In a
recent "View From HQ" column I expressed
concern about the loss of building skills
from one generation to the next. I posed
this question because it is always a concern
when a skill set is lost, not by any
directive but by the ever-changing world in
which we live.
Not surprisingly, I received numerous
responses to my thoughts about how we could
save these precious skills. With permission
I have reprinted some of the answers to the
challenge.
I thank these members for their insights. I
hope we all might find a thought or an idea
that we, a fellow modeler, a club, or even
an entire district can use.
"Thank you for your worthwhile commentary on
the loss of the building skill set in Model
Aviation ("View from HQ," February 2009,
page 184).
"I think that one method for passing on
skill sets is to have classes available
where people can learn the specific skills.
Many people, including myself, would be
willing to pay a significant tuition to take
such a course. So you could charge adults
such as me to take courses in building
airplanes and rockets and you could provide
the courses for free to youth.
"Other areas of activity such as lapidary
arts, calligraphy, blacksmithing, and
electronics building have also had this
problem of the loss of the skill set. So
people set up courses in these fields so
that newcomers can learn the art.
"This educational approach can potentially
make a skill set self-sustaining over long
periods of time. In the case of adult
education, the training activity can
generate its own revenue.
"Such training should be a priority for the
AMA.
"Thank you and have a good day."
—Nickolaus E. Leggett
Reston VA
"I have been in the R/C model hobby as an
adult for over thirty years, in addition to
years of control line experience in my
youth. I am a retired aeronautical engineer.
My current 'fleet' consists of one model
built from [a] kit, one kit-bashed model,
one designed and built from scratch, and
three ARFs.
"Ten years ago, I wouldn't look at an ARF,
no less buy one, but improvements in their
construction and the outstanding covering
and appearance factors have changed my
buying/
building habits. Fortunately, I still do
enough building to maintain and improve the
skills I learned over the years.
"Our club includes a high percentage of
'new' modelers, including several youth
members. Many of these people do not possess
the building/repair skills of more
experienced members, so I have a personal
interest in your question in the Feb. issue
of Model Aviation about how to pass on these
skills in an era of more and more ARFs and
fewer kits. I offer the following
suggestions (some of which I hope to offer
to my club).
"Events that offer learning might include
technical sessions at club meetings, club
projects, one-on-one mentoring, and hobby
shop sponsored workshops. Broad subjects of
designing, building, covering, and repair
offer a broad range of subjects. Specific
considerations of structural requirements,
weight control, adhesives uses, electronic
systems, electric-powered models, and basic
concepts of aerodynamics all could be
addressed.
"Preparation for flying, including balancing
the plane, tuning engines, setting up the Tx
and Rx, flight trimming, and basic and
advanced maneuvers are additional subjects
to be considered.
"The local club is the chief source not only
of people who would benefit from this
learning, but most clubs have a wealth of
knowledge in their midst. Our small club,
for instance, includes members with
backgrounds in engineering, machine shop,
carpentry, electronics, computers, full
scale piloting, and model competition at the
national level. Bringing these skills to the
club membership is a challenge, but also a
considerable resource.
"I hope these thoughts might help answer the
question you posed."
—Don Vetrone
Wright Flyers, Club 3555
"Read your article in Feb 09
Model Aviation
magazine. You wondered how we can pass on
the building techniques to the next
generation. Well I thought the same thing
back in the 60s when MonoKote came out.
"You see back then you started with a blank
sheet of paper and drew your next project.
The way we builders looked at it: take the
hours that it took you to frame up and get
ready for finish. Those hours whether it be
20-30-40 hours. It would take that long to
finish the plane. We did this for one
trophy—the best finished airplane in the
meet, or was it self satisfaction.
"Bring back a true recognition method of
those that build whether it be a trophy, a
new membership or everyday model needs as
the prize. I feel in today's economy (lack
of funds) could be a driving force to not
spend so much money on an ARF.
"Anyway it's a thought."
—Bob Greer
AMA 6501
"I have been struggling with this issue for
many years. I had a small model airplane
building business and it thrived before the
introduction of the cheap ARF alternative.
What happened next caught me by surprise!
"The model builder became a model assembler
and the ARF model became the prominent model
at the field. Gone was the pride of
constructing a 'personal' model, a model
that did not look exactly like the one next
to it on the flight line; gone was the
excitement of bringing a new model to the
field and have your peers judge your skills;
gone was the fun!
"Now, with today's problems in the economy,
I have seen a surge in the "can you repair
my airplane" requests. Although buying a new
ARF is less expensive, most of these people
come to my workshop to learn the techniques
required to do so. I wrote an e-zine called
Creative Aeromodeler where I would expose
most of the techniques necessary to build
and repair your plane on my website (www.advancedairframes.com) and I have again seen a huge
jump in the traffic on the site.
"As far as how will we pass these skills
along to the new generation of modelers, I
have in my club (www.rcacf.com) established
a junior program similar to the AMA's junior
program. I have also encouraged kit building
by establishing a 'Model of the Month'
contest at our club and only kit, plans, or
scratch built models qualify, the prize, a
fifty dollar gift certificate to one of the
local hobby shops. This certificate is
sponsored by my company, Gorilla Gate
Company and by one of our members, Mark Lee
Edwards.
"In closing, I thank you for the awesome
effort you and your staff are doing at HQ,
it shows!"
—Jose R. Soto
President, RCACF
AMA 2105
Thanks to all who shared their ideas. Some
were not included because of space
limitations.
These tough economic times have affected
everyone. Be sensitive to your fellow pilot
and club member whom you may not have seen
at a meeting or the flightline for a while.
Sometimes a telephone call or simple e-mail
with a "how are you doing?" could make
someone's day. Many times it's the little
things that count.
MA
In the spirit of
flight.
Jim Cherry, Executive Director
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