nce again the idea of being
“green” has been presented to us,
and the ideas we have are
effective on a number of levels: what we
fly, how we fly, and the way we fly. That’s
green, as in the conscious manner in which
we affect the environment. I would extend
that into the manner in which we treat each
other and ourselves.
First, take a look at Ed Anderson’s view
of soaring. His article describes the use of
an energy source that is all around us every
day.
I have yet to dare him to find thermals
that occur at night. That would likely lead
to a discussion including a lot of hot air,
which would prove that, indeed, thermals
could exist 24/7. Ed is very much about
how efficiently we can enjoy model
aircraft.
The lead point about Ed’s article is that
the grace of soaring can be experienced on
a number of levels, and from a number of
locations. In the New York Long Island
area, Ed is well known for his clinics on
how to be an RC Soaring pilot.
We hope to hear him again at the
upcoming WRAM Show in White Plains,
New York, at the end of February. Do take
a listen if possible. Let us know what you
think.
Solar energy is still a budding resource
yet to be fully discovered, but it is starting
to become more commonplace. Resources
are available that offer kits of solar-power
collection systems in various quality and
output grades. The Chino Valley Model
Aviators did what I would have done; they
found the most economical system out
there and adapted it to the resources at their
site.
The how-to article about solar battery
charging is basic but gets the idea out there
and suggests that this type of limited
energy solution can benefit AMA clubs.
It’s basically a wireless power station, and
it has the possibility to make just about any
flying site more user-friendly, especially
now that we electric-power modelers are
demanding so much juice to fly.
How power is put to use is up to the
individual. If you’re a pilot of any model
type, battery condition, fuel, and the
weather are always considerations.
Along those lines, all of those thoughts
put together equal a lot of information a
pilot has to handle; that’s on top of what
we do with the transmitter to make the
model do what we want.
Pilots of full-scale aircraft regularly
seek training to increase and validate the
skills practiced at the field and in the
aircraft. That kind of diligence with a
model aircraft isn’t that bad of an idea
either, when you think about it. Have you
ever thought about going back to the
instructor that signed off your solo to ask
for further training?
6 MODEL AVIATION
Editor Michael Ramsey
michaelr@modelaircraft.org
The Inside Loop
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“ … have fun learning how
to be green.”
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O
Postmaster: Send address changes to Academy of Model
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Executive Director Jim Cherry
I feel fortunate to have had friends
that flew way better than I did; they
probably still do. From them, I asked for
help and consultation—more than just the
comments heckled from the pits. I know
when my loops aren’t round, thank you.
The encouragement led to practice in
AMA and IMAC precision aerobatics
that I enjoy to this day. If you want to be
a better RC pilot, enter an aerobatics
contest.
Another great way of learning how to
be a better pilot is to seek professional
flight instruction. As mentioned before,
the way we fly leads to thinking “green,”
because being a better pilot makes more
efficient use of our models’ time in the
air. Not to mention that it keeps the parts
of the airplane looking recognizable.
When Jay Smith said that he was
going to spend a few days at the 1st US
Flight School, we were at the field doing
a little sport-flying. The first thing I did
was get out from the rock I was hiding
underneath and congratulate him on his
decision. Just kidding.
Actually, admitting that there’s more
to learn and the need to be taught spoke
volumes to me. Jay is very much an
accomplished pilot—I let him fly all of
my stuff—and taking it upon himself to
find out what more there is to learn also
meant he was having fun and not afraid.
When Jay returned from the
experience, it was apparent that his
lessons paid off. Now I’m learning from
him, and he’s under the rock. I’ll bet that
if a club sent a member to a flight school,
everyone would have fun learning how to
be green. MA
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