Marcs' New Field
POSSIBLY ONE of the best RC flying fields in the United States, it's only 15 minutes from the downtown area of Wisconsin's capital city-but it's far removed from houses, traffic, and people. Best of all for the modelers in the area, it provides a home base for the Madison Area Radio Control Society (MARCS). This brand new, city-owned field is the result of eight years of planning by Madison officials and the MARCS. It complies with the latest AMA recommendations on safety, pilot separation, and spectator control.
He Will Achieve His Goal
STEVE MASSEY of Madison, WI, a physically handicaped 16-year-old, has learned to fly Radio Control model airplanes using his mouth to guide the transmitter control stick. Steve has been almost totally paralyzed since birth. Able to move only his eyes and mouth, he pilots a .46-powered Swizzle Stick trainer. Steve's friend and flying instructor, Bill McFarland, 48, launches the plane, sets the throttle, and hands the transmitter to Steve's mother-who holds the control box for her son. Steve grips the rudder-elevator stick with his lips, controlling the plane by nudging the stick back and forth, up and down. Because Steve can't turn his head, the plane must stay within a "window" in front of him-in that part of the sky covered by his eye movement.
Wing Jig
OVER THE YEARS, I've built maybe a dozen polyhedral wings-for Rubber jobs, Gassie Free Flights, and lately for RC Sailplanes. During the building of each wing, there has always come that time when I would get out the blocks, pins, protractor, and ruler to aid in establishing the proper angle on that outer panel. My building techniques have included squatting next to the workbench to get an eye in line with the bench top and standing on a chair to get my head upside down on the far side of the bench. I have frequently stood motionless for periods of 15 min. and more with fingers squeezing a trailing edge, thumb pressing on a spar, and little finger of the other hand bracing a leading edge while I maneuvered the tube of glue with the thumb and remaining free fingers.
