NewComers
DURING THE LESS-than-a-year life of this column, we have presented information about a bunch of current educational programs. Some of these are general NewComer types, while the bulk are directed specifically toward youth. The youth programs range from simple one-shot community based activities to highly developed concepts incorporated in school environments. I am currently in contact with individuals in Illinois, Indiana, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania who are deeply involved with incorporating aviation technology-through modeling-in the school setting.
New Comers
THIS MONTH'S OFFERING has a word (or three!) for a variety of groups. Perhaps we could refer to it as something of a potpourri-but maybe not, since no one can spell or pronounce that correctly! To clubs: The Northern Virginia Radio Control Club celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. The club works very hard at not only welcoming NewComers but in maintaining continued communications with all members. Each year every member receives an updated handbook. The subjects covered make the handbook extremely valuable. Among a host of items, one can find:
New Comers
IT'S FLYING TIME! All over the country! Not just those selected parts where the sun and warm breezes grace the flora and fauna year around. True, there are those hardy souls who brave icy winds, snow, and assorted cold things to launch their creations into the crisp blue. The bulk of us, however, have ignored the lawn; chopped and sanded balsa; glued the pieces into a magnificent mass; and now await the warm, wonderful winds of summer. Are you ready? One of the items many NewComers indicated they wanted from this column was some sort of checklist or pre-flight. That's a laudable thought, and quite frankly, one I forgot in my early modeling days. I guess I'm the type who says, "aw, I won't forget that!" or, "I won't make that mistake!" and then turn right around and do it! In today's vernacular: been there-done that.
Newcomers
Most models, except for Free Flight (FF), have surfaces that must move in order to control the flight path. In beginning-type Control Line (CL) models, one surface moves-the elevator-and a Radio Control (RC) model generally has three or four things that have to be pushed, pulled, or rotated. You may be saying, "So what's the big problem?" Well, there's not a big problem, but for newcomers, how those "things" are pushed, pulled, or rotated often becomes almost an afterthought in the scheme of things. It shouldn't be! Since, with aircraft, there is at least one landing for every takeoff, it should be made certain that the landing is on the wheels - not vertical, inverted, or otherwise strange.
NewComers
FOR THE NEWCOMER interested in RC, one of the most difficult decisions of the many in the learning process is selecting a radio system. Let's run through a bunch of questions: Should I buy a used system? When working on a tight budget, buying a used system is a possible solution. But be careful! Over the years we have gone through a number of changes dealing with radio spectrum usage. The most recent of these occurred within the last five years, when we moved from "wideband" equipment to the present "narrowband" format. So-o-o, beyond making certain that your used find is in good condition, it is important to determine whether you can feel comfortable using it without fear of interference.
