Letters to the Editor - 2003/08
Corrections
In the AMA Convention 2003 coverage in the June Model Aviation, there was a mistake in the caption for Bruce Tharpe Engineering’s new Super Flyin’ King.
This model spans 11 feet and weighs 36 pounds. It is designed to be powered by a 50- to 80-cubic-centimeter gas engine. The all-wood kit was designed for sport flying or utility work such as aerotowing and lifting payloads.
Visit www.btemodels.com for more detailed information about the new Super Flyin’ King and all of BTE’s other great products.
The “AMA Walk of Fame Donors” listing on page 108 of the July Model Aviation should have read that a brick was purchased in the STARS club’s name instead of Pete Seiffert’s.
Photos in the July “Shoestring” feature were taken by Larry Hutson.
—MA staff
John Pond Plans
First, I want to thank [Bob Hunt] and the AMA for working towards restoring, archiving, and making the Pond plans collection available. I have a great love for plans and am glad to see that this collection won’t fall into the hands of people who may not appreciate their value. For that matter, I hope the Model Builder plans collection ends up protected in the same way at some point in the future!
Also, I want to give you my personal appreciation for your efforts in returning both Model Aviation, and indirectly, the direction of the AMA back towards the values of modeling, not the monetary value of modeling. We all have busy lives, and the current buffet of pre-built models are not only beautiful, but are certainly convenient to time-challenged people. But I think the hobby needs to be led, in this case by the AMA and Model Aviation, to remember what makes modeling lasting. Thanks for the great work. I actually read the “editor’s” column these days. And that’s a step in the right direction!
Carl Dowdy Raleigh, North Carolina
Raves for Project Extra
I can’t tell you how much I’ve enjoyed reading and re-reading “Project Extra.” I may never build this design, but the notes, tips, advice and expertise you have shared with us is super, a definite “keeper” for future reference.
I’ve been into building all sorts of things almost all my life. My modeling interests run the entire spectrum of model airplanes, but mostly just sport scale, with pattern, IMAA, and VR/CS overtones. I enjoy building and flying any of them, kits, plans or my own designs. I’m nearing retirement age and hopefully will soon have a lot more time to spend on this wonderful hobby/sport.
Congratulations and thanks to Mike Hurley, Erik Richard and AMA/Model Aviation for providing this most interesting series for a great project.
Allen Johnson La Place, Louisiana
From the Ground Up
Just wanted to drop you a line to tell you how informative I am finding your series on radio control system operation in Model Aviation. I am relatively new to RC systems and am currently interested in electric powered park flyers. I also may try electric powered gliders. I have been flying and building rubber powered competition models and towline launched competition gliders for many years.
I am looking forward to more of your articles. Keep up the good work.
Paul Kelly Costa Mesa, California
Co-Pilot a Boon
As a flight instructor I have found the FMA Direct Co-Pilot to be a boon for teaching student pilots.
Unfortunately, there seems to be a lot of resistance amongst traditional flight instructors to using the autopilot for teaching purposes and I find this short-sighted and regrettable. Many insist on using the buddy box system and while this system is great, it does have its shortcomings.
One gentleman I spoke to admitted that he had never taught a student with an autopilot and had no intention of ever doing so because the student won’t learn anything. His head remains stuck in the sand.
On the contrary, students learn much faster on the autopilot and while I cannot account for the difference, there seems to be less fear and knee-knocking amongst the students and this seems to inspire them to learn quicker. If one can remove the fear factor, learning comes quickly.
For the first time ever, I can actually walk away from the student and not worry that he will do something dumb. The autopilot will prevent this.
One of the most difficult things to teach, at least with my students, is the turn from base to final which quite often ends up in an overbank dive toward the ground. This seems to not occur at all with the autopilot.
Our only crash occurred when a student lost power during a go-around at low altitude and stalled it in. And yes, had I been using the buddy box I could have prevented this crash. But this was offset by the fact that he had been making some very good landings, having only to line up with the runway and adjust his throttle to land.
Different students learn on different learning curves but I am so convinced that the autopilot method is the best and safest all around that I will no longer teach anyone without having an autopilot installed. And for certain it prevents a lot of crashes and instills enough confidence in the students that they do learn faster.
Things work even better if the student has a transmitter that is capable of turning off the autopilot during flight, or, in the case of flap knob, reduce the amount of autopilot sensitivity, gradually eliminating it entirely.
Bob Wilson Franklin, North Carolina
Encouragement and Advice
This is in response to 14-year-old John Lodge’s letter in the June issue. John, I truly sympathize with you. I know what it’s like to want something so much that it’s on your mind from the moment you wake up until it fascinates you to sleep at night.
Don’t despair, you’ll get there. But first, you must go to your nearest flying field, and observe, listen, be a frequent spectator, and don’t hesitate to ask questions. There isn’t an adult modeler alive who doesn’t know that glistening, exciting look in the eyes of a 14-year-old boy.
Don’t be discouraged when they start to tell you they started with little rubber powered airplanes, and gradually reached the day when they got their first glow engine, which powered their first CL Ringmaster. Over the years those modelers accumulated great quantities of building materials. When they started into RC their biggest expense was the radio which, in those days, was the equivalent of $1,200 today.
To me you sound like the kind of kid we want in our hobby. I’m guessing you’ll find a way to realize your RC dream.
John P. Cuomo Whiting, New Jersey
John Lodge writes that he’s from a low-income family and that a good cheap basic trainer and support equipment cost $400. Someone’s been giving him poor advice. Even a fancy nearly ready-to-fly Megatech Merlin (just to pull one name off the web) with transmitter and charger costs $200. That’s all you need.
Electric trainers start at $35, with radio gear adding another $70. Add a charger and battery pack (about $25) for a total of $120. That’s buying new stuff (all prices from current web sites or magazine ads).
At our club, we often sell airplanes and used equipment at very low prices to low-income members, especially youngsters. I’ve given away a few airplanes, and so have other club members. It is not unusual for a beginner to get in the air for well under $100. And we have club trainers that they can fly for free.
If you want to fly RC, get in with the gals and guys who know how to fly inexpensively, and who know how to welcome and support beginners.
Jef Raskin Pacifica, California
I've been a club member for 5 years now which includes a group of beginners through advanced fliers. At least 3 times a year, some of the pilots are looking to give airplanes away, just to make room for new ones. Some sell radios and engines as well.
If you go to fields where men fly their airplanes and question them about getting started, I'm sure you will get plenty of advice and plenty of help learning how to fly. Our club even has a trainer with a buddy box that works great for the first time flier.
Bob VanderHorn Butler, New Jersey
You are absolutely correct in saying that it costs $400 to get the RC equipment you described. However, today, the RC world has changed radically. You need not spend $400, and you can still get into RC.
The era of miniature RC is here, and booming. For about $130 you can get a micro electric RC outfit, complete with transmitter, receiver, and airplane. Just look through the ads in Model Aviation.
You can also learn to build an RC airplane if you buy one of the many small kits (which begin as low as $39.95), and buy larger airplanes as your skill and financial situation grow, as they are bound to.
Today, there is no reason for a young man like yourself not to get into this wonderful hobby. Even though your situation is a tough one, and no one knows better than you how tough it really is, you can do this.
I am very much older than you, John, but I came from the depths of the Great Depression. My life was very hard, and as we both know, it isn't any fun being poor. But I love aviation, and got into this hobby. I love it and am still in it — in every aspect.
Join a local club — the help you get will be invaluable. Join the AMA for $1.00 a year — they can educate you into every aspect of this great hobby. Read this magazine — it will educate you on the right path. Don't go it alone — there is no need to.
Start small. Get an RC "park flyer" that can crash and fly again because it's made of foam and plastic. It isn't the airplane of your dreams, but its cost is low, and the fun is high. Many very experienced pilots are flying these!
Learn all you can on this "toy" airplane, and then graduate to the bigger ones when you can afford it. It may mean mowing lawns, getting a paper route, washing cars, or some other job to get the money to pursue your dreams.
Many have done it before you, and become successful in the world for it — you can, too. More power to you, John!
David Crown Des Plaines, Illinois
I have a few words of advice and encouragement for young John Lodge who wrote a letter in the June issue bemoaning the high cost of RC.
Firstly, RC has nearly always been an adult hobby. That is not to say youth should not participate, just that their numbers will in all likelihood be small by virtue of the funds required, skills and responsibility inherent in flying RC. If he is getting discouraged now, just wait until the first crash. That will determine if he really wants to fly or if it's just a passing fancy.
When I was his age, RC was an impossibility for me (and plenty of others I'd bet); Control Line was not. I did not say it was cheap either. I found ways to earn money in a small town/rural area and set realistic goals. John should also not overlook two other obvious things; He can go and get some summer jobs to earn the money. At fourteen, he should have enough energy to do most anything.
Why does the equipment have to be new? He should not overlook the option of good, used equipment, either from a swap shop or club member. With the right purchases he could fly at surprisingly low cost. Get involved in any way you can in the hobby.
In the meantime, there are some inexpensive free flight airplanes out there. He could be learning about the various parts of the airplane as well as how to set balance and trim, things that will be helpful when he finally takes his first lesson.
John Wolf Spring Lake, North Carolina
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
