The Inside Loop - 2011/05

6 MODEL AVIATION
“ ... we need to unite.”
Editor Jay Smith
[email protected]
hen I was a kid, my friends and
I would go back and forth over
not only the best baseball team,
but also the best player. For me it was
the New York Yankees and Reggie
Jackson. I always liked the power hitters,
and the fact that he hit three home runs,
on my birthday, in Game 6 of the 1977
World Series, didn’t hurt either.
Living in Florida in the 1970s and
1980s, we didn’t have a team but
enjoyed a lot of spring training. I
realized when I got older that while it’s
great to have a favorite team and even a
favorite player, it’s really about the love
of the game.
I think the same goes for
aeromodeling. It’s about the love of
aviation and the excitement of seeing
your creation successfully take to the air.
It doesn’t matter how your model is
powered or if you are controlling it with
a transmitter or a control line handle, or
if you trimmed it to fly on its own.
Furthermore, we’re all modelers,
whether we built it from scratch or a kit
or assembled an ARF.
Today, more than ever, with concerns
regarding upcoming recommendations
from the FAA and how they might affect
us going forward, we need to unite. It
doesn’t matter if you fly helicopters or
jets or any other type of model; we need
the strength and support of all our
members.
If you haven’t already done so, I
strongly urge you to visit the AMA’s
government affairs Web site (www.mod
elaircraft.org/gov) to keep up to date on
the regulations being considered by the
FAA and to contact your elected officials
and let your voice be heard.
While on the topic of power systems,
you may notice that both of this month’s
construction features—the Miss-E and
the Mister-E—are electrics, as is the
subject of Ron Heckler’s article “An
Electrified Stunter,” regarding his
change in propulsion.
I was moved when I read that Ron
was ready to give up the hobby after 35
years and that one flight on an electric
CL model was all that was required to
get him hooked once again and as
excited as ever to go fly.
Ron’s story is similar to mine, in that
electric park flyers brought me back into
the hobby nine years ago. At the time
they were exactly what I needed, and
The Inside Loop
Published by The Academy of Model Aeronautics
Rob Kurek
Director of Publications
Editorial offices: (765) 287-1256, extension
231 (8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays); Fax: (765)
281-7907
Contributing Editors
Dave Mathewson
President
Mark Smith
Executive Vice President
Staff
(765) 287-1256 | www.modelaircraft.org
Fax: (765) 289-4248
Advertising Representative
Mark Lanterman, Airborne Media, 7414
Burton Dr., Liberty Township OH 45044
(513) 755-7494
Model Aviation is an official publication of The Academy
of Model Aeronautics, Inc., an associate member of the
National Aeronautic Association (NAA). NAA is the
official U.S. representative of the Fédération
Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), the world governing
body for sport aviation, and represents the U.S. at FAI
meetings. NAA delegated to the AMA supervision of FAIrelated
aeromodeling activities such as record attempts,
competition sanctions, and selection of U.S. teams for
World Championships. (ISSN 0744-5059, USPS 087-930
Publications Agreement No. 40688541) is owned
exclusively by The Academy of Model Aeronautics, Inc.,
a nonprofit organization, and published monthly at 5161
E. Memorial Dr., Muncie IN 47302. Periodical rate
postage paid at Muncie IN and at additional mailing
offices. Canadian return address: Station A, PO Box 54,
Windsor ON N9A 615
Account Executive Yolanda Jones
Administrative Assistant Lisa Johnson
Communications Specialist Ashley Rauen
Director of Design/Production Carla Kunz
Editor Jay Smith
Graphic Designer Sarah Shaw
Managing Editor Shelia Ames Webb
Multimedia Editor Chad Budreau
Production Associate Jennifer Orebaugh
Senior Editor Elizabeth Helms
Stan Alexander
Bob Angel
Bill Boss
Paul Bradley
Sal Calvagna
Lee Estingoy
Mark Fadely
Dave Garwood
Dave Gee
Greg Gimlick
John Glezellis
Jim T. Graham
Donald Grissom
Jim Hiller
Louis Joyner
John Kagan
Rich Lopez
Joe Malinchak
Dennis Norman
Dean Pappas
Richard L. Perry
Mike Riggs
Aaron “AJ” Seaholm
Red Scholefield
Gene Smith
Joe Wagner
Editors Emeritus Bob Hunt
Michael Ramsey
Technical Editor Bob Aberle
W
they allowed me to pick up where I left
off and get excited again about flying
model airplanes.
Don’t get me wrong; I have both gas
and glow models as well and can
appreciate them just as much as the next
person. Ultimately, I believe that any
model, with any kind of power system,
that gets us interested in flying in the first
place and then succeeds to keep us excited
is fantastic!
I assure you that the coverage in MA
will continue to cater to fans of all
interests and skill levels. I have always
felt that the broad coverage that this
magazine provides is its biggest asset and
can also be the biggest challenge.
So please don’t judge us on just one
issue; give us three or four, because we
have a lot of ground to cover.
Before you put down the May issue, be
sure to check out the excellent article
about the 2010 F3J World Championship
by Team Manager Mike Verzuh. This US
team was the most successful to date,
capturing four out of five top honors.
I would be remiss if I didn’t take a
moment to thank Michael Ramsey for his
support to our organization and our
magazine throughout the last five years.
He has been a colleague, friend, and
flying buddy to me during the past three
years and will be missed. MA
Interim Executive Director Joyce Hager
CFO/Treasurer Doug Holland
05sig1x.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 3/23/11 11:03 AM Page 6