Radio Control: Sport Aerobatics
IT'S ABOUT time for those of you in the frozen North to think about coming out of hibernation. The same is true for southerners who don't like temperatures below 50 degrees (me). Yes, Virginia, it does get cold here in Florida, no matter what the Chamber of Commerce says. In any case, all over the country fliers are thinking about getting out last year's airplanes and radio equipment and heading for the flying field. Before we do, it would be a good idea to check things out so that the first flight isn't a disaster. There are many things which can happen to airplane/engine/radio combinations after they are put away for the winter. Prevention is cheap, so we should all invest a little time to maximize our chances for a good start on the new flying season.
Radio Control: Sport Aerobatics
AS I sat down to write this column, I realized that it was five years ago that my first column was sent in to Model Aviation. During that first column, I introduced myself and described my plans for the future. It occurred to me that many current readers never read that first column, and that it is appropriate to update the situation on this anniversary. I am an aeronautical engineer with one degree from Purdue University and two degrees from the University of Michigan. From 1959 to 1979 I was an officer in the Air Force. After retirement and a six month mandatory waiting period (federal regulation). I returned to the job I had left at the Air Force Armament Laboratory, but as a Civil Service employee this time.
Radio Control: Sport Aerobatics
MY April, 1980 column contained a propeller load factor formula and a table of load factors for various engines. I credited E. J. Richburg, who had an article in the Central Virginia Radio Control Association Newsletter, as the source of the load factor table. Recently I received a letter from L. M. "Doc" Morrish (Flint, Michigan), who claimed that the material came from a series of articles he wrote and published in R.C. Sportsman magazine in 1976 and 1977. Unfortunately, I do not subscribe to the magazine and never saw the articles when they were published. When I obtain information of general interest from club newsletters, I always attempt to properly credit the source. I goofed in this case - sorry, "Doc."
Radio Control: Sport Aerobatics
INCLUDED in the recent bundle of RC-oriented newsletters which the AMA received and forwarded to me was one called Propwash, from the Mercer County (New Jersey) Radio Control Club. You can imagine my surprise to discover an article in it which I wrote almost 12 years ago! Back in 1968, I was the editor of the Worksheet, newsletter of the Western Ohio Radio Kontrol Society (Dayton, OH), and published an article I wrote about repairing airplanes. Like most newsletter editors I sent copies to AMA and the major magazines. The article was reprinted by R/C Modeler magazine in the December, 1969 issue under the title, "Don't burn it, REPAIR IT!"
Radio Control: Sport Aerobatics
EVERY once in a while, we columnists get caught by our own "wit." Such was the case when I recommended in the July 1980 issue that both new and experienced pattern fliers should read the rule book. Cited were two situations in which the rules had changed and I recommended that people "look it up" in the rule book. In the same issue, I recommended the Dirty Birdy to pattern fliers, partly because it rolled so well from inverted to upright, as in the "Two Point Roll." Well, Craig Arcari (Worcester, MA) sent this short letter: "I couldn't resist writing after all your references to `look it up' in your July column. Isn't the `Two Point Roll' now `Straight Inverted Flight?' Look it up, Ron." Ouch! It really hurts when your wise guy comments come back to haunt you. He's right, of course.
