Flying for Fun
Milestones: There are things that mark passage through life; weddings, births, graduations, moves, new jobs, and other personal events become reference points as we weave the fabric of our lives. However, they are not usually of any particular importance to anyone but ourselves. I have completed 20 years of writing columns for Model Aviation. I originally prepared this column as a historical retrospective, then realized how insignificant those 20 years are to anyone else, and how arrogant such a column would be. While two decades of columns seems long, it pales in comparison to the tenure of Clarence Lee, Chuck Cunningham, and those from the past, such as Ed Lorenz and John Pond. One common thread motivates some who write columns regularly: a sense of fulfillment in hopefully entertaining readers with enthusiasm for modeling and adding to their enjoyment.
Flying for Fun
The Real Story: Several columns ago I related the "Wrong Way" Corrigan legend, based on what I have read throughout the years and seen in the newsreel coverage of Corrigan's "westbound" flight from New York to Ireland. I described his Curtiss Robin as "derelict." Many people probably believe that the CAA's refusal to allow Corrigan to cross the Atlantic was based on the poor condition of his aircraft. Well, it's not so! A letter from Charles V. O'Donnell (Eugene OR), who has long held interest in this subject, took us to task for "parroting" information without researching the facts. Charles wrote: "Doug Corrigan bought NC 9243 in 1934 in upstate New York and flew it home to California, stopping along the way to sell rides and pay for the trip. He then flew the Robin regularly for two years while he earned a living as an instructor and mechanic. In 1936 the Robin was stripped down and completely refurbished. A Wright J-6-5 engine was installed, long-range tanks of his own construction were added, and the Robin was repainted silver with black registration - simply because he could not afford more expensive color dope.
Flying for Fun
Comes The Revolution: That phrase comes from Al Capp's Lil' Abner comic strip; the citizens of Lower Slovobia thought that somehow a revolution would improve their icy weather. There have been some revolutions in model airplane building and finishing throughout the years; while they have not improved the weather, they have had greatly simplified building tasks. I'm thinking of three improvements in particular: the introduction of die-cut sheet parts in kits; cyanoacrylate (CyA) adhesives; and iron-on covering materials. The impact of these building aids can best be measured by the shift in modeling from builders to fliers. The majority of the newcomers to the hobby throughout the last 25 years might not be around if it wasn't for this revolution.
Flying for Fun
SAMENESS: Throughout the long history of model airplane building and flying, there has been a tendency for modelers to construct look-alikes. This used to be the result of a design doing well in competition and everyone jumping on its bandwagon. Lately it seems that what you see at the flying fields are cookie-cutter examples of what is available in kit form. Plan-built models are becoming more and more rare, while self-designs are almost unheard of. Some modelers avoid this "sameness" trend by changing the appearance of kit designs, and my hat goes off to them. This "kit-bashing" was illustrated in an article called "Just Imagine" in the June 1993 Model Aviation.
Flying for Fun
This month's column was inspired by the nostalgic joy that I experienced in developing the Rudder Bug construction article for the April 1998 issue, and hopefully will increase the readers' appreciation of contemporary Radio Control (RC) equipment. Measuring Success: Perhaps the most reliable index of a model's impact on the hobby is how often it is plagiarized. Consider how many reincarnations of Joe Bridi's Kaos have been kitted and/or published; the same can be said about Phil Kraft's Ugly Stik, Carl Goldberg's Zipper and Sailplane, Sal Taibi's Starduster, Bob Palmer's Chief, George Aldrich's Nobler, and a handful of other "benchmark" designs.
