"You must always worry about everything all the
time."
-- P.T. Granderson, Model Aviation magazine
Taken horribly out of context, our friend Phil's quote above illustrates the way some of us in control-line model aviation conduct our hobby lives.
We're worried about our building projects, we're worried about trimming the planes that are flying, we're worried about making the travel arrangements, we're worried about flying well in front of the judges, or finding a good pit crew, or getting time for a test flight, etc., etc. And some of us add another layer on top of all that worry: We're worried about making sure there are contests to go to, and that they're properly conducted. We're worried about getting the sanction sent in, setting up the field, storing the equipment, arranging for the porta-potties, finding judges and cut counters and registration people. We're worried about making sure we judge fairly, we're worried about that argument we had with a contestant, we're worried about tabulating the scores correctly. We're worried about keeping our local club going, about mowing the flying field, about making sure the hobby shop stocks our supplies. We're worried about getting the rules right. We're worried about promoting the hobby, and spreading the word so potential newcomers find us, so people know where the action is ...
It sounds like I'm leading up to my annual plea for more people to help out with the grunt work of competitive CL model aviation, doesn't it. Well, yes, that's part of it. If we spread the worry around a bit, there's a bit less worry for all of us. Or, maybe just as much worry, but more and better contests. All you have to do is look around the next time you're at a contest, or at the club field, and you'll see all kinds of things somebody had to worry about to get done for your flying pleasure. Surely, there's something on that vast list that you can help out with.
But that's not my main message this time.
In the past year, my own worry list has been topped with the Flying Lines web site. Yes, of course, there is the Regionals, the Fall Follies, the Prop Spinners club, and all sorts of other stuff to keep me in high-worry state. Maybe it's all a blessing, because it gives me less time to worry about how I'm going to find a way to get the fillets smoothed out on the Ares. If you see me flying it next year with the fillets all bubbled up, you'll know I stopped worrying about that, at least!
The FL web site has been operating for almost a year at this writing. What feedback we've received has been all positive. As we head into the winter, I'm "worrying" about some changes and upgrades to the web site to take place around the first of the year. I'd worry about it a lot less if I had a bit more input from Northwest CL fliers about what they think of the web site: Any ideas for improvements, things you like or don't like? Is it necessary? (I don't want to worry about this all year long if people don't think we need a Northwest CL news service). If you do like it and find it valuable and/or necessary, is there anything you can do to help? You can contact me directly by e-mail, or you can post your thoughts on the Northwest message boards in the "Flying Lines feedback "section.
I'd like every Northwest CL flier to feel that he or she is part of the FL staff. As we often stated in the printed newsletter over the two and a half decades that it published, it's not so much a newsletter (or, now, a Web site) as a control-line fliers' network. It's your news service, your message exchange, your technical seminar, your photo gallery and sounding board for ideas. It's yours! Not mine. I'm just the guy who organizes the thing.
There's one way I think everyone could help in making the FL web site the No. 1 source for Northwest CL news and views, if you agree with me that that's what it should be. Here's what I've been leading up to with all of the above:
If you have an article to write, a photo to show off, a bit of news you just found out about, a comment to make, some results to report, or whatever it might be about NW CL model aviation, give it to Flying Lines first!
Sure, you can put it on SSW, or the combat forum, or Delphi Racing forum, or whatevever other web sites you visit and conribute to. But, remember, your forum and your news service is Flying Lines. It's the one that is exclusively devoted to Northwest flying and building and competition. It's the one most NW fliers check regularly, no matter what kind of flying they prefer.
So, when you have something to offer, think, Flying Lines first!
The result will be that Flying Lines continues to improve its service to you and all other Northwest CL fliers. Yes, it will give me a bit more to worry about, with all that great input coming in. Hey, I'm a born worrier. I thrive on it. I make my living worrying about things. I can handle it. (And it will keep me from going nuts worrying about those fillets on the Ares).
Bring it on. Flying Lines first!
--jt
This page was updated Nov. 23, 2006