Is it ever too soon to plan ahead?
Every February, I use this column as an opportunity to convey similarities between our love of flying and Valentine’s Day. This is the proverbial month of love and it’s not just about roses, truffles, and teddy bears. It’s about our love of flight, flirting with the idea of getting a new helicopter, and experiencing heartbreak over reversed ailerons during a doomed test flight. You get the idea.
However, as much as we see tons of heart-shaped candy boxes in stores this month, we’re also seeing tons of St. Patrick’s Day items too. You know how it is with retail—soon we’ll be seeing sales on grills and patio furniture (because nothing screams summer more than flipping the calendar to February and March).
Sarcasm aside, this morphing of Valentine’s Day into thoughts of corned beef, and then thoughts of Memorial Day, are about planning ahead. Just as the retail world does it, don’t we, as modelers, do the same?
Oh sure, we might silently curse department stores for reminding us that Independence Day is “around the corner,” but who are we kidding? We are planners extraordinaire, thinking about the year ahead although we’re only two months into it. I know I am.
Summer Flying Events
It might only be February, but it’s not too soon to think about overnight flying events where we’ll need our campers. This means periodically uncovering the tarp and peeking inside, making sure little critters haven’t made their way in to nibble away at the pool noodles—also known as wing supports.
What if the next big event is in July? Now is a perfectly good time to make sure the fuselage straps and wheel chocks are still around because who wants to do the living-room-to-the-shed then the shed-to-under-the-bed shuffle in a frantic “where the heck did I stash the bungee cord” search? Looking for them now helps eliminate last-minute searching months later.
This is also the perfect time of year to confirm dates for other events and block them out on our calendar. And, if spending a night or two in a camper isn’t your thing, February might mean booking August hotel reservations.
Planning for the next project: The author is getting things in place to start building a Pietenpol from the free digital plans that were published in the October 2017 Model Aviation.
The Next Winter Project
Sure, you might still be finalizing your 2017 winter project (or, ahem, just starting it), but assuming the building is over, we’re often left with a “What do I do with myself now?” emptiness. Why, plan for the next big thing to work on 10 months from now, of course!
If you live in a region where the December-to-March cold weather often keeps you inside, as I do in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region, having a winter project is a must. Scouring plans, bouncing ideas off of other modelers, and searching the workshop for wood or half-completed kits is par for the course. It might only be February, but it’s the perfect time to make like squirrels and gather the goods now for when we’ll need them down the road.
It might be snowing this time of year where you live, so why not break out an airplane with skis? Thanks to hibernation, you probably have access to all kinds of airplanes within reach because you’ve had a ton of time to organize them.
Getting Organized
Now could also be a good time to sort out what aircraft is best for what season, weather conditions, and mood. Is it windy? You’ll just mosey off to the left side of your workshop and grab a hearty Pattern airplane designed to withstand occasional gusts.
Is snow coming? The Piper Cub on skis is in the front right section of the shed. Not in the mood to head to the field? It’s a perfect time to head to the shelf in the TV room, where tons of indoor micro helis are lined up.
All of this is thanks to the fact that you’re thinking in advance. You have a section for any occasion during any month of the year now! Suddenly,
the urge to organize models based on pending family outings, their ability to withstand weather fluctuations, and even just random whims, take over.
Local Events
(Above) Burgers and friends and airplanes—oh my! It might only be February, but who isn’t looking forward to club picnics, such as this one below at the Winnipesaukee Radio Controllers in New Hampshire?
Sometimes the non-flying events are super fun too. Whether it’s because of the snow-covered ground or because your club’s main events don’t take place early in the year, many of us have an eye on club happenings that take place a few months from now.
As my woodstove flickers (cozy as it is), I’m also dreaming of August. That’s when our club has a nice barbecue at our field, complete with pasta salads, cookies, hamburgers, hot dogs, and even bacon-wrapped scallops! Everyone chats with each other, gets together with people whom we haven’t seen in ages, and gets some flying in. It’s a great time to catch up.
So sure—it’s February. There’s talk of romance, Groundhog Day, and Presidents Day, but let’s face it, Labor Day is going to be here any minute. But I understand the excitement over things happening much later in the year. It’s a modeler thing!
Send me an email and let me know what you’re doing now to prepare for flying events later in the year. I’d love to hear from you!
