SKY’S THE LIMIT
A pilot’s shoe perfectly cradles some modelers glue. Creative, fun sights at the flightline abound.
You never know what you’ll see!
LET THERE
BE LIGHT-
HEARTED
MOMENTS
By Jennifer Reynolds | jensunshine3@gmail.
com
MANY PILOTS with whom I’ve spoken throughout the years have expressed different reasons for flying. Some have flown since they were 8 years old and continue to enjoy it decades later. Others fly to escape off-the-field stress. Many enjoy building. Others rarely fly at all, and instead look forward to coffee and conversations with club members.
Just Plane Fun
One thing that I’ve observed is that a sense of fun is often a common thread among modelers. I’ve heard people joking, their laughter billowing in the distance. Others have walked flightlines wearing whirlybird propeller hats and shirts with clever, flight-related puns. Many of us enjoy sticking a Snoopy in the cockpit of a Sopwith Camel.
Other sights that have caught my attention involve creative solutions to common flightline problems. For example, who hasn’t opted to take off one shoe during an event while pondering where you should place your glue when a folding table isn’t nearby? There you are—a shoe in one hand, glue in another. What to do? An easy solution is shown in the photo.
Flying Tips
If we’re not having fun with decals or thinking about whether we should bring another pair of shoes to the flightline, we’re making sure that we are kind to one another.
Reader Mike Klintworth shared some of his father’s flying tips with me. Mike explained that his dad got him involved in the hobby in 1966, beginning with Control Line then teaching him to fly RC. “He is retired in Florida,” Mike stated, adding that there are days that he flies and other days that he enjoys talking with other modelers who are “having a good time.” He recalled some of his father’s flying tips, which he employs to this day. Without further ado, here are tips from Mike’s dad:
- When you fly into the sun, close one eye. That way when you fly out of the sun, you can switch eyes and you still have a good one.
- When your airplane is flying toward you and you need to correct the “roll,” point the stick at the “low wing,” the side that is lowest. That will straighten out your roll.
- The lesson I learned on my own with the rudder is that when you are landing with a crosswind, point your rudder stick in the direction you want the tail to go to straighten it out. Takeoffs are the same when you are taking off “toward” yourself. Of course, taking off away from yourself is “normal.”
Another tip comes from pilot Scott Reynolds. It’s all about proper lighting. This sounds obvious, but many of us get so caught up in building that we forego adding proper lighting in our workspace. We just want to get right to it, spending lots of time in less-than-ideal, low-light conditions. That can lead to some safety mishaps and, on a less serious but still bothersome note, things such as crooked decal placements.
The solution according to Scott? Just take a quick trip to your nearest home improvement center and find a creative way to brighten your space.
Have you ever used any of these methods?
Virtual Handshakes
On another note, the last Thursday in June is National Handshake Day according to NationalDayCalendar.com. The website lists all of the unique days that occur throughout the year, such as National Leave the Office Early Day (June 2 for those who are, ahem, curious to National Flip-Flop Day (third Friday in June).
Why is this relevant? Well, a rather touching series of comments unfolded in response to an I Fly AMA Facebook post that is fitting for National Handshake Day, although the correspondence occurred months ago, in February.
While scrolling, I saw that I Fly AMA Facebook member Scott E. wrote, “To the admin who removed my comment, thanks. It was out of line.” Curiosity got the best of me, so I continued reading the responses. “That’s how to own it, bro!” wrote one member.
What struck me was Scott S.’s response: “I guess I missed it. If aimed at me, no hard feelings. You seem like a good guy—even if we don’t agree on everything.” He finished the kind words with a pleasant gesture, writing, “*extends hand for handshake*.” Scott E. replied, “It wasn’t any big deal, and was yanked basically for being unfriendly. It was that Scott: *shook*.”
What civility! The exchange and virtual handshake didn’t go unnoticed, either. Many other members commented on the two Scotts’ professionalism. All too often, comments can spiral out of control on social media, with topics straying from the issue at hand, or worse, becoming a place where below-the-belt comments abound. One person responded, “Wow. I admin for some contentious groups, and I’ve never, ever read a response like this! What a refreshing perspective. Scott [E.]: my hat is off to you sir!”
The conversation continued with many members expressing happiness at this “great group” who know how to be adults. Once again, I’m reminded of the genuine camaraderie and well-meaning intentions of modelers—and humans in general. It’s nice to see.
Speaking of things that are enjoyable to see, I’ll end with this. Anyone who knows me knows that I will stop in my tracks when I see animals. Whether it’s a dog in the car next to me or a beautiful horse in a field, I will wave, talk to them, and pretty much want to own them. That’s why I couldn’t resist capturing some shots of these pups taken a while back at the Mid-Hudson Radio Control Society’s Jamboree at Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome in Rhinebeck, New York.
Great airplanes, creative and courteous pilots, and cute dogs. The lighthearted moments of this hobby are great!
SOURCES:
I Fly AMA
www.facebook.com/groups/IFLYAMA
