The attention to scale delicacies in every model that Pat Tritle does is what makes his design distinctively a Pat Tritle model. Not obvious is how similar all of his designs really are; they're extremely lightweight and fly really well. (Those are the delicacies to which I'm referring.)
     As seen with the 44-inch Tiger Moth we bring to you this month, it's Pat's respect for the individual project that makes his designs inspiring. Instead of conforming the outlines of an aircraft to a specific set of known design parameters, his philosophy is under the covering—to build as lightly as possible and respect the outlines.
     An aircraft with a light wing loading is friendliest to the RC modeler. Whether it's an ARF, a project from the AMA plans listing, or a kit in the closet gathering dust for decades (such as that CAP 21 of mine), consider how much better the model could fly if lighter materials, lighter servos, or new building techniques were explored.
     A lighter model can make you a better pilot. A heavy model needs to fly faster through every maneuver, including landing. The wing has to work harder, after all, to keep all those scale details airborne. So, in response, the pilot has to respond and work harder also.
     A lighter airplane not only makes you look like a better builder, but when you take that model to the sky, people will think that you're an aeromodeling Einstein.
     Every now and then, an RC pilot just gets tired of flying his or her own airplanes. What, with all the hassle of keeping them maintained, it's a whole lot of work when you think about it. Might I suggest that the next day you're planning to go to the field, you leave the models at home for once? They won't be needed.
     When you get to the field, people will be more than happy to let you fly their airplanes. In fact, they'll even fuel them up and clean them for you. Sounds like a great deal, doesn't it? Yup, upon your arrival, RC student pilots will be imploring you to get them in the air.
     That's the way it was for me when I first became a flight instructor with the Flagstaff Flyers while a college student at Northern Arizona University. In fact, the condition was described as exactly that to me: I wouldn't have to bring a model to the field ever again. And I fell for it.
     For the most part it was true, and the respect I earned from the students meant that many of the models they built after soloing were ones they trusted me to test-fly—another of my favorite jobs.
     Is teaching a new person how to fly hard? No. Is teaching a new person how to fly a lot of work? No. Are there secrets about flight instruction you should know to consider becoming an RC flight instructor? Yes!
     As a matter of fact, Bob Wilson gave us an article for exactly that. His "Pointers for New Flight Instructors" describes the basic knowledge that instructors should have for them and the students they teach to be successful.
     What I agree with most about Bob's recommendations is the attitude an instructor should have; don't forget the fun. Another good point he makes is that it's important that students make as many mistakes as possible.
     Mistakes are learning tools (I should know), and recognizing them helps the instructor focus in on the individual needs of that student. Every student as well as instructor is different and has different skill sets. When we get to know each other better, we function better as a club, totally jazzed about the world's greatest pastime.
     Have you noticed that a lot of models today are lacking in a material known to grow out of the ground? Strange as it may seem, there are materials to build from other than balsa wood. One of those materials is foam.
     Call me crazy, but that bizarre stuff is very different to use. Some people like it and some don't, but one thing is for sure: if you want foam to stick, it has to be glued. For some reason, I can't get the stuff to hold a screw for the life of me.
     MA Assistant Editor Jay Smith took a look at some of the popular adhesives used today with foam. His research tells us what holds up. It's an abbreviation-heavy article, but if you check out our updated "Frequently Used Abbreviations/Acronyms" guide, we should be covered. MA