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Corky's CornerSpring 2007 by Corky Heitman FS-6 Hello Big Bird Lovers, The weather man says that it's nine degrees outside, here in Holgate, Ohio, but I am supposed to be writing a column for the Spring issue of HighFlight. I'm doing my best to remember what flying off mowed green grass, on a warm day, wearing shorts and short sleeve shirt feels like. I don't care what they say... Winter is a bad idea! I just returned from the AMA Convention, in Ontario, California (where it wasn't particularly warm either...) The crowds at the show were huge. Don't let anyone convince you that our R/C flying hobby is declining. It simply isn't true. The hobby has certainly evolved, and grown away from the "Center." Twenty-seven years ago, when the IMAA was formed, most everyone was flying a .40 powered, constant chord, slab sided box. But there were a few "Big Birds" showing up at the flying field. These planes were powered by engines that were robbed from various lawn and gardening tools., rigged with improvised hardware and wheels, and were generally either very under built... or very overbuilt. Walking around the trade show at Ontario surely drove home how MUCH better and easier flying a big bird is today. There are more engines (designed specifically for R/C aircraft) than you can even count. Servos, radios, control linkage hardware, mufflers, propellers, and all the accessories are everywhere. But at the same time, there is a huge explosion of activity in tiny, lightweight R/C models that can be flown just about anywhere. And fortunately, the technology is here that makes "frequency control" a non-issue.
My point about all of this is that it is entirely possible to be a total "Lone Wolf". You can buy a plane, and all the goodies that make it work, take it to your "secret, private flying site", fly it several times, and take it back home. But in doing so, you have deprived yourself of the best part of this hobby. That is the sharing, the laughing, the joking... the camaraderie of the hobby/sport. To me, that is the most rewarding part of the hobby. Our hobby brings together people from all walks of life. I've seen guys who drove to the field in a twenty year old clunker of a car... teaching a new student who drove there
And that is why the IMAA is an important part of your hobby. IMAA provides the structure for all of that fun and fellowship. HighFlight provides the Event Schedule, so that you can plan your leisure time, and your vacation trips. The magazine provides the reports of events, so you can see what other modelers are doing, and where you might want to go on your next outing. And the magazine provides the vendor resources, and the technological know-how to build your next model better, stronger, and safer. These are just some of the reasons why I am passionate about the IMAA. I hope you will be too! One part of IMAA that is particularly important to me is the Youth Program. I will be working with Program Director Mike Brown to do everything we can to support recruiting and assisting young flyers, at the Chapter level. Mike will be sending all of the Chapters information on how to find young flyers in your area, how to make them members of your Chapter, and how to make them members of IMAA (at a significantly discounted cost.) If you have any young flyers in your area now, I'd encourage you send some photos and information about them to HighFlight, to be included in future "Young Guns" columns. We want to encourage the youthful pilots, include them in their own section of the magazine, and hopefully motivate all of you to do whatever you can to support their participation in model aviation. I can't think of another hobby that can provide so much education to young people. (And without them even realizing what all they are learning.) Think about it... aerodynamics, mechanics, electronics, woodworking, composites technology, Oh yes, there's that piloting thing too.. our models have to obey the exact same laws of physics as any full size aircraft. Go find a "Young Gun" and see what you can do to help them along. It will put a smile on your face! I promise! Our Thistledown Flyers Fall Fly-in will be on September 7th, 8th, and 9th. Mark it on your calendar! See you at the Joe Nall! –Corky
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