The Inside Loop
The attention to scale delicacies in every model that Pat Tritle builds is what makes his work distinctively a Pat Tritle model. What isn't obvious at first glance is how similar all of his designs really are: they're extremely lightweight and fly exceptionally well. Those are the delicacies I'm referring to.
Pat Tritle's Design Philosophy
As seen with the 44-inch Tiger Moth we bring you this month, it's Pat's respect for each individual project that makes his designs inspiring. Instead of forcing an aircraft's outlines to conform to a fixed set of design parameters, his philosophy is under the covering: build as lightly as possible and respect the outlines.
Benefits of Light Models
An aircraft with a light wing loading is friendliest to the RC modeler. Whether it's an ARF, a project from the AMA plans listing, or a kit that's been gathering dust in the closet for decades (such as my CAP 21), consider how much better the model could fly if lighter materials, lighter servos, or new building techniques were explored.
A lighter model can make you a better pilot. A heavy model must fly faster through every maneuver, including landing; the wing has to work harder to keep all those scale details airborne. As a result, the pilot has to work harder, too.
A lighter airplane not only makes you look like a better builder, but when you take that model to the sky, people will think you're an aeromodeling Einstein.
When You're Tired of Flying Your Own Models
Every now and then, an RC pilot gets tired of flying his or her own airplanes. Between maintenance and setup, it can be a lot of work. If you're planning a trip to the field, might I suggest leaving your models at home for once? They won't be needed.
When you arrive at the field, people will be more than happy to let you fly their airplanes. In fact, they'll often fuel them and clean them for you. Sounds like a great deal, doesn't it? You'll find RC student pilots imploring you to get them in the air.
That's how it was for me when I first became a flight instructor with the Flagstaff Flyers while a college student at Northern Arizona University. The arrangement was described to me in plain terms: I wouldn't have to bring a model to the field ever again. I fell for it.
For the most part it was true, and the respect I earned from students meant many of the models they built after soloing were ones they trusted me to test-fly—another of my favorite jobs.
Becoming a Flight Instructor
Is teaching a new person how to fly hard? No. Is it a lot of work? No. Are there secrets about flight instruction you should know before becoming an RC flight instructor? Yes.
Bob Wilson contributed an article titled "Pointers for New Flight Instructors" that describes the basic knowledge instructors should have to help both themselves and their students succeed.
Key instructor points to remember:
- Maintain a positive attitude and don't forget to have fun.
- Encourage students to make as many mistakes as possible; mistakes are learning tools.
- Recognize individual student needs so you can focus instruction appropriately.
- Build rapport with students—when instructor and student know each other, the club functions better and everyone stays excited about the hobby.
Building with Foam and Adhesives
Have you noticed that many models today lack a material that grows out of the ground? Strange as it may seem, there are building materials other than balsa wood. One of those materials is foam.
Call me crazy, but that bizarre stuff is very different to use. Some people like it and some don't, but one thing is for sure: if you want foam to stick, it has to be glued. For some reason, I can't get it to hold a screw for the life of me.
Assistant Editor Jay Smith reviewed some of the popular adhesives used with foam and reports on what holds up. His article is abbreviation-heavy, but if you check our updated "Frequently Used Abbreviations/Acronyms" guide, you should be covered.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
