Most important to me is that modelling cultivated my interest in electronics, mechanics, theory of flight, etc. For this reason, it sparked my interest in engineering and as a result I achieved a degree in Mechanical Engineering and now enjoy a successful career in Telecommunications. If it wasn;t for modelling and being around people with a similar interest ie. belonging to a club, I would likely have chosen a different career path.

I also find that participating in competitive modelling contest, has taught me the valuable life lessons of winning and losing. Accepting defeat, and having patience to continuously improve one's own performance.

Finally, I was very lucky to have my father participate with me right from the beginning. Even today, 20 years later, he and I still fly R/C and compete together. This is a relationship that many young boys never shared with their fathers.

Thanks for caring!!!

Balsa trees grow in the humid rain forests of Central and South America. It is a very fast- growing tree which reaches a height of 15 feet in the first year, and 60 to 90 feet during the next six to ten years. There is no such thing as woods of balsa trees. They grow singly or in small groups throughout the forest. Finding and cutting them is a difficult process not readily adaptable to the use of machinery. The trees must be cut and taken to the lumber mill very quickly or they begin to rot. The lumber is kiln-dried which requires very careful control of humidty and heat during the drying process.

Additional Information Sent to Me

Your section on "Where balsa comes from" is not entirely accurate. Most "legal" balsa comes from balsa plantations in Ecuador owned and operated by the Baltek Corporation of Northvale, NJ. Balsa does not grow in the shade of the forest. Rather, balsa is a "pioneer" species and grows in open areas. Baltek purchases old pasture land and old agricultural fields to start its plantations and harvests a plantation on a 6 year cycle.

A Note on Contest Balsa:
Balsa's density occurs naturally from 4 pounds per cubic foot up to 20 pounds per cubic foot. It's a very bell-shaped curve if you plot availability vs. density. The most available material at the top of the curve is in the 8 to 10 pound density range. Densities lower than 8 pounds are more difficult to find and densities higher than 10 pounds are also difficult to find. Each tree produces nearly the full density spectrum but the amount of available low density wood is quite low. I suggest looking for material that's around 6 pounds (can be calculated if you know the weight and the size of the piece). That's quite possibly available in the hobby stores if you look at and weigh each piece of wood.

Jennifer Hockenberry,
Regional Sales Manager
Baltek Corporation