Modeling Spoken Here

’m fortunate enough to have a back yard
that is big enough from which to fly.
Numerous RC, FF, and CL “missions”
have been conducted from “Hunt International
Airport.”
Until the advent of viable electric power,
most of those sorties were glow-powered
flights. Naturally the sound emitted would
bring varying amounts of interest and
comments from the neighbors. It also attracted
kids.
When I was a youngster living in the quiet
(at least at that time) suburban New Jersey
town of Union, I could identify a glow engine
running up to a distance of a mile away (or
more if the wind direction was right). Within
seconds of hearing one fire up, I would be on
my bicycle and heading toward the sound.
Usually I was just one of a number of kids
who showed up to watch some adult or
father/son team enjoying CL flying at a local
park or school yard.
Back in those days it was common to fly
CL models in parks. You might say that these
were the first “park flyers.” I’m fairly certain
that a large number of modelers got their start
by being in the right place at the right time to
get a little “stick time” courtesy of some
benevolent enthusiast.
Most localities also had a model airplane
club and with that a club field. New modeling
“inductees” would quickly find the directions
to the field and ask their parents to allow them
to attend a meeting or club flying session.
It was an era when most parents had the
time to do things with their kids and also the
inclination to follow through. Many father/son
club memberships were the result. The hobby/
sport of modeling was at its peak as a family
pastime then.
I vividly remember flying from our very
small front yard in suburban Union in the
1950s. My dad apparently figured that the
neighbors never got the chance to come to the
local club field to watch us fly, so he
thoughtfully brought modeling to them. Our
front lawn was so small that even on short
lines we were flying out over the street!
It was a time when the local police on
normal patrol would come upon this scene and
take a few moments to stop, watch, and even
hold up local street traffic so a proper landing
could be made on the tarmac when the fuel ran
out! Imagine that today. And indeed the
neighbors would sit on their porches and watch
each flight and applaud each successful
landing.
My neighbors today are, for the most part,
an accommodating group; they did not seem to
mind an occasional backyard flying session
with a glow-engine-powered model. Even
some long sessions during holiday picnics
were tolerated. I could tell, however, if I
pushed the issue and started flying on a daily
basis that their tolerance would quickly
diminish to complaints.
Instead of shutting down my personal
Aeromodeling Editor Bob Hunt
I
“airport,” I have switched to electric power for
all backyard flying activity. Now flying can
commence at dawn and no one even knows it
is going on.
The downside is that no one even knows it
is going on. Gone are the days when model
flying in local communities and urban areas is
tolerated from a noise standpoint, but also gone
is the lure of the sound of the engine to bring
kids and parents to watch and potentially get
involved.
The upside is that it appears that modeling
activity in suburban and even urban areas is
once again on the upswing. The one major
complaint all along has been noise, and now
that has been addressed.
Whether you are a fan of electric modeling
or not, you might be wise to embrace its
natural acceptance factor by the public. We
might have the chance to once again show
modeling to local kids and parents at the park
level, and perhaps even with the blessing of the
local authorities.
If we can convince the local park and
recreation commissions that we are good
neighbors who can offer a wholesome, safe,
and nonintrusive pastime for the residents, we
might be on the threshold of a new era of
modeling activity, the likes of which hasn’t
been seen since the 1950s. As the saying goes,
it’s something to think about.
Now I can hear my phone when I’m flying in
the back yard, so you can probably reach me at
(610) 614-1747. The E-mail-arriving “ding” is
harder to hear, but I check it often so try
[email protected] if typing is your thing. My
local postmaster brought his kids out to watch
me fly recently, so he’s aware of my affliction
and will promptly put modeling mail in my
box if you address it to Box 68, Stockertown
PA 18083. MA
Modeling Spoken Here
Published by The Academy of Model Aeronautics
Rob Kurek
Director of Publications
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Account Executive Angela Martin
Administrative Assistant Yolanda Jones
Aeromodeling Editor Bob Hunt
Associate Editor Michael Ramsey
Director of Design/Production Carla Kunz
Executive Editor Elizabeth Helms
Graphic Designer Sarah Shaw
Managing Editor Shelia Ames Webb
Production Associate Jennifer Orebaugh
Stan Alexander
Darwin Barrie
Bill Boss
Paul Bradley
Sal Calvagna
Mark Fadely
Dave Garwood
Dave Gee
Greg Gimlick
Jim T. Graham
P.T. Granderson
Eric Henderson
Jim Hiller
James Holland
Louis Joyner
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Rich Lopez
Dave Mark
D.B. Mathews
Dennis Norman
Richard L. Perry
Greg Rose
Red Scholefield
Gene Smith
Joe Wagner
Technical Editor Bob Aberle
... we might be on the threshold
of a new era of modeling activity,
the likes of which hasn’t been
seen since the 1950s.
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