. . . MY FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH AVIATION WASN’T
GRIPPING A STICK WHILE STRAPPED IN THE BACK OF
A J- 3; IT WAS FLYING MODEL AIRPLANES WITH MY
FATHER. I WAS 8 YEARS OLD WHEN MY DAD STARTED
TO TEACH ME TO FLY. HE MADE SURE I LEARNED EARLY
ON NOT ONLY WHAT THE RUDDER WAS FOR, BUT ALSO
THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MAKING SURE THE AIRPLANE
DIDN’T CAUSE ANY HARM TO ME OR ANYONE AROUND
ME. THE GOOD THING WAS I DIDN’T HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL
I WAS 16 TO SOLO. I ALSO LEARNED THAT IN AVIATION
IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT YOU’RE FLYING AS LONG AS
YOU’RE FLYING.
Mod e l a v i a t i o n a n d r a d i o- controlled airplanes are a great
way to foster interest in airplanes and
aviation, and I believe it has gone
a long way in creating the first step
for many to step up to real airplanes.
Sure it has its differences, such as
making weather decisions and fewer
regulations, but the fact is, there is
still a lot than can be learned from it.
Naturally, before the flying, it starts
with the airplane. You can compare
the modeler to a builder of an
experimental aircraft—the building,
modifying, tinkering—and in some
cases, the repairing of broken parts.
Understanding the functions of the
airplane and its systems goes a long
way in the transition from model to a
full-scale airplane.
Ask any full-scale pilot who has
only flown a real airplane to try to
fly a model airplane. It’s not as easy
at it looks. Ask many who’ve taken
the step up and you’ll find a whole
world of similarities. Taildraggers,
for instance; some full-scale pilots
fear them. The same could be said
for model airplane pilots, who
on more than one occasion have
become part of that club. Yes, I mean
the ones who have ground-looped
a taildragger. Learning the basics
of what the rudder was for helps
immensely later on.
Chris and his dad in 1989 with the J- 3 Cub he learned on.
MODEL STUDENTS
Some model airplanes even require
mini checkrides. The Academy
of Model Aeronautics, which is
essentially the EAA or Aircraft Owners
and Pilots Association of model
airplanes, has a strict procedure for
radio-controlled pilots to obtain
their turbine waivers. They must
go through a check-flight process
demonstrating the proper operation
and flight procedures of a turbine-powered radio-controlled airplane. If
that’s too much for you and you just
want to be a World War II ace for a
day, no problem. A radio-controlled
P- 51 is a little more accessible than
a fully restored, full-size one. No
checkride or leather jacket required,
just a big imagination.
Similarities do begin to diminish
at the solo, though. When you solo
a full-scale airplane, you’ve still
got plenty of work to do to earn
your certificate. Soloing a model is
essentially like taking your private
