good pilots. This month, in contrast to the enormous and complex machines featured in Ben Lanterman's coverage of the XFC, what better way to anneal the Unobtainium than with a great project from Dick Sarpolus? His revisit of a 1949 favorite Stunt model is exactly what the doctor ordered for relaxing building and sport aerobatics.
Dick pointed out that even though the model has been presented with modern building methods, it should still be legal for flying in Precision Aerobatics Model Pilots Association (PAMPA) Old Time Stunt. We sent the plans and related documents to the PAMPA board to put the question to bed—and we got the thumbs up.
Major events like the Southeast Electric Flight Festival (SEFF) are becoming more intensely attended each year. Dave Terry donned his camping gear and reported on this event for us, and I think his unique skill with words and pictures will surely help populate this event and events like it in seasons to come.
SEFF is among the most organized events, and there are a number of factors that make it popular. If your club is looking to host such an event, pay close attention to what's visible in the article; keep going in your research and check out online resources such as RCGroups. AMA events make a difference in how successfully our hobby and sport are experienced.
We enjoy presenting events like SEFF and the XFC in MA because they reflect a great deal of what's popular and innovative in the hobby. Likewise, if an AMA club wants its event to be successful, we hope that what we've presented here offers incentive and inspiration for all aeromodeling pilots to seek out the bug and be infected by skill.
—MA
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
