Letters to the Editor
5161 E. Memorial Dr., Muncie IN 47302
SkyCrawler Update
Response to SkyCrawler (May 2001 MA) has been overwhelming, and I appreciate the letters that have come to me.
Three problems have been pointed out; one was addressed in the July "Letters to the Editor," and I would like to address the other two.
- The telephone number that I listed to buy the gearbox is not answering. The gearbox is available through Hobby Lobby as part HLH 783.
- The JETI speed controller will sometimes cut the motor off when the battery is fully charged, if you stroke the throttle to full speed very quickly.
This problem can be overcome by slowly bringing the motor to full rpm. It may take 30 seconds or so to bring the motor to full speed, but it will solve the problem of early cutoff of the motor by the speed controller.
Thanks!
Clark Salisbury 671 E. 2160 N. North Logan UT 84341
Club Experiences
I read with interest the letter "They Were Right" on page 9 of the April 2001 issue, and I have a different take on the whole subject.
The first club I belonged to, the instructor flew back and forth across the field at about 70 feet in the air, and when he reached the end of the field he handed me the transmitter and announced, "turn the airplane around."
Well, it took about 10 seconds for me to dive the airplane into the ground, and $65 in parts to rebuild it. And that was the end of the first club.
The next club I joined used the buddy box to train new fliers. I had a very competent instructor; the only problem was that I used an electric motor with 16 cells for power.
By the time he sedately got to 350 or 400 feet and gave me control, and I got into a little control problem, he would announce, "I got it, and I think your battery has had it." At that point he would land the airplane, and I had maybe 15 seconds of flight time.
I would install a newly charged battery and away he would go, same scenario, and I had maybe 20 seconds that time.
Well, after eight weeks of this I got tired of the 30-mile drive to the field for less than a minute of control time. And that was the end of the second club.
I have purchased a park flyer, just a little bit of an airplane made with sticks, easy to repair, and I am going to teach myself to fly, and it won't cost me $100 to join a club. I think clubs are great, after you know how to fly.
Gus Gexsert Warren, Michigan
I am writing in answer to Bob Underwood's "Newcomers" column in the April 2001 Model Aviation about flying clubs. I would like to relate my experience, which I hope will help other clubs to grow and prosper.
I started flying RC (Radio Control) by going to the local field and talking with pilots, about 20% of which belonged to the local AMA sanctioned club. I was shown a list of the club instructors and contacted a few by telephone. I left messages on their answering machines and none returned my call except one.
I met with him at the field and he advised me to join AMA and the local club, in that order. I joined AMA and the local club. At the time I was in my late 20s and my instructor was in his 40s.
Four other guys, in their early 20s, tried to fly with me and the same instructor. We all joined AMA and the local club. We attended the club's monthly meetings with our instructor. It was a rather large club, and there was virtually nobody under the age of 70.
I often read in Model Aviation that we need to get more young people involved in the hobby/sport to keep it alive and growing. At these meetings, as much as the five of us tried to socialize with the older members, they basically wanted nothing to do with "kids." They all apparently knew each other for a lifetime and kept to their little clique.
Of the few members under 70, men in their 40s and 50s, almost all of them didn't like our instructor (who had just signed up five new members for their club) and they ridiculed him and called him names.
After several months attending meetings and trying to be accepted by the older members, all four of the other guys quit the club. I stuck it out and renewed for another year. But after two years of attending meetings and having 99% of the membership not interested in talking to me, I quit, too. Oh, the guy who signed me up each year and collected my money was nice to me.
It was like going to someone else's high‑school reunion—everyone had a history with each other and they were all in their 70s and 80s and didn't seem to want to make new friends under 65.
The funny thing is that it doesn't work that way at the flying field I currently use. There are several older men, many of whom fought in World War II, who hang out at the field every day. These gentlemen are wonderful. They offer a helping hand and welcome anyone who loves airplanes, be they 17 or 77 years old.
Not only do they share their knowledge and skills with newcomers, but when the wind kicks up you can sit with them and they'll tell you stories of when they flew fighters in World War II combat. I treasure these men and the things I've learned from them, both about flying RC and about real combat events.
I'm proud to say that the guy who helped teach me to fly my P‑51 Mustang actually flew P‑51 Mustangs in World War II over Germany! How many of us can say that? And you know the one thing all these great guys have in common? None of them belong to the local club.
Our field is on county property and isn't owned or run by any club. It's open to everyone and 80% or more of the pilots don't belong to any club. Thank God for the fact that I have a field to fly from where I don't have to join a club that couldn't care less if I'm there.
Every time I see an article in Model Aviation that complains that there aren't enough young people getting into RC, I think of my experience joining a club. (And I wasn't that young—I was 29!) How would they treat a 15‑year‑old? This time I finally decided to write, after reading Bob Underwood's column.
If there are any other clubs out there like the one I used to belong to, maybe they should look around and try to make the effort to spend a little time talking to the younger people and making some new friends. Their clubs will grow and they'll get to share the expertise and knowledge they've gained in all those years.
I hope this club was just an exception and not the rule. I guess when I'm 70 I can go back there and be accepted with open arms!
Lance Novak Studio City, California
Congrats for TOC
I must congratulate you and Bob Noll for the article on Tournament of Champions that appeared in the April 2001 issue of Model Aviation. I attended the event and loved it, but left with many questions in my mind.
Bob Noll's write‑up of the event answered all my questions and added greatly to my appreciation of the event. I have never seen so much good information in such a short article! My hat is off to MA and Bob Noll.
Charles A. Mackey Fallbrook, California
Help for Radial Engines
In Jan. 2001 ("Letters to the Editor") a member asked for help running radial engines. I publish an info pamphlet, which should help considerably. The cost is $3—it's an 18‑page primer.
Kenneth H. Smith Model Ignition Box 7206 Nashua NH 03060
(Continued on page 183)
Letters to the Editor
Show Safe Practices
In the April 2001 article "Safety Comes First," the subject matter concerns keeping your fingers out of the prop arc.
Then why are two photos showing two gentlemen kneeling in the prop arc printed? Notice where the nose of the airplanes are in relationship to the lines these gentlemen are kneeling on.
It's obvious these two are in the arc of the props, and are violating the safety rules mentioned in "Safety First" articles about getting out of the arc ASAP and minimizing our chances of injury.
I suggest they try starting the airplanes from the front, or they might lose more than just their fingers.
Instead of talking safety, let's also show it by choosing photos that show people enjoying their modeling activities in a safe manner.
Dave A. Briggs Durand, Michigan
Good Service
Almost every day we read about the poor service people received from various vendors. I thought you might enjoy hearing about the opposite type of service I just received from one of the well-known vendors in our hobby.
Several years ago I bought an O.S. 91 Surpass engine with a pump. I installed it in a Top Flite P-47 with retracts and flaps. It flies the model very realistically, and I have accumulated over 70 flights on the aircraft.
I was going to take it out and fly it several weeks ago to make sure it was okay for our upcoming show-team season. For some reason, it had no compression. I have always used Byron 20/20 four-cycle fuel in it, and would run it dry prior to putting it away.
I sent it in to Hobby Services, where they discovered a broken valve spring. Though the engine was far out of the warranty period, they replaced the broken valve spring and checked the engine over. They shipped it back to me at no charge.
The engine runs great, and needless to say I feel that Hobby Services was more than fair.
Gary Sparks Tucson, Arizona
Looking for Help
I have inherited a Tennellec, Microscan Model MA I, but no owner's manual. I tried calling the factory, but it no longer exists as I am told. Does anyone know of an owner's manual I could borrow long enough for Staples to copy or will someone make a copy and mail it to me?
My address: Box 115, Lucama NC 27581, my cell phone is (252) 245-0547, and my E-mail is [email protected].
Phillip Honeycutt Lucama, North Carolina
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
