The end of building season
by Mike Riggs [email protected]
Time to finish: For those who hibernate in their workshops during long winters, March is the time to bear down and finish the winter projects. Many a past building season found me sitting in front of the TV instead of finishing the previous summer’s dream airplane project. Spring is right around the corner, everybody—ARF, kit, or scratch—make your dreams a reality! All it takes is committing to spending half an hour in the workshop every day. Taking a day off is all right, but the main idea is to get some kind of doable workshop routine in your everyday life.
Garage Makeover
With the best intentions of putting a finish on my Black Magic this winter, I got hung up in late October. What the heck am I saying?
My building season began with helping my daughter build an airplane from a short kit. After I got her going, I realized that if she is using the primary building table, I needed somewhere else to work. No problem. I scabbed together a new workbench—on casters, no less.
While cleaning up after the workbench build, I came to the conclusion that, before the spray equipment came out, the whole workshop needed a makeover. Cobwebs gave my garage workshop the feel of an old wine cellar.
Improvements began with new paint on the walls, which led to new storage ideas. Are you following so far?
One evening my lovely wife stated, “You spend so much time out here in the garage—it should be living space.” Oh my gosh, I love her. Green light for a man cave!
As of this early December writing, despite a few sparks created by driving 3-inch screws through the house wiring, progress is being made. Stay tuned for updates.
Background and competition history
In Florida I just missed the finals that year, but we won the Team Championship for the US. I made five more US teams after that: in 1985, 1987, 1989, 1993, and 1997.
My last team trials were in 1999. I was able to win the US Nationals in F3A in 1987 and 1995. I've decided to leave F3A to the younger, more driven pilots, so now I'm currently flying in the Masters class. I won the Nats in Masters in 2009 and 2010 and placed fourth in 2011.
I enjoy flying Pattern models, but over the years I've done just about everything in aeromodeling. I started with helicopters in 1972 with a Du-Bro Whirlybird. I've been in and out of helicopters over the years, but now I fly them quite a bit.
I've raced Quickies and the old Formula I event. I've competed in Scale contests and Sailplane events. I have two control-line (CL) models hanging on the wall that I pull out from time to time. I also have some Old-Timer, rubber-powered free-flight (FF) models that I've built.
The hobby has been very good to me. In fact, it has been more than a hobby for a long time. I worked for World Engines from 1978 to 1983. Because of my experience in the hobby, I was employed as a UAV [unmanned aerial vehicle] instructor from 1987 to 1996. I trained Army, Navy, and Marine students to fly the Pioneer UAV.
I moved to Lancaster, California, in 1996 to work at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center designing, building, and flying a wide variety of research models.
Over the years, I have had connections with many of the major RC manufacturers. I am now fortunate to be a representative for Horizon Hobbies, Neu Motors, and Brenner Sharpe's Contra-Drive.
The change in the hobby from what it was when I started to its current state has been remarkable. I only look forward to what will come in the future!
Tony Interviews Jean Greear
"I'd like to introduce you to Jean Greear. Jean, along with her husband, Mike, are very active in Pattern flying in NSRCA [National Society of Radio Controlled Aerobatics] District 7. They began Pattern flying at the end of 2006 and have become mainstays at the Southern California contests.
"At every meet where they can, Jean and Mike bring their camper and hold a Saturday night barbecue. They have also become involved in scorekeeping. Either they themselves do the job, or they provide the equipment and use their camper as the headquarters. They both recently got their CD licenses from the AMA and ran their first contest in October 2011. Jean and Mike improve the camaraderie at every event they attend and have been a real asset to this district.
"Jean and Mike first came out to the field to learn how to fly in 2005. They were enthusiastic and I was able to teach both of them how to fly quickly. It wasn't long before they were building models to start flying Pattern. It has been very enjoyable for me to be able to help them with their efforts.
"Jean won the Sportsman D7 Championships in 2010 and again in 2011. She will be making the jump to Intermediate in 2012. I got together with Jean at our home field, the Antelope Valley Tailwinds in Lancaster, California, to ask her a few questions."
TF: When did you first start flying RC? JG: I began in the late '70s, flying gliders with Mike and his father. I built my first model then, a Goldberg Gentle Lady. We got out of the hobby in 1984 when raising a family, building a house, and going to four-wheel-drive rallies took up our time.
TF: What got you back into flying RC? JG: I was line dancing with a friend of mine, Terry Hemmis, when she mentioned that she had started flying RC models. We went out and watched a bit and that got us both back into the hobby.
TF: What got you interested in Pattern flying? JG: We went and watched a Pattern contest at Prado in 2005. That got Mike interested and he began to practice and compete in 2006. I started entering Pattern events in 2009.
TF: What is it about Pattern flying that sparked your interest? JG: Pattern is all about becoming a better flier and I enjoy the challenge. I also enjoy the camaraderie both while practicing and attending the contests.
TF: You'll be moving up to the Intermediate class in 2012. Are you looking forward to it? JG: Yes! It will be more work and I'll need to practice more, but I look forward to the challenge.
TF: Can I ask what you do for a living? JG: I am a school teacher who works with problem children in the sixth, seventh, and eighth grades.
TF: Now I see why you get along with us Pattern fliers!
Conclusion
Since I began flying Pattern two years ago, I have witnessed and been a part of many friendships such as Tony's with Jean and Mike. Flying Pattern is a common thread for bonds that last a lifetime. We depend on each other so much as callers, judges, and coaches that we cannot help but become good friends.
I only get to see my Pattern friends at contests. Frequently I find myself enjoying their company so much that I forget to include casual spectators in our conversations. After all, anybody who is in this hobby likes to talk airplanes, Pattern or otherwise!
Flight complete.
SOURCES
- NSRCA: www.nsrca.us
- Antelope Valley Tailwinds: www.avti.org
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
