Education Through Aviation
by Bill Pritchett, Education Director
“If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away.” —Henry David Thoreau
I think it must have been middle school or thereabouts when I was introduced to Thoreau. The language side of things always appealed more than the math side. Maybe having a mother who was an English teacher entered into that, but nonetheless, I found it fascinating to read and enjoy how artistic words could be. And Thoreau was certainly an artist.
Jump ahead a few light years and you’re reading this and wondering how the heck this can have anything to do with model aviation. Well that’s called a “hook,” and hopefully you’re biting!
Throughout the 80-year history of the Academy of Model Aeronautics, the organization has enjoyed an amazing diversity of flying activities. Did you know that we have 23 Special Interest Groups (SIGs)? Visit www.modelaircraft.org/membership/sig.aspx to see the list.
This conversation isn’t about that number, but about the diversity. The categories range from Control Line Aerobatics to Free Flight to multirotor racing. As these SIGs developed, each of them has had the conversation within about “how do we grow our membership?”
I believe it is natural to want others to become interested in what you’re into. Sometimes when they don’t, it frustrates some. In their defense, we all think that what we do is what everyone should be doing, don’t we?
The problem is that we all have found our model aviation utopia. That’s why we buy the gear. That’s why we make friends within our chosen specialty. This makes sense and we’ve all participated in it. The challenge that faces the AMA—and not just the SIG you belong to—is to grow our total membership in order to continue to provide a path to enjoyment of our hobby despite the FAA’s best efforts.
That means that you—each and every individual member—need to take a look outside of your world. Don’t buy something you would never fly or enjoy, but look. At least look, and then you’ve accomplished the first step toward respect. Maybe those flying another discipline hear a different drummer than you. See how I did that?
As we approach a membership of 200,000 and continue to grow, we all need to look. We need to look around and see where the growth is coming from. Is it because of new technology? Certainly that’s a part of it, but not nearly all of it. I’m amazed by the reaction of people who have been exposed only to new technology when they see what we’re doing with model aviation. I’m convinced that much of the buy-in to AMA for the new technology crowd is the exposure to everything we do—after all, they’ve never had a chance to take that look!
So here they come, excited by their participation in model aviation, and what do some of us do? Complain that it’s not like it used to be. We talk about “back in the day.” A club majority flies X and the new blood doesn’t so, they must not really be modelers. Certainly not like old-school modelers—you know, like we used to be … or think we are. If you won’t look, then listen. Is that a different drummer you hear?
Those of us participating in Precision Aerobatics hear a lot of talk about increasing our numbers. After all, since we do it, shouldn’t everyone else want to? Maybe not, but admitting that things change is a real toss of the gauntlet to many.
We’re fortunate to have in the National Society of Radio Control Aerobatics District IV, a great vice president, Scott McNickle. Scott gets it. He understands that things do change. From his most recent K-Factor column:
“There are lots of suggestions on how to return to the glory days of 50-pilot contests every weekend, all within an hour’s drive of home. Inexpensive airplanes, sequences most sport flyers can enjoy, huge fields of competitors at the Nats.
“Ain’t gonna happen.
“In the first place, the glory days weren’t exactly as portrayed. There were large fields for a while, but the cream of the crop was head and shoulders above most of the pilots and most soon moved on. Airplanes were cheaper, but they were really little more than slightly refined sport planes. The technology was evolving. It was an exciting, rapidly changing time.
“When my dad came home from WW II, Control Line Speed was the thing. Something new and exciting, and there were large contests in every small city in the Midwest. Seemingly everyone flew model airplanes and most of them wanted to give Speed a try. Records fell nearly every weekend, sometimes more than once in a day. Technology was evolving. It was an exciting, rapidly changing time.
“In the ’70s, sailplanes were everywhere. Radio Control Modeler had a new sailplane design on the cover just about every month and there were lots of contests. Soaring seemed pretty simple, within the reach of just about everyone. An average builder could whip up a glider in a couple of weeks and be competitive. The technology was evolving.
“It was an exciting, rapidly changing time. There are countless examples of this in competitive sports. Look at auto racing, archery, figure skating, go-karts, golf, hang gliding, slot cars, and on down through the competitive alphabet. The technology matures; the good get better and the rest find something else to do. Those sports all still exist, but the mass-participation stage is over.
“Drone racing is hot now. Seems like anyone can do it, and costs aren’t too bad. The technology is evolving. It’s an exciting, rapidly changing time.”
Thanks, Scott. It is indeed an exciting, rapidly changing time! During this time, look around at what others are doing. Some obviously hear a different drummer. However measured or far away, some will look at your style, respect it, and want to join in the fun.
Bam—the AMA wins with total membership and the continued ability to provide everyone the band they want to play in.
Fly and have fun!
