February 2001 7
FOR THOSe of us who grew up building
and flying model airplanes, the term “hobby”
has been the norm for labeling what we do
when we explain our passion to others.
“My hobby is model airplanes.” We’ve
been using this expression for so long, it
may have never occurred to us that by
today’s standards, the term “hobby” may
have a completely different meaning to
those who are younger and to those who
have never been model-airplane enthusiasts.
We may be doing ourselves a disservice.
I received a letter from John Brodak,
addressing the above with great concern. In
the interest of saving space, I’ll direct you to
Frank McMillan’s “Control Line Aerobatics”
column in this issue; John also sent Frank a
copy. Go ahead and read it; I’ll wait.
I’m pretty much in agreement with John’s
views on this subject. The actual usage of our
models—flying them—is indeed a sport.
Building them is still a hobby. Each term is
correct for the particular activity.
You could substitute “craft” for
“hobby,” but the reality is still a big part of
the whole, which cannot technically be
considered a “sport.”
John’s perspective is that of a Control
Line enthusiast, but his comments open a
much larger door; behind that door are many
different opinions on the subject, relating to
each aspect and discipline of our pastime.
Sport or Hobby? If I was compelled to
pick one term and live with it, I would opt
for sport—no question. Why?
As John’s letter suggests, the perception
of the average person is that a sport is more
serious than a hobby.
Those in charge of park usage or municipal
field scheduling will probably not consider
allowing such precious real estate to be used
for hobby purposes. In fact, the site in question
is normally referred to as a “sports field.”
We have become a sports-minded
society. In addition to the “classic” sports
(baseball, football, basketball, hockey, and
most recently in this country, soccer), we
now have “extreme sports” to consider.
Virtually everything that can be done with,
in, or on a given piece of wheeled, hulled, or
winged equipment is now considered a viable Continued on page 173
sport. Sports are what you make them these
days; for that reason alone, we must present
our pastime to the masses as such.
We can make an agreement amongst
ourselves to still revere the
hobby/craftsmanship aspects of modelairplane
design and construction.
How different the aforementioned and
other accepted sports would be if those who
participated in them were required to build
their own equipment.
Would Dorothy Hamill have won her
Olympic Gold Medal in figure skating if she had
to craft the leather boots for her skates, then cut,
shape, and sharpen the metal for the blades?
Probably not, but many participants in
other noted sports build all their equipment.
Do they refer to the construction of that gear
as a “hobby”?
You could put us under the umbrella of
“motor sports,” except that in those sports
the participant sits in or atop the equipment
in question, and steers, pilots, or rides it. His
or her body is involved with the motion of
the equipment.
So can we say that in order to be a motor
sport, your physical well-being must be
endangered in some way?
How about coming up with our own
contracted sports-category name? How
about “techno sports” or “model sports”?
Semantics is what we are talking about in
the end. What words conjure up the proper
images to present to those who can do us some
good in terms of real-world exposure and realworld
acceptance? Education is a big part of it.
I have no problem with athletics and/or
the organized sports that young adults play.
I think it’s great to get them involved with
something that teaches positive lessons,
while building strong bodies and minds.
However, it bothers me terribly that there is
so much for the athletically inclined kids to do,
and there are practically no organized activities
for the kids who are technically inclined.
Bob Hunt Aeromodeling Editor
The actual usage
of our models—
flying them—is
indeed a sport.
Photo by Paul Vliet
Modeling Spoken Here
Sure, we have modeling programs for
the younger set, but have they been effective
in getting the message out? Perhaps our
focus is wrong.
Maybe we should encourage competition
a bit more. Competitive sports are swelling
with participation. If the average kid had
something fun to do with his model when
he’s finished— something that was properly
organized and administered on the local
level—we might see an upswing in activity.
Does there have to be a competitive aspect
for an activity to be considered a sport?
Of course not. Many find pleasure in playing
tennis or golfing for fun. Modern faired-in
motorcycles are called “sport bikes,” but most of
them are never used in a competitive situation.
Model airplanes (maybe we should call
them miniature airplanes) can be, and for
the most part are, built and flown for fun.
Those who enjoy them on that level should
never have to feel pressure to compete.
Perhaps the term “recreational sport” is
most appropriate.
I passed this editorial by my old friend and
AMA President Dave Brown, and by AMA’s
Director of Publications, Rob Kurek, just to
hear comments on an important issue.
They came up with the same thought on
the subject; the gist is that most competitors
do not consider themselves “sport fliers.”
This is odd, because competition flying
comes much closer to the dictionary’s
meaning of the word “sport.” They prefer
the label “competition flier.”
Conversely, those who prefer to keep the
designation “hobby” tend to call themselves
“sport fliers”! Go figure!
In no way do I wish to diminish the lessons
learned or the enjoyment gained from model
building. It is where I receive my greatest
satisfaction, and I suppose I will always
consider it a hobby.
Nor do I think everyone should become
involved with competition flying. Enjoy this
pastime anyway that makes you happy and
content.
If rethinking how we present this activity
to the masses will gain us more participants
and more places to participate, I would
gladly refer to it, in its entirety, as a sport.
Communication: In my first editorial last
month, I forgot to let you know how to get
in touch with me. I’m not working from the
AMA offices in Muncie IN, so you won’t
reach me at the address and telephone
numbers there—at least not quickly.
My office telephone number is (610)
614-1747; my fax number is (610) 746-
9638; and my address is Bob Hunt, Model
Aviation Aeromodeling Editor, Box 68,
Stockertown PA 18083-0068.
I’d be happy to hear from you about
any modeling-related subject. MA
[email protected]
Continued from page 7
Aeromodeling Editor
