Hello:

This past Sunday, the Discovery Channel had three hours of model rocketry programs on that was very good. Its has me inspire to pick up that hobby once again.

I have a few questions to toss out (and see what happens). First off, are there any AMA/NRA clubs around. Basically, I'm asking if one club is co-sponsor to a field and that both activities are taking place there.

The next question is more open. I was at my local Hastings this week and spotted a model rocket magazine that had on its back cover a model rocket/rc glider shaped kinda like a BVM Bobcat. Instead of a Turbine, it has a model rocket engine. Any problems operating this at a AMA field?

I want to present some info on this to my club's next meeting.

Rocket powered gliders do meet AMA code, but it is up to your club to determine if you can fly it or not. I have a rocket glider, but unfortunately at my field we don't allow rockets (due to landowner requirements) and I can't fly it there. I also watched the series and it is on again tonight - very cool stuff but a lot of those rockets were more expensive than I thought they would be.

The NAR has clubs all over. Check www.nar.org for one near you. I use to do the rocket thing. Then I got into airplanes and never flew another one. Oh well.

Just watched all 3 hours. Great show, might just get me back into rockets too

Brian

It is truly a shame that the AMA, which has twice the members of NAR, can not get anywhere near the same coverage, for our hobby/sport. BTW, this was a special called Rocket Challenge, about the SDRS, a function of Tripoli, which is a spinoff of NAR.

The best we could muster was 10 minutes worth (done at the Joe Nall) attached to a full scale aerobatis program.

Kind of makes you wonder what the marketing people in Muncie are doing......or maybe THEY do NOT want the coverage to help enlist new members....

There is another thread on this subject: http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_12...tm.htm#1265435

Was speaking with a friend about this last night. Seems a special on RC flight such as this would be twice as cool as the rockets show(s). Sad thing. [] Well, maybe our day too shall come.....

Brian

Maybe to you, maybe to me, but not to the general public.

Here's the difference: With model rockets, you are GUARANTEED that something spectacular is going to happen, succeed or fail. Either the rocket goes streaking up at terrific speeds, trailing flame and smoke, or it fails in a catastrophic and spectacular fashion.

You just don't have that kind of stuff with model aviation. Seeing a fine scale model roll up into a wad on the runway is SAD, not spectacular, even for the casual observer. Model airplane engines sound annoying, not impressive, when you watch them on TV. When a model rocket blows up, it's "SO COOL." If model airplanes blew up in midair on a regular basis, I guarantee we'd be flying model rockets, or knitting right now.

Model airplanes are just not exciting when viewed from the outside. The fun is in the DOING. Watching is boring.

Time and money spent obtaining the certifications to build rocket motors that produce 5000 lbs. of thrust - $20,000.00

Building a rocket thats 45' tall, powered by the same fuel as Hitlers V1, and was built in your garage by you, your family, and friends - $15,000.00

Having the entire thing go up to 50,000 feet at 4X the speed of sound in less than 60 seconds and then smash into the ground, but the feeling of accomplishing what only astronauts and fighter pilots get to do - Priceless

Face it, every town has somebody building either model or full scale planes in their garage, but not too many have somebody building a full size surface to air missile in their garage. These things are spectacular. And lately, these modelers have been scrutinized by Homeland Security. That was the main reason for the program, to show how well organized Tripoli and the NAR are. I belonged to NAR, I spend $64.00 for my insurance and I fly nothing larger than an F size motor, and you know, I never hear about POLITICS AND WHINING LIKE I DO FROM MEMBERS AND DISTRICT REPS OF THE AMA!

A video of any of our R/C planes, even 3D would come off as boring to the general public. We just don't usually explode, which is still a fairly common occurance for the larger model rockets. Not that an intresting Discovery show could not be made, just not an entire show showing IMAC or pattern competition. Show some of the National's activity, some of R/C, Control Line, free flight, indoors, racing, etc. Also cover some local fun fly competition, include a few crashs, but mostly successful flights, show some construction. Maybe the Nationals should include a Junk Yard Wars type of competition just for the entertainment of spectators who are AMA members?

I watched that whole thing last sunday....and again last night.

VERY INTERESTING to say the least. I thought it was interesting when they stated how they had to get the FAA involved to divert airtraffic when they were launching the high altitude models.

...and golf, tennis, any type of racing (actual channels dedicated to it), basketball, soccer, even rockets aren't boring to watch after a while?? (Oh boy, they go up, they come down.....whew, must admit after 3 hours, it was 'ok.....that's enough of that!! )
I guess it's all what you're interested in. (note, not bashing any of the above, just a fact....not too thrilling to watch unless your 'into' it)
Personally, I find it facinating to watch anything fly!! Granted, that's just me. But if you infuse a program with something more than..."Ooooo, let's watch the model airplane buzzzzzzz around in circles for an hour", then ya might be on to somethin'. Sport pilot actually makes a good point. You could tie in some other things, show the great 'community' of RC aeromodelers, the different facets of the sport/hobby, LOTS of Jets and 3D of course , styled scale and warbirds. Dip into the history of model aviation, into the AMA, their facilities/events (sure the brass would love the chance to show off all our great new investments ) Long story short, contrary to nay-sayers, there IS a way this could work. You just have to imagine!! [8D]

Brian

Yeah, I like to bowl on a league, but it is rather boring to watch on TV. Rather watch football.

Heh-heh. Did ya see the guys making their own solid-fuel boosters (nasa style)!! Now that's what I call a home workshop!!

Yup, and they also build liquid fuel engines as well HURRMPH! I've hung out with a few of the Wichita guys that were in the show when I was doing an internship at Raytheon.

yeah, what was that one....hmmmmm, like liquid fuel and rubber!!?? Hot da**!!
Bet that was a good time Scott.

Last year I made, what for an amateur and an individual was, a fairly significant effort to get TV coverage of our hobby. I did a fair amount of research and put together a 20-minute video storyboard and sent it to The Discovery Wings Channel as a proposal for a 3 to 4 part series under the subject of, or series title, "Miniature Wings." I honestly believe that the average person, even those in general aviation, isn't aware of the fact that true microturbines exist. Realizing that Wings wouldn't want to do a show strictly on model airplanes, I attempted to make the connection between hobby jets and real world applications. I pointed out that the sophistication of these "toys" (please don't take offense--I was trying to make a point) is approaching that of real world UAV's. Also, the same engines that power model jets are being used in military and aerospace research programs. One of these research planes is supposed to reach transonic speed. None of this has been shown on Wings to my knowledge. However, R/C jets, and R/C planes in general, did get some coverage on The History Channel's "Tactical to Practical."

So, where did all this lead? Well, Discovery Wings was impressed with my effort, and kind in their words, but told me that they only accept proposals from established production companies. Never mind that I called months in advance and asked if they do accept proposals from individuals, at which time I was told "all the time." Oh well, so much for internal communication! Also, I was told that in any case they do not have a budget for original production. Basically, they only buy programs already in the can.

I can't tell you how difficult it is to get something like this going. Even if you are already into video production, making what are essentially documentaries is usually a losing proposition, from what I'm told. I still think that there is enough material out there to make a miniseries around a "Miniature Wings" theme that would be of interest to a general audience, and certainly to that of Discovery Wings. Again, it wouldn't be strictly about models, but would look at all manner of UAV's and research aircraft small enough to be considered "miniature" relative to full scale aircraft. I'm aware that Wings has done stuff on UAV's, but I think this would be a little different, as well as updated with fresh material.

It was this research the led to the article I did here on RCU. A lot of what I found was left out of the article, though.

Paul

Not nay-saying, stating fact...

You still need something that reaches out and grabs the watcher by the shirt and makes them say, "WOW," to tie all that stuff together. With the rocket shows, all the background filler was interspersed with spectacular launch attempts. There's no "will it work? Won't it work? How big of a fireball will it make?" suspense hook in model aviation.

There's a lot of suspense value in the test flight of an experimental rocket, which is done regularly at events. If you haven't test-flown a plane, you don't fly it at an event.

All you've got is the background stuff interspersed with airplanes buzzing around in big ovals overhead. Yawnfest. I'd love to see a special on R/C airplanes on Discovery just as much as the next guy, but I just don't think it can be pulled off.

Obviously you haven't seen any of my maiden flights? H'mm R/C maiden flights, that could be a documentary in itself.

Matt, I apreciate your opinion, but that's really all it is right, an opinion? I can't see how you can state as a fact that watching model airplanes is boring, that the general public thinks it's boring (unless you want to share your poll), or even that it will never make a special. If your opinion is that it can't/won't be done, I feel that is nay-saying, in my opinion. And if seeing those rockets go up over and over and over is the 'grabber/wow factor' (background fodder...with about 3 explosions in 3 hours ), then jets (190mph pass??...dogfights....is this lame??!! Does it buzzzzz?? I think not-and neither do electrics for that matter, as you well know mr.mod ) and 3D (acro....sweet!!) and Giant (Big...can he fly it?? hah!!) and Helis (Wow...didn't know they had those!!) and Warbirds (just plain cool!!) could be ours!! Jeeze, at least ours look/act different!! Fill in with the history/ama/community/workshops/events/competitions.
If everyone said...'that won't happen.'...where would we be now? How can people into our great hobby/sport have the view that everyone thinks we suck to watch? Do the events/comps draw only pilots? Are people getting jaded here? Who are all these people I hear about gapping at acros, jets, ect??
I hope someday it happens. Remember, never stop imagining!!

Paul, nice try at it at least. This is where I think AMA may be a crucial link in the chain, promotional wise. Isn't that what we're about, advancing the hobby? Oh well, if I had gone the other route professionally (always hated video class [>:]), I'd be pitching this idea too!!

Brian

pdmarsh-

Great job. Don't give up on the 4-part series. There is always The Learning Channel, heck, try the History Channel!

Then again, maybe contact one of these production companies and submit your idea to them. They would have the knowledge, etc. to then show the program around to the various cable channels. It might STILL end up on Discovery Wings going this route!

I understand that it was a couple of individuals that got together, pooled their resources and made those model rocket programs happen. Hows this for a suggestion... get ahold of John Beech (the Model Sport video guy) and maybe the two of you can come up with something that way.

There's actually a fair amount of stuff on TV about our hobby already, it's just not as polished, if you can call it that, as the "Rocket Challenge". I was excited when the first season of "R/C Today" (edit: I think it's "Inside R/C" ) was announced for The Outdoor Channel, but sorely disappointed in the show. Perhaps this second season is better, but I don't get the channel now. There is, or was, an R/C show on the Do it Yourself network. It, too, was disappointing. If I'm being a snob, I apologize. I just want to see some professional programs done. If it takes crashes and destruction to appease the masses, there are plenty of those. Just show a few $10,000 to $20,000 jets auguring in, and emphasize that cost, and the masses will be pleased. Show a few high speed low passes, and crank up the volume, and the audience will be wowed. Throw in some low angle, on the runway, shots of planes taking off and landing, and you'll have the cool factor. Uh oh, I'm warming to the subject...

Seriously, though, I do think that a few shows could be done around the hobby and related fields (model sized UAV,s, etc.) at the professional level. Send an e-mail to Discovery (TLC, TDC, Wings) and ask for it. If you saw the model jets and planes on "Tactical to Practical," send a message to The History Channel damanding more. The reason I attempted my project was not so much because I wanted to make a video as it was that I wanted to SEE a video, and none were out there at the profressional level. I was hoping that they would take the concept and run with it as I'm not in the video production business.

Just my thoughts.

Paul

Don,

Thanks for the encouragement. I have tried a few other angles, and maybe will pursue it again. I kind of shelved the idea due to lack of resources, as you mentioned, and time.

Thanks again, though. I remember reaching a point in the process where all I wanted was encouragement, but didn't find a lot. There are many nay-sayers out there, and I talked to a few.

Paul

I enjoyed every minute of it!!! Tactical to Practical is cool too!!! Who owned those beautiful F-18's???

Those unlimited rockets were something else---I had no idea these things had progressed this far.[8D] I just have one question....Was anyone else besides me a little disturbed that those rockets that reached heights in excess of 10,000 feet were being launched in obscure conditions??? There was cloud cover that appeared to be around 5,000 feet that the rockets disappeared through.

Kevin

Could it be "what goes UP must come down"....?

and they were on a pretty HUGE range in the middle of nowhere....!

The thing that got me was all of the safety issues, and then the close up of the chute launch system pre-igniting, and knocking the guy off the ladder, during the pre-launch setup. Talk about national coverage of an accident waiting to happen......makes some of the stuff that happens to aero-modelers look tame by comparison. ( Please NO comments about the recent deaths in RC modeling) I'm sure that somewhere, sometime, SOMEONE has bought lunch from a model rocket. It is just the fact that they made this a part of the story, and it showed the dangers of model rocketry so honestly. Also think the word "Dangerous" was in the sanction name of the event.........

Yeah, that guy that got knocked off of the ladder---I wonder what prevented the entire load of fuel from igniting.[X(] The reason the small explosion occured was due to the negative and positive wires were reversed...Please don't tell me they were wiring that thing hot?!?!?!?!

Even out in the middle of nowhere I would sure hate to be some guy flying my family in a twin Beech across country and seeing one of those puppies punch through the clouds!!! INCOMING!!!! Although it would be a pretty cool view from up there....

Kevin