Newcomers
Bob Underwood
Box 40, St. Peters MO 63376
HAVE YOU ever thought about the fascination of flight?
This feeling has been expressed in many different fashions throughout the years. It is not often expressed in verbal or written form, but springs forth into our lives in a subliminal manner, and manifests its presence in our activities.
Sometimes the feeling is evidenced in our vocation; other times it simply becomes a recreational consideration. Sometimes full-scale aircraft are involved; other times you work with the smaller version. However, in most cases the same motivational forces tend to lead you in the direction of flying machines.
I am not going to focus this month's column on what those psychological reasons for this fascination might be—there are a host of them. Rather, I'll review a series of ironic and unfortunate events that occurred recently.
A call from AMA president Dave Brown informed my household that an accident had taken the lives of Montaine Mallet and Daniel Heligoin—the husband-and-wife full-scale aerobatic pilots known as the "French Connection."
Flying French CAP aircraft, the French Connection's routine was the personification of grace and beauty. Unlike the current crop of aerial performers who tend to rely on raw horsepower, head-slamming snaps, and punishing maneuvers, the French Connection was an aerial ballet accompanied by beautiful music.
When the news of their deaths was relayed to my wife, Rae, she was deeply saddened.
Each year, Rae and I work the AMA booth at the Experimental Aircraft Association's (EAA) show in Oshkosh, WI. A high point for her was the French Connection performance.
It became a running joke for everyone working the show; when it was time for the French Connection to perform, Rae would take a chair, find a dollop of shade, and lose herself in the beauty for those few minutes.
Several years ago, AMA Programs Director Jay Mealy had the opportunity to meet Montaine and Daniel during the Sun 'n Fun EAA Fly-In in Lakeland, FL. Jay revealed Rae's fascination with the French Connection routine, and a plan was hatched.
Later that year, Jay stole Rae away from the AMA booth at Oshkosh, and he took her to meet Montaine and Daniel on the flightline. Following a delightful conversation, Rae had her picture taken with them. She counts that as a real "aviation moment."
It's important for you to know that my wife is not an aviation buff. We spend many hours at trade shows—full-scale and model aviation—each year. The airplanes are not the fascination that holds her interest—it's the people!
Although those of us who do have an interest in airplanes may share the "people connection," other bonds bring us together.
It was ironic that days after hearing of the accident, I received my copy of Flight Journal (published by Air Age, which also publishes Model Airplane News), which is a compilation of exciting and beautifully produced material about aircraft in general.
... all facets of aviation weave a common fabric.
In the August 2000 Flight Journal, Editorial Director Tom Atwood featured an extensive article entitled "Living on the Edge—Air Show Pilots." Replete with quotes from interviews by Editor-in-Chief Budd Davisson, star performers such as Patty Wagstaff, Sean Tucker, and Wayne Handley explained their propensity for living on the edge. The French Connection was also included.
The touching part of the article was the lead quote:
"'I can't explain it,' says petite Montaine Mallet of the French Connection aerobatic team in her characteristically animated style. 'We just love it, you know? We'll be sitting in the airplanes getting ready to take off and we'll look over at each other and grin like little children. We are so lucky!'"
Those few words may help sum up the reason we have—or want to have—full-scale or model aviation-related experiences. Pushed into one envelope, we find challenges, exhilaration, release, stimulation, and a host of other feelings.
For Montaine and Daniel, we feel only sorrow. As my wife pondered the tragedy, she mused that if it was to be (their deaths together), while doing what they loved to do, that was what Montaine and Daniel would have wished.
I realize that this is a strange column for "Newcomers," but the longer I stay involved with this activity, the more I realize the way all facets of aviation weave a common fabric.
I cannot conceive of a single modeler who has not mentally become a World War I ace, a Chuck Yeager, a Charles Lindbergh, a Patty Wagstaff, or even a Waldo Pepper (movie character) as he or she pilots a model through the sky.
Although you may be loath to admit such a fantasy for fear you are deemed childlike, I challenge you to consider Montaine's quote. There's something to be said for stretching out in the lush green grass, gazing at the blue sky, and naming the puffy cloud formations as they drift overhead.
Try to accomplish that wonderful, relaxing feeling staring at a computer screen!
Sources of Information for Newcomers
The question is often asked, "What is the best source of information about the various aspects of modeling?"
There isn't a "best" source—any source is helpful.
One place to start is with the various monthly magazines. Each has a different style and, to some degree, focus. But all provide valuable hints. A number of magazines also provide product reviews that can be most helpful.
I realize that you are often skeptical about a product review, for fear that the magazine will gloss over problems in order to keep the manufacturer as an advertiser. That fear doesn't seem as evident in the model field as it is in other industries. To the credit of model manufacturers, most work to correct a problem when it is noted.
Other sources of information are the myriad publications developed for more specific concerns. These may be hardbound or paperback.
All too frequently, newcomers will ask, "What one book is best?" That's a tough question to answer, because the subjects of interest cover such a broad field:
- Free Flight
- Control Line
- Radio Control
- Covering
- Construction
- Equipment
- Flight trimming
- Instruction
- Repair
The playing field is so vast that one publication couldn't cover it all, or it would be so general that it would only be the frosting, with no cake.
It is also true that the time required to prepare, edit, and print a publication often renders some of the information obsolete.
Don't forget the ever-present Internet.
Throwing a query out will result in enough responses to keep you red-eyed for days. Remember that just as in raising wheat, chaff comes with the grain.
A number of catalogs available are very helpful. "Oh, sure," you say, "they're just vehicles to sell products." Maybe that's true, but many of them contain articles, albeit brief, that provide helpful information.
One catalog that pops into my mind is Sig Manufacturing's. A section within the catalog explains different grades and/or cuts of balsa wood, and the intended use for them.
The newcomer is often not aware that not only is the weight or density of the wood important, but the type of cut from the log is also critical.
I must shamefully admit that I don't have the most recent Sig catalog, so I can't tell you whether that section is still there or not.
Catalogs from mail-order firms often contain helpful bits of information—especially dealing with radio equipment selection. In many cases, these and other catalogs may be obtained free of charge.
One place you may have overlooked for obtaining catalogs and other items is the Membership Services and Product Guide and Membership Manual that AMA sends to each member. Tucked away inside the combined publications are coupons that offer free catalogs, samples, or reduced costs for items.
Cheers! MA
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
