AMA Magazine Article

[Martin X. Moleski, SJ]

--On Saturday, September 28, 2002 8:27 AM -0400 Thomas Shaw <shaw.thomas at worldnet.att.net> wrote:

> I just read Mike Hurley's RC Scale Aerobatics column ...

Me, too.

> I don't believe that Mike intended to malign the NSRCA ...

Sure came across that way.  Could he have been any more
damning if he'd tried?  :-O

> ... and I don't doubt Chuck's experience ...

Neither do I.

> ... I just found it sad that the NSRCA would get the negative press. 

Me, too.

> ... I don't think I have met a nicer group of people. 

The NSRCA is made up of human beans.  Some are nicer than
others.  Some give the sport a bad reputation, others a 
good reputation.  We don't admit people based on a 
character test.  If they pay their dues or their entrance
fee, they're in.  :o)

> Especially when you consider that everyone was busy competing. 

That, I think, is the heart of the problem.  Shaking down a 
new plane and practicing maneuvers takes a lot of concentration.
I've gotten a little snippy--OK, I've said some things I regret--OK,
I behaved like a jerk--a few times with people whom I really know
and like when having problems with a pattern engine or plane.
And I haven't even reached the point at which I can start
to practice enough to be competitive.  I behave differently
when I'm working with a competition plane than when I've got
a sport plane (GP Dazzler) or one of my combat planes
(Gremlin, Predator, Wonder) at the field.

Then there's the problem of missing significant club events
when I go to pattern contests.  At present, when there is
a conflict, I've usually chosen my club events (flying at
full-scale air shows, working and flying at our club's
annual fun-fly as the AMA CD, attending picnics, 
teaching newcomers to fly, etc.).  I heard a local pattern 
pilot talking about spending ten (10!) weeks on the road
to attend contests.  I can't afford that kind of investment
of time and money, but if I could and did, it sure would
weaken my relationship with my home club.   When people
saw me in mid-week, I would be a stranger to them and
I imagine I would be pretty busy practicing to get 
ready for the next weekend's competition. 

> Each and every person that I spoke with took the time to 
> answer my questions in a friendly and thoughtful way.  
> Even the contest director took time to talk with me in 
> the middle of the contest and it wasn't just a five minute 
> chat.  Based on my esperience I have every intention of 
> joining the NSRCA. 

Wonderful!

> I hope the contrast of these two stories can be of some help to the organization. 

I hope so, too.

					Marty #2874
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