The Inside Loop - 2011/07

6 MODEL AVIATION
“ … we need to think
of ways to introduce
modeling to the
general public.”
Editor Jay Smith
[email protected]
f we want our hobby to grow, we need
to think of ways to introduce modeling
to the general public. Mall shows,
charity events, and attending full-scale
airshows are some forms of outreach that
have been successful.
My friend, Jeff Shutic, who is a member
of the Lorain County RC Club
(www.lcrc.org), invited me to attend a
production of Billy Bishop Goes to War.
The show was running the month of May
and was a collaboration between the Lorain
County Metro Parks and TrueNorth
Cultural Arts (www.tncarts.org).
Because a WW I production was
happening right in their own backyard, the
club members stepped up to provide
models as stage props and to be displayed
in the main hall. A secondary room was
also provided to display all different types
of models, a video about RC, as well as
information to promote the club and AMA.
The production’s director even promoted
the club in her remarks preceding each
performance.
By the time I saw this excellent
production in the middle of its run, Robert
Brassell, Corain County RC Club
president, shared with me that a few people
attending the show had shown interest in
learning more about the club and possibly
becoming involved in flying. The night I
was there, a gentleman even inquired about
donating a new trainer airplane and engine
to the club!
This collaboration is a proactive
approach to bring awareness of model
aviation to the public and show what the
club can do for its community. Thank you
to the Lorain County RC Club members for
their hospitality and for promoting our
hobby and our organization!
This month’s event coverage is also
WW I related. The Blue Max RC Scale
competition celebrates its second year at
the fantastic Fantasy of Flight museum in
Polk City, Florida. I attended the event last
year, but terrible weather grounded models
and full-scale aircraft alike. Thankfully,
this year the weather was greatly improved
and T.J. Royhans was able to give the
competition the coverage it deserves.
If you are ever in the area, I recommend
a visit to Fantasy of Flight. Kermit Weeks
has the largest privately owned collection
of rare full-scale aircraft in the world, most
of which still fly regularly.
Although the term Steampunk was not
coined until the 1980s, the vision of steampowered
aircraft and machines has been
around since the 19th century. The works of
authors H.G. Wells and Jules Verne
immediately come to mind.
Paul Gentile has done a wonderful job
of providing a nice overview and showing
that steam powered-aircraft are not just for
fiction and have even been used in RC.
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
Mark Smith
Executive Vice President
Staff
(765) 287-1256 | www.modelaircraft.org
Fax: (765) 289-4248
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Mark Lanterman, Airborne Media, 7414
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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
Assistant Editor Jennifer Orebaugh
Communications Specialist Ashley Rauen
Director of Design/Production Carla Kunz
Editor Jay Smith
Graphic Designer Sarah Shaw
Graphic Designer Vickie Wilson
Multimedia Editor Chad Budreau
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
I
If you’re a fan of Golden Age of
Aviation biplanes, then I hope you will
enjoy the two WACO offerings we have in
this issue. Roy Day’s nice 44-inch-span
offering is of the less-frequently-modeled
WACO 10, as compared with the ARE and
YMF versions. He also supplied us with the
tips and tricks to make a cowl for the
WACO that can also be used to construct
cowls for other types of aircraft.
If you don’t have time for a scratchbuild,
or maybe want something a little
larger that can be gas- or glow-powered,
then the Great Planes WACO YMF-5D
may be for you. Tom Sullivan also supplied
us with two videos as part of the review: an
overview of the build and a flight video.
The link can be found in a sidebar in the
article.
Providing online content in the form of
additional pictures and videos is something
you will see us doing more of in the future.
This lets us provide you even more
coverage than space in the magazine
allows.
Before you put down this issue, be sure
to check out our “About Us” feature on
A2Z Corp for your chance to win more free
stuff. We have already given away several
thousand dollars in prizes and will continue
to do so every other issue. MA
Executive Director Dave Mathewson
CFO/Treasurer Doug Holland
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