From: howie@intermec.com (Howard Kaplan x1696)
Newsgroups: rec.models.rc
Subject: Responsibility In Magazine Article Writing
Date: 29 Sep 92 16:13:12 GMT
Reply-To: howie@intermec.com ()
Organization: Intermec Corporation, Everett, Wa.

I recently read an article in the latest AMA magazine by Larry Jolly that
reviews the AMA National Helicopter Championships and was bothered by what I
believe is irresponsible reporting.  The article was a typical run down of
the events and the top pilots in each class.  As is typical there was a
section on new machines entering the competition.  What I take issue with his
a comment based on casual observation about the new Robbe/Schluter Futura.  

To quote Larry, "I saw two of Robbe's new Futuras.  Both machines looked and
flew well.  On closer inspection the Futura appears heavy and not quite as
refined as one would expect, given the trend toward lighter more compact
machines."  

This type of statement based on a quick look could ring the death bell for
this new machine. I think it is flat out irresponsible of an individual
writing for a national magazine to make negative comments based on a quick
look at a machine. Larry is not the only writer to do this, but I must say he
consistently show a bias in his articles towards a few machines.  I recall
last years review of an event were he mentioned the top two pilots and their
machines and skipped over credits of third through tenth and mentioned the
eleventh place pilot flying one of his favorites and included a photo to
boot!  Could it be these are the machines he is being supplied with?

What I would like to see is more objective reporting of these events.  We are
all interested in the equipment being flow at these events so why does he not
include a run down of the pilots and what equipment they used as in the article
on the pattern competition?  Let's get all the information in a more objective
manner and try and get personal bias out of these articles.

As far as reviews of machines go, I would like to see more of an approach
like Consumer Reports.  Magazines would buy the machines as you and I do.
Build them, report on how they go together, how they setup and fly and follow
up on long term reliability.  The only writer I know that comes close to this
is James Wang.  I have even seen reviews by individuals that did not even
build the machine themselves!

Of course some of you will take issue with what I say and wonder why I even
brought this up.  Well my personal bias is towards Schluter machines.  This
is my preference, and because of this I have become the Seattle area field
representative for Robbe/Schluter.  I represent them in a professional manner
and when attending events I make it a point to not make comments on other
manufactures equipment, especially if I have no hands on experience.  

To rebutt Larry, the Futura may be a bit heavier than some machines, but it
certainly is a refined design of very high quality with innovations such as 4
cycle engine capability, rotor direction choice, driven or not driven tail,
left or right hand tail, mechanical or CCPM mixing to name a few.  As far as
size goes it is about the same as a Concept 60.  These comments are based on
hands on experience with the machine.  I cannot say how it flies yet as it is
not complete.

Howard Kaplan
From: hector@hpscit.sc.hp.com (Hector Espinola)
Date: Fri, 25 Sep 1992 00:22:06 GMT
Subject: KYOSHO CONCEPT 30
Organization: Hewlett-Packard, Santa Clara, CA