Radio Control: Sport and Aerobatics
MANY of you are aware that I did not exactly welcome Turnaround Pattern. The reasons are complex, but my resistance was mainly a reaction to what appeared to be an attempt by a few individuals to cram something down our throats, whether we wanted it or not. It was like, "Eat your vegetables, they're good for you!" That apparent attitude by Turnaround promoters was resented by many of us and caused hard feelings for years regarding the event. Years have softened the edges of my feelings about Turnaround. I can think and talk about Turnaround now without getting all riled up. I even attend and compete in an all-Turnaround contest once a year in Jackson, MS.
Radio Control: Sport and Aerobatics
PLANNING to go to the Toledo RC Exposition? Also plan to attend the first annual FAI Pattern Judging School. Ron Chidgey will be holding it from 8:00 a.m. to noon on April 8-9 at the Radisson Hotel. I understand that this will be very much like the judging school he conducted in Europe last summer. You can attend the school in the morning and participate in the Expo activities all afternoon. Reservations: (419) 241-3000. I sure miss attending the Toledo show. While I was stationed in Dayton, OH (1964-69) and Washington, DC (1969-72), I went to the conference for many years at the old Lucas County Recreation Center (home of the Toledo Mudhens!). If you havea chance to go, don't miss it.
Radio Control: Sport and Aerobatics
MY TURN! My column in the April 1989 issue contained some of my comments on rules changes and an idea from an anonymous writer. I was surprised to see that AMA Technical Director Bob Underwood took exception to some of the things in that column, and I didn't have any more notice than any of you that his response would be published in his "A Note From the Technical Director" column in the "Competition Newsletter" section of that same issue. The lead times involved in editing/publishing this magazine mean that what you are reading right now is two months after my column and his response were published, and it is about three months since Bob wrote his comments. I feel that I ought to be given a chance to reply, and this is my first opportunity to do it.
Radio Control: Sport and Aerobatics
POTPOURRI is the best word to describe this month's column. It's a kind of catch-up-with-odds-and-ends column. There's no big theme, just several things that came up all at the same time. First: The NSRCA's address. I've mentioned the National Society of Radio Controlled Aerobatics (NSRCA) and its newsletter, the K-Factor, a number of times over the years. However, I don't really remember writing down whom to contact about joining.
Radio Control: Sport and Aerobatics
MORE on sharing Model Aviation with others. For several months I've been reporting on the activities of clubs in providing gift subscriptions of Model Aviation to local schools for only $9 per year. I just received a letter from Ed Hunter (District 5 Associate VP) who had an additional suggestion on how to share MA with others. The suggestion was printed in the September 1988 issue of a newsletter which Ed produces for all the AMA Charter Clubs in his state (Mississippi). In Ed's words, "What do you do with your old copies of Model Aviation magazine? Chances are that all they are doing is lying about the house getting underfoot, gathering dust, and making everyone else at home very unhappy.
