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

[Hank & Kathy Gullett]

Eloquently stated Michael.   Is there really any answer?  
Maybe we can make LSF so strong we will then command a voice in AMA?
Hank
Kathy & Hank Gullett
1119 Blackberry Dr
Lawrenceburg, KY 40342
kandh2 at me.com




On Feb 24, 2010, at 12:48 PM, Michael Kelly wrote:

> Hi Gordy- I, too, lament the state of our hobby. I can envision 'no fly' zones gradually progressing to no fly at all coupled with the lack of interest and the erosion of skills to build model airplanes which would make the end result a moot point anyhow!
>  
> I have written a letter to the editor in the past that was published buried (in the back) about the trend toward toy-like airplanes bought upon a whim with discretionery income. There is 'no skin in the game' with these crappy airplanes that are usually crappy fliers and don't resemble airplanes (I'm a scale enthusiast- sue me!). They didn't build them so if they break they may or may not buy another. They certainly haven't 'cracked the code' to contemplate building one! Once the novelty of these wear off the amusement is sought after elsewhere. Inundating kids with 'this' and 'that' is not the answer. If a kid 'wants it' bad enough the kid will find a way. I did. That's what dreams are all about. (as an aside I can't help but think of the classical piece, Peter and the Wolf,  to entice children to this genre of music. What a bunch of rot! I cringe every time 90.5 plays it on the airwaves)
>  
> I also chastised the AMA about its magazine content and cover shots. This month is, again, a prime example. Instead of a pic of a member's lovingly crafed one-off model or another kid, like Lee, they essentially have an 'advertisement' for a 'for-profit' manufacturer. Eee-gad I'm sick of it. Look at the dork on the front cover flying his hover plane (get a freakin' helicopter) for his boss who imports the crap from china. Look at the 'content' Charlie Bauer provides for his (ours) district. Maybe I'm a dolt but I know nothing of what is going on in our district by his column.
>  
> I have written a letter to AMA wondering why the same old guys get coverage or articles when I know so many submissions to the magazine are tendered. Example:  there is a CL flier in Missouri who must have an article every other issue. It so happens that I build and fly the same kind of CL airplanes and have submitted numerous photos and text of not only my airplanes but those of friends. They never got published until at the last (in the back- one small practiclly indiscernable photo of an airplane group shot) when I asked the AMA editor why this fellow was shown such favoratism and given so much magazine space (he sells plans thru AMA). The AMA thinks we are sheep and they are definitely in the driver's seat.
>  
> Also, I would like to have the insurance only and save money by having the option to not take the magazine.Let the AMA keep the terrible magazine. I can't even use it to wipe my butt- wrong kind of paper. (I suggested they e-m the magazine to members and save the trees and I'm not a 'green' freak by any means). I just use common sense. Oh well- enough rambling. Regards- a builder and flier, Michael
> 
> --- On Wed, 2/24/10, GordySoar at aol.com <GordySoar at aol.com> wrote:
> 
> From: GordySoar at aol.com <GordySoar at aol.com>
> Subject: [LASS Soaring] My baby, she wrote me a letter...
> To: 
> Cc: soaring at louisvillesoaring.org, RCSE at googlegroups.com
> Date: Wednesday, February 24, 2010, 11:24 AM
> 
> 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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