SKY’S THE LIMIT
IT’S NO SECRET to those who read my column that I’ve given serious thought to obtaining my pilot’s license. I’ve spoken to pilots (modelers and full-scale), read your suggestions (thank you, all), and have imagined myself in the pilot’s seat while sitting at a local airport’s observation deck. Heck, I’ve even had dreams about it.
After careful consideration, I am opting to put that on the back burner for the moment. It’s not a no; it’s just a no right now.
In fact, I’m still leaning more toward pursuing it than not, but at this particular time, it’s where I need to be in this process. It’s a large commitment, so I’m giving myself the time to think more rather than dive in. We all know there’s much more to it. I’d prefer to have more time to fly my models too.
I’m also in the midst of a couple of big life changes (and no, I don’t mean the emotional and physical ones that are par for the course for a 48-year-old woman, but I digress). Stay tuned for a future column!
In any event, I’m happy with this decision. My eyes are still on the sky …
Field Praise
That being noted, I’m excited to continue putting in flights at my local field. A few readers have commented about the Concord Skyhawks in Concord, New Hampshire, and I enjoy the positive feedback about the club. After all, sometimes there’s a lot of negativity in the world, so it’s good to hear genuine words of praise, which validate my own experiences at this field.
John A. wrote that he was a member and past officer of the Concord Skyhawks for more than 20 years before he moved south in 2016. He mentioned that I couldn’t have chosen a better club, noting specific people there who are hard working and do what it takes to keep the club running strong. I’m happy to hear that, John—and it’s much agreed.
I do have to say that I have had very good experiences at every field I’ve belonged to. Well, I mean, there’s always one, right? But hey, that’s life anywhere you go!
Speaking of Hawks
A few months back, I arranged for a woman from Wings of the Dawn, a bird and mammal rescue and rehabilitation organization in New Hampshire, to come to my workplace. She wowed our independent senior residents with a stunning red-tailed hawk and an owl. We had an up-close view of these magnificent birds as she gave us all kinds of interesting information about them.
I love my AeroScout, but I’d be lying if I said that my appreciation for all kinds of flight—be it red-tailed hawks, my model, or a metaphorical lifting up-and-away life event—didn’t bring a smile to my face. Just look at this winged beauty.
So That My AeroScout Doesn’t Get Jealous
Here are some words about my AeroScout, my favorite little airplane. I’ve enjoyed flying it for a while now.
Dan Mitchell, who designs his own airplanes, emailed me about it. “I don’t know if you have discovered it yet,” he wrote, “but the AeroScout does a very nice stall turn. Just remember not to cut throttle to zero on the upline.”
Dan also shared pictures, which I always appreciate. He noted that they’re from 2013 to 2015, when he was still flying fuel-powered airplanes. “In 1809, Sir George Cayley designed what he believed to be an object of least resistance (based on the top view of a well-fed trout),” he said. “The shape was in a magazine article that I was reading.” Of his pictures, he said that he copied the shape and used it as an airfoil then designed an airplane to go with the airfoil. The pictured airplane, called the 1809 Cayley, was powerful and smooth. “It was quick but not fast; George missed the mark as far as ‘least resistance’ was concerned.”
As always, I appreciate your emails and photos. Sometimes I’m not able to respond to all of you, or at least not as quickly as I would like, but please keep them coming!
X Marks the Spot
One of the emails I received was from Randy Jones. He explained how he transports airplanes in a pickup truck bed. “I have a 2001 Chevy. I use an Ernst Ultra Stand to hold my plane,” he wrote. “I place the stand on a piece of thin carpet that will allow me to push the loaded stand to the front of the bed easily. I use flat bungee cords that reach under and are tension hooked into the tie-downs in opposite corners of the bed.”
It all comes together when he puts the stand with the airplane on it toward the front of the bed, a few inches from the front wall. He then stretches the two bungees crosswise over the model and voilà—it keeps it fastened in place. “The bungees cross over the wing and fuselage in an ‘X’ pattern, keeping it secure in the stand. My plane stays secure as I drive.”
Adventure Cat
I’ve included a totally random picture of our cat, Oakley. Some of you might recall a picture of him in Model Aviation when he was a kitten, weighing all of 3 pounds. Here he is now, as an adventurous 2-year-old, 10-pound feline.
Although he’s an indoor cat, we enjoy taking him on car rides and to our workplaces. He loves it!
SOURCES:
Concord Skyhawks
www.concordskyhawks.com
Wings of Dawn Wildlife Rehabilitation Center and Bird Sanctuary
(603) 428-3723
www.wingswildlife.org
