MA welcomes Scott Stoops
As a nearly 28-year member of the AMA, it was always a goal of mine to give back to the hobby by writing for Model Aviation. With so many respected modelers’ names gracing its pages, I was honored to accept Editor-in-Chief Jay Smith’s invitation to write a Flight Training column.
My name is Scott Stoops, and nearly everything in my life—other than my wife and three children—revolves around airplanes. I work as an airline pilot for a major airline, fly a full-scale aerobatic airplane in competition, and develop model airplanes for 3D Hobby Shop. I wrote and published an RC flight instruction manual and have written more than 100 articles for various RC magazines.
I still learn something new nearly every time I fly full-scale or RC airplanes. For me, learning is the majority of the fun in this hobby. It is my hope that this new “Flight Training” column offers not only good information, but is also inspiring and fun.
Safety and lessons
To get this column rolling in the right direction, I want to focus on what I consider an important subject: safety. I’ll be the first to offer a mea culpa. I’ve nearly killed myself multiple times in airplanes and injured my hand severely as a result of a model propeller strike. I’ve also scared myself probably a dozen or more times throughout the years with both models and full-scale airplanes.
I certainly never intended to put myself into these situations, but I still did. The problem with gaining experience with airplanes—either full-scale or model—is that the test often comes first, and the lesson comes second. If you survive the test, you get to learn the lesson. Fortunately, we can learn from others’ mistakes. I’ll share one of mine.
My first substantial exposure to the “test, then lesson” paradigm was in a full-scale airplane shortly after I got my private pilot’s license. As a wildly overconfident 17-year-old high school senior, I had recently checked out in my first aerobatic airplane and completed a basic spin and unusual-attitude course.
I was scheduled to start learning aerobatics with my instructor, Troy Hozempa, the next week, but in my youthful state of exuberance I thought I had earned the right to go play a little. The last pilot had left the parachute in the seat, and all I had to do was strap up and let her rip. I was, after all, a reasonably accomplished RC pilot and a competent—if green—full-scale pilot. I could certainly get myself through a Hammerhead, loop, and a roll, right? Wrong.
At the top of my first Hammerhead turn, I inadvertently entered what can only be described as the worst three-turn “hammer-spin” imaginable. Good thing I had some spin training, because without it I likely would have been a statistic. Like a dog caught chewing its owner’s shoes, I nursed the Citabria back into the pattern with my tail between my legs, knowing that I was neither knowledgeable nor prepared enough to make that jump without instruction. The reality is that no one is.
So what is the takeaway from this story? For starters, get help and instruction. If you don't know the answer to a question or the correct way to complete a task, never feel embarrassed to ask for help.
The AMA is arguably the best resource on the planet for getting questions answered through knowledgeable assistance at the field or in the shop. Use the organizational structure available to you to help ensure your success in this hobby.
Takeaways and advice
- Seek instruction and mentorship whenever you attempt something new.
- Use the AMA, flying buddies, books, this magazine, and RC forums to learn—there is no reason to “fly blind.”
- Overconfidence is dangerous—this applies to driving, operating power tools, and especially flying model airplanes.
- Treat every aspect of the hobby seriously: building or assembling the model, rigging the model, flight testing, and routine operation.
- Always consider spectators and non-hobbyists. Flying alone in a park without a spotter can put others at risk.
- I recently had a power-system failure while flying a model at a local schoolyard and had to dump the airplane to avoid striking a group of teens walking through the area. Without a spotter, I wouldn't have known the kids were at risk until it was too late.
- Know your limits, respect the risks, and actively manage both.
What I’d like from you
I'd like to hear which skills and/or maneuvers you need to work on. I'm happy to take requests, and I love teaching RC flight skills. With such a wide variety of flying styles, the different maneuvers you can master are almost endless.
Please send your comments and requests to [email protected]. As always, remember that learning is fun, and fun is what this great hobby is all about!
Contact / Sources
- Scott Stoops
1907 Wasatch Dr. Longmont, CO 80504 [email protected]
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
