The Microhenrys
by Ed Henry
Wilma... Jacque is flying upside-down ...but not on purpose
I'm sure glad I brought her with me
And now, ladies and gentlemen you'll all be amazed by my great flying ability!
First I'll climb high into the wild blue yonder
And start with a rolling outside loop
Is that all you've got to do is stand around and gawk?
<REDACTED> priced music CDs, inline skates, and designer sneakers lately?
Sure Mr. Weisman could buy stick-and-tissue models for under 25 cents as a youth, although he ignores the extras like X-Acto™ knives, glue, dope, pins, etc. Well, stick-and-tissue kits are still available today and in terms of today's dollar are cheaper than they were then. And radio systems are at an all-time low in cost and an all-time high in performance.
There aren't many kids who, if they truly want to fly RC, couldn't find a way to do so without selling drugs. We had a 14-year-old with minimal financial resources in our club who flew with hand-me-down gear and airplanes. As he became more skilled, older members would build airplanes for him, provide engines, etc. just for the joy of seeing him fly.
I believe many (possibly most) clubs and individuals would do the same for a Junior who lacked resources but came to them with a true desire to learn and a positive attitude.
The writer also intimates that, in his youth, nearly every kid was building model airplanes. I was born with a recessive gene that codes for model airplane building. I started school in 1947 and was the only one in my class interested in the hobby. I struggled for years with only Model Airplane News for guidance.
At high-school graduation, out of a class of 90, I was still the only one building model airplanes. The reason is simple: my classmates wanted more active pursuits. Sports, games, and bicycles topped the list and later it was sports, cars, and girls. Model building can be a slow, tedious process and it takes a certain temperament and mind-set to enjoy it. Most kids don't have the patience for it, then and not now.
Even if kits and radios were free to those under 15, I doubt you'd see a large increase in Juniors at the field. I've personally helped kids over the years who came to the field expecting to fly with a few minutes of instruction. When they discovered the amount of learning involved they were never seen again.
The writer indicates that, without newcomers, the AMA will be in trouble and assumes these newcomers must be young. I've been involved in RC clubs for over 30 years and club membership has grown steadily, with new members showing up at the field regularly. In most every case they are older, mid-30s and up, men with the maturity and patience for a hobby that can be demanding.
Rubber-powered Free Flight to Radio Control, no phase of the hobby can be considered easily mastered. I've seen fathers bring their children to the field, trying to foster an interest in flying, only to have them lose interest in 10 minutes and start nagging dad to go home.
In a nutshell, there aren't more kids involved in model aviation because of the commitment it takes, not in money but in the maturity and patience required to successfully assemble and fly a model airplane. Most young people would rather shoot hoops and ride their bikes. They simply find the hobby frustrating and boring.
A very few Juniors, the ones with the recessive model airplane gene who've joined our club over the years, have received the wholehearted support of the membership and became excellent pilots. Those who came out as a lark or with an "attitude" rarely made a second visit. It's a wonderfully creative hobby but it's not for everyone—actually, not for most.
It's hard to understand why the AMA, through its magazine, feels it necessary at regular intervals to associate RC and RC fliers with the "Junior problem." I get the uneasy feeling it's an attempt to fix the blame not the problem, and RC is singled out simply because we're the biggest target.
Here's a flash for you: Without RC there would be no new facility, no private field, and no sumptuous banquet. Like it or not, RC is the AMA's main cash crop. I don't say this expecting special treatment, just fairness.
Richard Trost Tucson, Arizona
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
