Letters to the Editor
5151 E. Memorial Dr., Muncie IN 47302
Correction
An incorrect phone number for Aero Dyne was listed in the April 2000 "FF Duration" column (p. 131).
Aero Dyne's number is (760) 948-6334.
Quite a Surprise
The April issue of Model Aviation included a special surprise for me.
I refer to the model of a Fairchild 24 featured on the cover. It has the same N-number as a full-scale Fairchild 24 I once owned.
My airplane was built by the Temco/Fairchild Co. of Dallas, TX in September 1946. It was designated as a Fairchild F24-W-46 and was powered by a seven-cylinder Warner-Super-Scarab radial engine of 165 hp with an Aeromatic pump.
It was a delight to fly, and drew admirers wherever I flew it.
I hope Mr. Hannah enjoys flying his Fairchild 24 as much as I enjoyed flying mine.
James W. Hill Oak Harbor, Washington
Female Fliers
I would like to take a moment of your time to tell you about us female fliers.
I am the secretary and an active member of the Salem Barnstormers here in New Hampshire. There are 85 members and I am, at this time, the only female.
I have been flying for a year, and I know this is a "man's" hobby, but there are females also. Through articles and advertisements, it is all geared toward the men.
For example, which I find funny, is the advertisement with a girl in a bikini holding a plane. Put a man in a bikini and maybe I will buy the plane.
I love the Micronews, but in the past year I have not found one related to the woman on the flightline. I remember one where the Guru said, "Wait till the wife is asleep to bring the plane home." My friends joked that was me: wait till the husband is at work to bring the plane home.
I could be wrong, but as far as I can recall I have not seen one picture in your magazine with a girl on the flightline. I understand there are more men than women, but it would be nice to see something related to us.
I have been fortunate with the "guys" I fly with. They treat me with the utmost respect, and on the field I am just one of the "boys." I am still a student and have a wonderful instructor who thinks it is great I rolled up my sleeves and jumped into a hobby that is considered a man's.
Us women are out here, and thanks for listening to one of them.
Christine Demmons Derry, New Hampshire
Sportsmanship
I would like to take this opportunity to relate a story that helps to illustrate a little bit of what our hobby/sport is about.
Our club, Jetero RC in Houston, has had a fun-fly every February for the last four years. In the first three years of the event, one of the club's "Top Gun" pilots, Shannon Douzart, has held a firm grasp on first place.
This year, everyone was "out to get" him and he definitely had a target on his back. This shows the competitive spirit that a great many of us have when it comes to our hobby.
Although no one made their desire to beat out Shannon a secret, it did not stop Shannon from helping others in the pits and on the flightline to score as well as each possibly could. He helped many that day, including myself on more than one occasion. Yes, he was helping others to compete against himself!
As luck would have it, Shannon missed winning this year for the sole reason that no one was around to help him orient to a specific landing spot during the fun-fly's last event.
I wanted to get out a big pat on the back to Shannon and to all who display the same kind of true sportsmanship that makes our hobby so special!
John Forrester Houston, Texas
Don Dewey
From the Web site of the Santa Fe Dam Radio Control Modelers:
Don Dewey, founder of RC Modeler magazine and longtime Sierra Madre resident, passed away Sunday, February 27, 2000 from an apparent heart attack. He was 66.
He founded the magazine in 1964, handing out copies at contests. It has since grown into the world's largest circulation Radio Control hobby magazine. His later interest turned to a fish and aquarium publication. He lived with his wife Sally in Sierra Madre and rarely found reason to leave the quaint town. They lost their son in a motorcycle accident about 20 years ago.
Don and Sally were longtime supporters of the Sierra Madre (later Santa Fe Dam) Radio Control Modelers club, regularly paying dues even as honorary members.
We honor Don's memory and thank him for his contribution to our hobby and the community. We extend condolences to Sally and the staff and our friends at RCM. In lieu of flowers, Don's wife Sally has asked that donations be made to a charity. Three of Don's favorite charities are: Feed The Children, Box 36, Oklahoma City, OK 73101; Christian Appalachian Project, 322 Crab Orchard Rd., Lancaster, KY 40444; and the Doris Day Animal League, 227 Massachusetts Ave NE, Suite 100, Washington, DC 20002.
He'll Be Back
Let me tell you about a great experience I had at a flying site in North Carolina.
My wife's sister lives in Greensboro, NC; we recently paid a visit. While there I went to the flying site of the Greensboro Radio Aeromodellers, Inc. When I got to the site, there were two fliers there, and more came later.
I was treated with the greatest courtesy. They explained the rules of not flying over certain areas around the site. They freely gave me some building tips, and invited me to fly again anytime I was in town for a visit.
These men made my afternoon of flying an exhilarating experience. It is a shame that all flying sites are not the same.
Thanks, Greensboro Radio Aeromodellers, Inc.—I will be back.
W. G. Dickerson Jr. Sharpsburg, Georgia
Dorman Luttrull
Editor's note: With great sadness we report the March 19 passing of Dorman Luttrull, cover subject for the May 2000 issue. He was 72.
Dorman's health had its ups and downs in recent times, but the cancer that claimed his life spread very rapidly following its discovery early this year.
At the time of the cover shoot, we had no idea there was a problem. Later, given only
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
