Flying with Fred - Volume III, No 8
Ah, May- the
Merry Month. The “gee, it’s getting warmer- where’s my
transmitter?” month. It’s the month when you discover
that you didn’t put after-run oil in that engine at the
end of last season. It’s the month when you try to
remember how long those ni-cads have been around- and
try to charge the crap out of them anyhow. It’s the
month where ALL sorts of people come knocking at my
door- some total newbies to the hobby (and club). Some
reappearing like ghosts from the past, with a wistful
look like they’re coming home somehow, back to RC
flying, showing me their old membership cards- either
dog eared and falling apart, or almost brand new, and
just out of the drawer where its been kept for… how
long? I’ve recently seen cards that expired 5, even 10
years ago…amazing.
In the movie “Field Of Dreams” James Earl Jones’ character, before walking off into the “corn” indicates how baseball has been the constant over the years, and how folks long for simpler, less complicated, “fun” times of their youth. These times, of course, included all of the good things associated with an afternoon (not evening, which is more of a modern reference) of baseball- hotdogs, soda, apple pie, etc. “They’ll dip themselves in magic waters…” These days this is the feeling I get every time I get near a model airplane. Everything mundane, day-to-day and bothersome seems to fog off in the distance when I start to glue balsa to balsa, or dial in an engine, or charge up all the electrical stuff, or load up the van for a trip to the field.
Once again, for the younger folks who’s timeline and experience does not weigh heavy on them, the balm of nostalgia is not yet as powerful, as soothing an aphrodisiac as it is for those of us with a great deal of water under the keel (air under the wings?). The therapeutic value of our hobby- in fact, any hobby- is well documented. It’s why we’re involved in the damned process to begin with- whether we acknowledge it or not. I just figure we have it better than other pastimes. We are specialists deluxe- creators, assemblers, engineers, pilots…and kids…all in one. Our creations are real, live wonders of various disciplines- no “virtual” reality for us. Our skills are unique and not to be found in a large majority of the population. And we’re in the middle of the Golden Age of RC Flight. Remember to feel the wonder the next time you spend 5 minutes- or 5 hours- in our unique universe…
In the movie “Field Of Dreams” James Earl Jones’ character, before walking off into the “corn” indicates how baseball has been the constant over the years, and how folks long for simpler, less complicated, “fun” times of their youth. These times, of course, included all of the good things associated with an afternoon (not evening, which is more of a modern reference) of baseball- hotdogs, soda, apple pie, etc. “They’ll dip themselves in magic waters…” These days this is the feeling I get every time I get near a model airplane. Everything mundane, day-to-day and bothersome seems to fog off in the distance when I start to glue balsa to balsa, or dial in an engine, or charge up all the electrical stuff, or load up the van for a trip to the field.
Once again, for the younger folks who’s timeline and experience does not weigh heavy on them, the balm of nostalgia is not yet as powerful, as soothing an aphrodisiac as it is for those of us with a great deal of water under the keel (air under the wings?). The therapeutic value of our hobby- in fact, any hobby- is well documented. It’s why we’re involved in the damned process to begin with- whether we acknowledge it or not. I just figure we have it better than other pastimes. We are specialists deluxe- creators, assemblers, engineers, pilots…and kids…all in one. Our creations are real, live wonders of various disciplines- no “virtual” reality for us. Our skills are unique and not to be found in a large majority of the population. And we’re in the middle of the Golden Age of RC Flight. Remember to feel the wonder the next time you spend 5 minutes- or 5 hours- in our unique universe…
I have my
reporter’s hat on now- look out. The May meeting had a
few more folks in attendance than the previous outing,
and Fredrico Jacobs, who just recently joined the club,
won a $50 check (our Treasurer did not have time to get
a gift certificate) in the raffle held. I handed out
hard copy membership rosters to those who desired one.
Fred Freyer showed a GREAT collection of aerial
pictures he took while spending his first two hours
ever in a 1:1 scale Cessna, gently trolling the skies
over Westchester, with some blonde hottie that was (or
so we were told) his instructor. Whatever you say,
Fred… You can see the majority of them on the web site,
thanks to Lyle A. You can also see, in no uncertain
detail, the proximity of the field to the condos, and
just about everything else, for that matter. That’s
right- just another friendly reminder to keep your
airplane OUT of the no fly zones.
My list for the Memorial Day weekend is long, I’m afraid. Should I fly, or should I build/assemble? Looks like installing the air conditioning units will come first, if the weather is any indicator. If I can find just one, maybe two hours somewhere Friday or Saturday, I can have my Four Star 60 ready for the skies by Sunday. Hope springs eternal. Damn- I DID forget to put after run oil in the Fokker… need to fix that wing on the Bristol… how old IS this fuel, anyway… good move, Fred- you remembered to write down the first use date with a sharpie on this nicad pack…bad move, Fred- you didn’t write down which are models #2 and #3 on this transmitter…sorry, Brandy- ask mommy to take you out… you were going to patch the monokote on that Dazzler wing, weren’t you…where did I put those longer bolts for this engine mount…gosh, I forgot I had these wheels…okay, here’s the last list, from…when?- great- two out of 15 items done…gotta go to the boys’ room…love you too, hon- coming to bed soon…is that clock working? Who cares- I have…three days?…aaaahhhh….
Fly safely, but… FLY!
My list for the Memorial Day weekend is long, I’m afraid. Should I fly, or should I build/assemble? Looks like installing the air conditioning units will come first, if the weather is any indicator. If I can find just one, maybe two hours somewhere Friday or Saturday, I can have my Four Star 60 ready for the skies by Sunday. Hope springs eternal. Damn- I DID forget to put after run oil in the Fokker… need to fix that wing on the Bristol… how old IS this fuel, anyway… good move, Fred- you remembered to write down the first use date with a sharpie on this nicad pack…bad move, Fred- you didn’t write down which are models #2 and #3 on this transmitter…sorry, Brandy- ask mommy to take you out… you were going to patch the monokote on that Dazzler wing, weren’t you…where did I put those longer bolts for this engine mount…gosh, I forgot I had these wheels…okay, here’s the last list, from…when?- great- two out of 15 items done…gotta go to the boys’ room…love you too, hon- coming to bed soon…is that clock working? Who cares- I have…three days?…aaaahhhh….
Fly safely, but… FLY!