Five Fields
WITH THE SPECTER of losing our flying fields, we can't help but thinking back to how easy it was to find a flying site in the early days of our model flying life. There was an abundance of places to fly, and people were most cooperative when you had to enter their property to retrieve a wayward model. We have stories of errant models that caught a great thermal and flew out of sight. Then several weeks or even months later, the owner would receive a card from a good distance away notifying him that his model has been found. It was a very different time.
An Aerie: For the Key City Bald Eagles
YOU READ about it in the daily newspapers. You see it on television. People living near airports are complaining about the air traffic and noise levels and are demanding changes. In most circumstances the airports were there first, and over the years residential development has crowded in around them. It can be extremely irritating for all factions. Resolving the inevitable differences can cause tempers to run high. It can also involve a great deal of expense for the community.
Short Days and Long Nights: On the Frozen Tundra
For modelers living in Minnesota and points north, those long dark winter days are the perfect time to hole up in the workshop. There's time to get into really ambitious projects while awaiting the long, bright days of summer flying. From my vantage point up here in the North Country, I can't help but find some of the messages in the model magazines a bit distorted. This is especially true of periodicals published in the South or the winter editions of other magazines. I'm not blaming the editors, mind you. I'm blaming the ads. Reading some of these ads, you'd think that every winter us folks in the Frozen Tundra martyred ourselves to the snow and wind. You'd think we hibernated like bears as soon as blizzard weather hits. You'd be wrong - all wrong.
Hey!: Let's Go to the Airport
EVERY SO OFTEN my grandchildren and I pile in the car and head over to the airport. We live some distance from a large metropolitan area, so the airport is small and accessible. The children and I take our time strolling amid the various planes. I identify distinguishing features, showing them the difference between a high-wing and a low-wing, explaining why this one's called a tail-dragger, that one a trigear. We talk to the pilots working on their aircraft and chat with other airport watchers.
High in Muncie
Back in 1988, I visited the Reston site of the AMA Headquarters (Model Aviation, April 1988 issue). I was most impressed with the many historic models displayed and I thoroughly enjoyed visiting with the folks there who were involved in our organization. Such a visit elevates you from being just a member of the AMA. It gives you the opportunity to personally meet the people who are involved with our AMA.
