Backyard R/C grows

Model Airplane News, Sep 1999 by Atwood, Tom

R/C planes that can be flown in your backyard continue to proliferate, as reflected in this issue's special features that examine four unique vehicles. David Baron takes a close look at the Area Fifty-One Roswell, Global Hobby's Wattage B2 and Hobby Lobby's IFO-all new on the scene and all with unique approaches to flight. In addition to those unusual aircraft, we have a special feature by one of our newest contributors, Bob Aberle, on the AIKA: an affordable, rechargeable electric that will fly for more than one hour on a charge.

BOB ABERLE TO WRITE FOR MODEL AIRPLANE NEWS

We are pleased that Bob Aberle will be contributing regularly to Model Airplane News. As many readers will recognize, Bob has been writing about the hobby for nearly 30 years and has contributed more than 30 original R/C designs. His distinguished background merits special mention. Bob started in model aviation in 1950, at the age of 12. At that time, he exclusively flew free-flight aircraft. By 1953, he had become involved in the beginnings of R/C and by the age of 15, had built his own supply of R/C equipment from surplus parts. His first R/C flight was with a Lou Andrews Guillow Trixter, "Beam." Because he was interested in electronics, he also obtained a general ham license at that time and has flown mostly on the 6-meter amateur band ever since.

Bob joined the AMA R/C Frequency Committee in 1976 and was chairman of that committee from 1980 to 1983, when the hobby's leaders were in the process of obtaining from the FCC what became our 80 "new," authorized R/C channels (SO exclusively for model aircraft use, and 30 more for surface vehicles such as cars and boats). After 23 years of volunteer service, Bob is still a regular member of that committee.

For his efforts as chairman during that critical time, Bob earned some of the most prestigious of all modeling awards, including the AMA Distinguished Service Award (1982), Howard McEntee Memorial Award (1982), AMA Fellow Award (with lifetime membership privileges1982), Vintage R/C Society Hall of Fame (1982), Walt Billet Loving Cup (still at the AMA Museum-1983) and finally, induction in the AMA Hall of Fame in September 1998. In 1983, the AMA awarded Bob the three-digit license number of AMA-215.

Bob still flies actively in electric-power R/C competitions, including the annual AMA Electric National Championship (E-NATS) at Muncie. In 1996, he won his first national first-place trophy for Class-B Electric Old Timer (when he tells that story, with a smile, he admits that it took him 46 years to accomplish!). The AIKA duration electric featured in this issue is typical of Bob's groundbreaking projects.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS

The ARF generation has led to a new line of products we survey this month: ready to fly (RTE) airplanes. Don't miss Don Edberg's article on troubleshooting your R/C gear; you'll learn some tips that will be of enduring value. Also in this issue, Dave Garwood offers high-impact coverage of a power slope-scale competition: the Inland Slope Rebels' meet at Cajon Summit in Southern California. And the Arado construction article by master modeler Stan Rutz will be of interest to the many builders among us. Finally based on your feedback, we introduce this month a new feature called "Product Watch" that offers readers the opportunity to learn about various new R/C and related products through the eyes of reviewers who have actually used and tested them.

Would you like to see more of a particular type of article in Model Airplane News? Let us know by emailing us at man@airage.com, by faxing us at (203) 431-3000, or by writing to us at 100 East Ridge, Ridgefield, CT 06877-4606 USA. We want to provide you with the best coverage of the R/C hobby in print.