[LASS Soaring] My baby, she wrote me a letter...

[GordySoar at aol.com]

Hi Guys,
This is the "letter" I wrote to Model Aviation,  it was in the context of 
the soaring column highlighting F3E   super-electric powered models that have 
a 'soaring' component to their  task..vaguely.  It wasn't a criticism of 
that column but a clarification  that while the dramatic parts or our hobby 
are fun and cool its the  regular rc soaring that is the real body of our  
hobby.
 
I was part of what sort of killed our club...my  enthusiasm for TD and its 
high tech models along with others literally pushed  others not 'into' that 
part away from the field. It was the 'fly what you got'  (mostly referred to 
as "two function" or two  channel) comp series that brought back the really 
fun guys of the club's  origination.

Anyway it was mostly a note commending Ed Anderson and thanking  Michael 
for showcasing it, versus burying it in the back some where.

My  comments in the letter were to point out that chasing little kids to 
mentor is a  grand and noble pursuit but time is run out and as clubs we need 
to spend more  interest in our existing members who often are ignored 
because they don't have  the latest molded ships.
Gordy
Gordy
 
To: Michael Ramsey
Subject: Hi  Michael! Thanks for the soaring article this month!
Hi  Michael, 
 
I  wanted to say thanks for the Soaring article by Ed Anderson this month 
in  MA.  I've been a writter for quite some time (RC Soaring Digest Magazine) 
 and get to fly more places in the world, with more guys, more often than 
anyone  else on Earth, and I can assure you ....its fun!
 
I have  progressed thru the hobby starting like most guys of age 58 ish 
with stick and  tissue, control line, pretty much the gamete. You can see my 
power flying on the  EAA Museum's RC Video in Osh Kosh.
 
But I  am strictly doing rc soaring for the last 15 years or so, mostly 
competition  soaring but do my share of slope and DS.
 
My club  has some of the most outstanding rc soaring pilots in our hobby 
today, from  little Lee (13 years old, multi Nats soaring class winner and 
working on LSF5)  (to Bruce Davidson DLG Master, Ed Wilson LSF5 and two time  
VP).
 
I  mention all this because I want you to understand that I see the hobby 
fading,  likely as you do.  The usual lament is about why we can't get kids  
involved, but in fact that has been the death of most of hobby.  Instead of  
spending time on the guys already involved, getting them more involved, we 
chase  the kiddy windmill.
 
You  publishing Ed's (Anderson) article shined some light on the soaring 
part of the  hobby that has let closet sailplaners see that there is a lot of 
fun and  activity to be had outside trainer 40's and park flyers.
 
Ed's  article was just enough to whet some appetites, plenty of good photos 
and  information.
 
Models  like the cover giant scale ship get guys dreaming but seldom lead 
many to  action.  Lee's soaring column reached pretty hard to imply that 
those  planes are 'gliders' because for a part of their time the motor is 
off...when in  fact they may be the highest powered models in all of 
rc...certainly close to  the most expensive to be involved with.  Don't get me wrong 
Lee's article  was excellent, as most of his are, but its Ed's that got the 
position most  deserved in the magazine.
 
I can  also attest to the fact that AMA has all but lost rc sailplaners 
because of the  lack of coverage in the mag.  I and we know we are a minor 
niche of rc in  general...but its becoming harder and harder to shove the AMA 
membership down  the throats of our club members during these hard economic  
times.
 
Bottom  line you did good :-) 
 
Hope we  can see some more like it in the future. 
 
Gordy  Stahl 
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