Battle for RC Frequencies
HOW WOULD you like to fly Radio Control at the AMA Nationals, and upon arrival discover that there were 268 RC contestants-with over 200 of them on your frequency?! That situation-at the 1958 Nats in Chicago-vividly illustrates one of the painful steps the AMA encountered in its struggle to obtain RC channels for the rapidly growing family of RC fliers. This is the story of the early years of flying on RC frequencies, and the many battles that were fought to obtain the first RC channels from the FCC. Over a span of 40 years the Academy of Model Aeronautics has engaged in at least six confrontations with the Federal Communications Commission to acquire new RC channels, or to protect those channels already gained. Equally important, we fliers needed channels that did not require examinations for licensing.
Battle for RC Frequencies
THE RC POPULATION grows-1952-1958. Prior to the acquisition of the two license-free RC channels, the RC Nats held in the late 1940s averaged about 30 entries, all of whom used Ham frequencies in the 50 MHz band and required a Ham operator license. By 1951, when the new 465 MHz RC gear was available from two companies, Citizen-Ship and Babcock Models, the Nats RC entries were evenly split between the Ham 50 MHz and the license-free 465 MHz frequencies.
History of RC Flying
This Navy N-9 seaplane was successfully flown by RC on September 15, 1924 at Dahigren, VA by Navy Lt. J.J. Ballentine, the officer directly below the propeller hub. On his right is Mr. C.B. Mirick, the designer of the radio control system. The second man on Ballentine's left is C.C. Middlebrook, father of RCer Carlton Middlebrook of the "Middlebrook Connection." Photo courtesy of the Naval Surface Weapons Center.
History of RC Flying
THIS IS THE STORY of how Radio Control model aircraft got started in the U.S. It tells of the pioneers who developed the RC hobby by combining their knowledge and skills with the related experiences of earlier inventors. The background prior to the invention of hobby RC was presented in the preceding issue. The gas model and gas engine were two of the essential ingredients which arrived during the early 1930s. Ham radio with its compact homemade receivers and transmitters also came during the same period. Military and commercial interests had demonstrated the feasibility of RC in large boats and aircraft during the 1920s. All the ingredients were there-technically-for clever, dedicated, and inspired modelers to invent hobby RC aircraft.
History of RC Flying
THE 1937 NATIONAL CONTEST revealed, in the preceding installment, that the beginning steps of RC model plane development were a blend of two different hobbies: gas-powered model planes and amateur radio. The modeler needed to produce a stable, controllable plane which could easily carry the radio gear, and the radioman needed to produce the airborne radio gear to tolerate the environment of vibration and ignition noise-and hard landings. Only a few individuals possessed both skills, so most of these early efforts utilized at least two persons. The stories of the next four Nats, starting with 1938, will highlight many of the advancements as they happened. While there were just six entries in 1937, the number had climbed to 26 by 1941.
