unfair cartoon in October 2004 issue of KITPLANES

Bob Kaplow wrote:

From: EISNER::KAPLOW_R "Bob Kaplow" 25-AUG-2004 11:26:50.98
To:
CC: ,KAPLOW_R
Subj: October cartoon

All this because of a CARTOON. Someone needs to get a grip on reality.
If all model rocketeers are this paranoid, I really am starting now to
worry about them being a hazard to aviation and problem close friends
and relatives!

Matt

In article , Matt Whiting writes:
Bob Kaplow wrote:

From: EISNER::KAPLOW_R "Bob Kaplow" 25-AUG-2004 11:26:50.98
To:
CC: ,KAPLOW_R
Subj: October cartoon

All this because of a CARTOON. Someone needs to get a grip on reality.
If all model rocketeers are this paranoid, I really am starting now to
worry about them being a hazard to aviation and problem close friends
and relatives!

It's an image thing. This group must surely understand that.

I remember stoping by a store at a local GA airport back in October 2001.
The place was DEAD and shut down for several months after 9/11/

I was at a convention last week at McCormick Place and looked out at what
used to be Meigs Field, now just a bunch of dirt unsuitable for even an
emergency landing.

This is NOT the future I want to see for GA. Nor for Model Rockets. We're on
the same side of this battle. Many folks see both activities as kooks with
expensive toys. Anything that reinforces this belief needs to be stopped.

Bob Kaplow NAR # 18L TRA # "Impeach the TRA BoD"
To reply, remove the TRABoD!
Kaplow Klips & Baffle: http://nira-rocketry.org/LeadingEdge/Phantom4000.pdf
www.encompasserve.org/~kaplow_r/ www.nira-rocketry.org www.nar.org

Save Model Rocketry from the HSA! http://www.space-rockets.com/congress.html

Bob Kaplow wrote:

In article , Matt Whiting writes:

Bob Kaplow wrote:


From: EISNER::KAPLOW_R "Bob Kaplow" 25-AUG-2004 11:26:50.98
To:
CC: ,KAPLOW_R
Subj: October cartoon

All this because of a CARTOON. Someone needs to get a grip on reality.
If all model rocketeers are this paranoid, I really am starting now to
worry about them being a hazard to aviation and problem close friends
and relatives!


It's an image thing. This group must surely understand that.

I remember stoping by a store at a local GA airport back in October 2001.
The place was DEAD and shut down for several months after 9/11/

I was at a convention last week at McCormick Place and looked out at what
used to be Meigs Field, now just a bunch of dirt unsuitable for even an
emergency landing.

This is NOT the future I want to see for GA. Nor for Model Rockets. We're on
the same side of this battle. Many folks see both activities as kooks with
expensive toys. Anything that reinforces this belief needs to be stopped.

I understand image, and I also understand humor. Robrucha's cartoon was
hardly a slam against model rocketeers. And I doubt a single pilot
viewing that cartoon took it that way. It isn't like this was in the
mass media where you have readers without a clue about either airplanes
or model rockets. I think your rant was way over the top and simply
makes you look foolish, over-reactive and out of touch. I don't think
that is the image you want to portray of a model rocket enthusiast, but
that is certainly the image your posting gave to me. Your rant was much
more damaging than the Kitplanes cartoon.


Matt

Matt Whiting wrote:


I understand image, and I also understand humor. Robrucha's cartoon was
hardly a slam against model rocketeers. And I doubt a single pilot
viewing that cartoon took it that way. It isn't like this was in the
mass media where you have readers without a clue about either airplanes
or model rockets. I think your rant was way over the top and simply
makes you look foolish, over-reactive and out of touch. I don't think
that is the image you want to portray of a model rocket enthusiast, but
that is certainly the image your posting gave to me. Your rant was much
more damaging than the Kitplanes cartoon.


Matt


Amen!
I personally turn to his cartoons first thing on receiving my mag!
The world needs a little more humour.
John

All that over a cartoon? Taking things a bit too serious aren't you?

On 25 Aug 2004 14:14:17 -0500, oD (Bob
Kaplow) wrote:

From: EISNER::KAPLOW_R "Bob Kaplow" 25-AUG-2004 11:26:50.98
To:
CC: ,KAPLOW_R
Subj: October cartoon

As a model rocketeer with 40 years of experience in the hobby, I strongly
object to the cartoon I just saw on page 77 of your October issue of
Kitplanes. To infer that model rocketeers would endanger pilots or aircraft
is absurd.

Just as your hobby has grown over the past 4 decades, so has mine. When we
fly our large models that are capable of reaching altitudes of 5000' and
more, we notify the FAA of our operations and have the local FSS issue a
NOTAM. We fill out the same form used for an airshow. We always check for
aircraft in the flight area before launching ANY rocket. We are VERY safety
conscious in our operations, and have a safety record unmatched by any sport
or hobby.

Pilots are SUPPOSED to check the NOTAMs for their area before taking off. Of
course, we all know that they don't always do so. That's why we always look
for aircraft in the area before we fly. But we've encountered problems where
our NOTAMs actually attract aircraft. Someone comes flying around our
launch, and hangs around in our airspace, hoping to see something "cool". Of
course we then have to sit there and wait for the intruder to leave before
we can fly.

Frankly we've grown tired of our hobby being under attack by everyone
from the BATFE to SBC and now to Kitplanes. It is totally unjustified. Where
do you think the people who will build and fly the first manned Mars mission
will come from? They won't be Nintendo pilots, that's for sure.

[Hint: what was Bert Rutan doing when he was a kid? Building and flying
model airplanes!]

You can learn more about our hobby, our safety rules, and our organization
by visiting our web site at www.nar.org

Bob Kaplow
Northern Illinois Rocketry Association - Range Safety Officer
National Association of Rocketry - lifetime member #18L

cc: Mark Bundick NAR president
cc: rec.models.rockets

"Nathan Young" wrote in message
...
All that over a cartoon? Taking things a bit too serious aren't you?


Unfortunately for the model rocket industry things have come to that. It has
become extremely difficult to even ship model rocket engines because of
security paranoia. Many stores have quit carrying them entirely.

Model rocketeers probably don't find cartoons like this any more funny than
you would find a New Yorker cartoon of a 'stealth' Velocity bombing a city
to be funny.

In article , "C J Campbell" writes:
"Nathan Young" wrote in message
...
All that over a cartoon? Taking things a bit too serious aren't you?

Unfortunately for the model rocket industry things have come to that. It has
become extremely difficult to even ship model rocket engines because of
security paranoia. Many stores have quit carrying them entirely.

Model rocketeers probably don't find cartoons like this any more funny than
you would find a New Yorker cartoon of a 'stealth' Velocity bombing a city
to be funny.

I did get an email apology this morning from the editors. Since it was
addressed to me and not the newsgroup, I won't post it here. It's more than
we've got from the likes of SBC and other folks that have defamed our hobby.

Bob Kaplow NAR # 18L TRA # "Impeach the TRA BoD"
To reply, remove the TRABoD!
Kaplow Klips & Baffle: http://nira-rocketry.org/LeadingEdge/Phantom4000.pdf
www.encompasserve.org/~kaplow_r/ www.nira-rocketry.org www.nar.org

Save Model Rocketry from the HSA! http://www.space-rockets.com/congress.html

"Bob Kaplow" wrote in message ...
In article , "C J Campbell" writes:
snip

I did get an email apology this morning from the editors. Since it was
addressed to me and not the newsgroup, I won't post it here. It's more than
we've got from the likes of SBC and other folks that have defamed our hobby.

Bob Kaplow NAR # 18L TRA # "Impeach the TRA BoD"
To reply, remove the TRABoD!
Kaplow Klips & Baffle: http://nira-rocketry.org/LeadingEdge/Phantom4000.pdf
www.encompasserve.org/~kaplow_r/ www.nira-rocketry.org www.nar.org

Save Model Rocketry from the HSA! http://www.space-rockets.com/congress.html


SBC?
--
Dan D.
http://www.ameritech.net/users/ddevillers/start.html


..

In article , "Blueskies" writes:

"Bob Kaplow" wrote in message ...
In article , "C J Campbell" writes:
snip

I did get an email apology this morning from the editors. Since it was
addressed to me and not the newsgroup, I won't post it here. It's more than
we've got from the likes of SBC and other folks that have defamed our hobby.

SBC?

Yup SBC, as in the local phone monopoly. They recently ran a commercial for
DSL showing folks searching the net for rocket info, building a rocket,
flying the rocket, and had the rocket crash into their car, blowing up the
car. Dad then says "should have taken Mom's car". Obviously phony, yet it
leaves the impression in millions of minds that one of our models can cause
that to happen. I asked them what they would think if I ran a commercial for
my product that showed an SBC cell phone blowing off someone's head. They
just didn't get it.

Bob Kaplow NAR # 18L TRA # "Impeach the TRA BoD"
To reply, remove the TRABoD!
Kaplow Klips & Baffle: http://nira-rocketry.org/LeadingEdge/Phantom4000.pdf
www.encompasserve.org/~kaplow_r/ www.nira-rocketry.org www.nar.org

Save Model Rocketry from the HSA! http://www.space-rockets.com/congress.html

All that over a cartoon? Taking things a bit too serious aren't you?

Well, yeah, it's just a cartoon, but...

How serious would folks on r.a.h. take it, if a cartoon was run somewhere
showing some terrorists using a homebuilt aircraft for some illicit purpose?

We'd all be "safest", at home and locked indoors by the police. There are
enough threats to our freedom from within, thanks to needless paranoia
and ensuing government overregulation, without having to stir up even more
unnecessary fears. I for one like living in a country where folks are still
free to do things (responsibly) that other people might consider "risky".
Things like flying homebuilt aircraft, and flying model rockets.

Unfortunately, there are people - within our borders - more than willing to
take away a little freedom here, a little liberty there, all so the trembling
ninnies can have a little more "safety". I feel more threatened by them, than
by any terrorist. Pretty soon, there won't be any more freedom and liberty
left to take away.

But we'll all be "safe".

p.s. try and attend an organized launch in your area some weekend - they're
about the most intelligent, amiable and fun-loving folks you'll ever meet, and
I guarantee you'll have a blast.