RCM&E Editorial – December 2018
(Reprinted with permission of Graham Ashby)
A late-night RCM&E Facebook post of mine, drawing peoples’ attention to an article that explains how getting airborne smoothly (taking off) is never as easy as it looks, prompted me to use the word ‘airmanship’. It’s a word that’s discussed at some length in full-size flying but rarely is it mentioned in the R/C world. Simply described in the dictionary as ‘skill in flying an aircraft’ it’s something that many of us seldom consider, yet to me it conclusively highlights the difference between an R/C pilot who’s comfortably ‘at one’ with his aeroplane and another who, at worst, is clearly at odds with it. Airmanship isn’t always easy to spot however I tend to acknowledge its presence when I experience effortless control, consistency and a penchant for avoiding damage. I suggested as much in the aforementioned post and, expecting little or no response to this largely unremarkable observation, switched off the laptop and made my way up the wooden hill to Bedfordshire.
As you’ll doubtless be aware, one of the enduring delights of social media is that while I snoozed the wee small hours catching flies, one or two readers had homed in on my casual description of airmanship and been encouraged to comment. “Airmanship isn’t just about stick and rudder skills,” was the first, followed shortly after by: “There’s far more to airmanship than flying ability. It starts at the hangar and continues when you go through the gate to the airfield with how you set yourself out. Very few aeromodellers have a decent amount of airmanship.” A little harsh, maybe, but I understood the sentiment.
“Totally agree,” came a response, “It’s about talking to other club members, looking at what they do at the field and, above all, having the right mindset once there. Thinking a day or two [ahead] about what you need to take and [most importantly] what you want to achieve from your time at the field.” Jeepers! The suggestion that one should make a plan of action a day or two in advance of a flying session left me feeling a tinge of inadequacy. I quickly hit the ‘like thumb’, made my excuses and logged off.
Quiet reflection is a wonderful thing and, actually, having initially agreed with the dictionary’s succinct description of airmanship, I began to favour the views of our Facebook friends. Airmanship should indeed be as much about the way we conduct our activities on the ground as the competence with which we fly our aeroplanes. Under this new definition airmanship covers a much broader and more subtle skill set. Suddenly, the diligence we apply when checking our aircraft before take-off, the manner in which we fly, the courtesy we display while doing so, and the mechanical / operational sympathy we have with our aircraft, not to mention the post-flight checks and general maintenance of our fleet, have a bearing. In this respect, then, airmanship can be very subtle indeed, so subtle, even, as not to be noticeable by anyone other than ourselves. Sound odd? I’ll give you an example. Every now and again I guarantee you’ll have turned up at the patch on a perfectly flyable day, with a fully charged model, the world in order and everything in your favour… but you just won’t be ‘feeling it’. You won’t be able to put your finger on why but deep down you’ll just know it’s not the day for you. The perfect model, the weather, the beautifully mown patch and all your clubmates egging you on are a powerful force to resist. Do you fly or don’t you? Only you will be able to answer that but if you decide not to, you’ll have displayed a perfect example of the subtle airmanship that goes largely unnoticed. There’s every chance you’ll have saved your aeroplane for another day, too.
Airmanship… We’ve all got year-end AGMs, trophy giving sessions and Christmas meals coming up, so maybe there’s an extra category you can add to the prize giving? One that doesn’t just reward unadulterated skill.
Graham Ashby
Editor