INtheAIRLATE-BREAKING NEWS FROM THE ACADEMY
AMA Marketing Department FAQ:
The Come Fly with Us Sweepstakes
Q: How do I enter the contest?
A: Join or renew your AMA membership on or before March 31, 2006, and you
will automatically be entered to win. You can also enter multiple times by mail.
Q: How do I enter multiple times?
A: Send an SASE to “Come Fly with Us” Sweepstakes, 5161 E. Memorial Dr.,
Muncie IN 47302, and you will receive an entry form in the mail. Simply return it
to AMA Headquarters. You can send as many SASEs as you want.
Q: What can I win in the monthly drawings?
A: During the entire promotional period—October 3, 2005-March 31, 2006—you
will be eligible to win monthly drawings for AMA merchandise from the Cloud 9
Museum Store with an approximate retail value of $200.
Q: Is a monthly sweepstakes winner able to win more than once?
A: A monthly winner can only win once during the promotional period, but
monthly winners are still eligible to win the Grand Prize.
Q: What is the Grand Prize?
A: A Giant Scale Hangar 9 46% TOC Ultimate biplane ARF with a DA-150
engine and a JR 10X radio—a $6,000 value!
Q: When will the Grand Prize winner be chosen?
A: The Grand Prize winner will be selected at random, from among all entries
received, in a drawing that will be held on or after the end date of the promotional
period. The winner will be notified in person or by US mail, telephone, or via Email
within 30 days of the drawing.
Q: Where can I find more information and the terms and conditions of this contest?
A: There is a link in the top left corner of the AMA Web site:www.modelaircraft.org.
Q: Where can I look to find out who the monthly winners are?
A: In MA’s “In the Air” section and on the AMA Web site.
Q: Are AMA employees eligible to win in the sweepstakes?
A: No. AMA employees, its subsidiaries, and affiliated personnel are ineligible to
win. MA
—Tom Schwyn
Marketing Director
District IV District Vice President Bliss
Teague (R) receives the Exemplary Service
Award from AMA President Dave Brown.
District XI Vice President Bruce Nelson
receives AMA’s Distinguished Service
Award.
District II Vice President Dave Mathewson
receives the Distinguished Service Award
from Dave Brown.
Dave Brown presents District VII Vice
President Bill Oberdieck with the
Distinguished Service Award.
AMA District Vice Presidents Dave Mathewson, Bill Oberdieck, and Bruce Nelson
were presented with Distinguished Service Awards at the January 28, 2006, Executive
Council (EC) meeting in Muncie IN. District Vice President Bliss Teague was honored
with an Exemplary Service Award, which is presented to EC members who have served
for three years.
The Distinguished Service Award is AMA’s second highest honor for individuals. It
is given in recognition of contributions, effort, and time spent serving and working with
others on behalf of the Academy. MA
—Rob Kurek
Director of Publications
EC Members Receive Awards
Links on theWeb!
For more news, events,
and information, go to
www.modelaircraft.org.
• L.F. Randolph presents his low-wing,
.10- to .15-size advanced RC trainer
called Stichin. CL fliers get a treat in
the form of Yves Fernandez’s
construction article for a 40-size
Classic Aerobatics machine called the
Stilomag 42, and Gene Hempel shows
how to build a tuned pipe for 1/2A CL.
Fred Reese represents FF with his
redesign of Frank Ehling’s AMA Cub:
the Baby Cub. Plans for it are shown
full size in this issue.
• Bob Beckman and Kirby Crawford
bring us Part 1 of a look at four
gasoline-burning engine used to power
RC Giant Scale aircraft.
• New products include a Hinge Slotting
Knife for $2.95, and Super Jet CA is
available in an economical 2-ounce
bottle for $12.95. Both are from Carl
Goldberg Models. The Airtronics XL
Series radio system comes with liner
exponential control and servoreversing
switching. Du-Bro Products
Twenty-Five Years Ago in MA:
April 1981
INtheAIR
introduces the Kwik-Lok Spinner for
quick detachment and reinstallation, and
it comes in four MonoKote matching
colors. MA
—Rich LaGrange
AMA Librarian
10 MODEL AVIATION
The Academy is always actively working
with the federal government to secure an
open relationship that will enhance the
image of modeling and help to secure its
future. One of the benefits of this proactive
concept is a Memorandum of Understanding
that signifies the partnership between AMA
and the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA).
Since the signing of the memorandum
and meetings with EPA officials, a “winwin”
opportunity was developed that could
not only secure the future of aeromodeling
but the positive relationships that local
modeling clubs can have with their
communities.
The EPA has “Superfund Sites,” which
are landfills that have been cleaned up
environmentally. These are large and often
in ideal locations for aeromodeling activities.
How these Superfund Sites are used is a
sensitive subject because of its
environmental nature.
AMA Flying Site Coordinator Joe Beshar
and his team have nurtured the EPA’s faith
in the Academy and its members to convince
them that the ideal use of these sites would
be for aeromodeling. They agree that the
benefit would be not only for AMA, but for
the EPA and the local community.
Now AMA has some leverage. After
Superfund Sites are cleaned up and covered
with clean soil over a plastic barrier, they
have to sit for 25 or more years before they
can be considered for other use. Since flying
sites basically need only the air above, the
land is ideal for modeling. AMA is
confident that the EPA will encourage
property owners (stake owners) and
recommend them to use their land as model
Superfund Flying-Site Program is Working!
AMA Flying Site Coordinator Joe Beshar (second from left) at the Washington DC EPA
conference meeting, where the Memorandum of Understanding was signed February 10,
2005. L-R: EPA Director Michael B. Cook, Bruce Giumarra, Melissa Friedland, and
Elizabeth Southerland of the EPA Assessment and Remediation Division.
flying fields rather than let them sit idle.
The first club to complete the Superfund
program was granted a flying facility with
no costs incurred. There were some
development expenses, but considering the
price of open land in today’s real estate
market, the benefits of this program are
hard to ignore.
To find out if there is a Superfund site in
your area, go to www.epa.gov/superfund/
sites/npl/locate.htm. There, all completed
National Priority List Superfund Sites are
listed by state and city. Visit the site that
looks most appropriate and contact Flying
Site Coordinator Joe Beshar at 198 Merritt
Dr., Oradell NJ 07649; Tel.: (201) 261-
1281; E-mail: [email protected].
Be prepared to supply the listed siteidentification
number, an AMA club
contact person, and his or her telephone
number and E-mail address; they will be
used to follow up with the EPA in
Washington DC. From there you will be
contacted by the local EPA regional
coordinator, who will work with your club
to obtain permission to use the site.
At the time of this writing, 24 Superfund
flying-site programs are in the works, one
of which is in Vermont. The site owner
there is eager for an AMA club to use the
property as a flying field, and AMA is
currently trying to locate a club to take it
over.
The Superfund program is still in its
infancy and the relationship is delicate, but
with the EPA on AMA’s side, the program
offers a tremendous opportunity. MA
—Michael Ramsey
MA Associate Editor
INtheAIR
April 2006 11
In 2004 a group of engineers set out to
build a realistic, flyable, full-scale replica of a
pterosaur. These long-extinct creatures lived
millions of years ago, and their aspects of
flight still remain a mystery today.
Based on a fossil Chicago-based
paleontologist Paul Sereno uncovered in
Africa, the group had a year to build a flyable
pterosaur and learn as much as possible about
its flight. Led by a group at Stanford
University and followed by a National
Geographic documentary team, the
international group went to work building this
ancient animal.
Before this effort the only other known
project of this scope was taken on in the mid-
1980s by Paul MacCready’s company—
AeroVironment—which built a large flying
model of Quetzacoatlus Northropi.
How does one approach building such a
weird animal? For the first stage of the project
a group of Bay Area high school students were
brought in to a summer outreach program at
Stanford. They built simple models and an RC
glider to test yaw control. With a large
destabilizing head out front, they sought how
to make a pterosaur fly in a stable manner
without a tail.
The international team members
(comprising paleontologists, professors,
aerodynamicists, and engineers) met
frequently at Stanford University for meetings
to share developments, ideas, and theories.
The pterosaur models then progressed to
electric-powered test beds mimicking pterosaur
wing outlines to test out the unusual wing
structure and flight-control theories. Much time
was spent on the development of a highly
complex variable-geometry wing, composed of
a custom-built carbon-fiber spar, movable
joints, and an elastic membrane surface.
As time progressed, theories were
dismissed or validated and more sophisticated
models evolved. At one stage the model
encompassed 14 servos to control the
articulations, including wing sweep, twist,
rotation, head movement up and down, etc.
Also installed were a telemetry system, an
onboard wireless video camera, a
microprocessor for head control, and Lithium
batteries. For such a small model this was a
testament to the miniaturization of today’s
electronic equipment. The craft’s weight
varied between 8 and 12 pounds with a 3-
meter wingspan.
For flight the pterosaur glider models were
slung underneath a “mothership,” carried aloft,
and released from altitude. They were then
flown back to the takeoff area. With a
successful gliding model built, the team
applied the wing technology to a flapping
model, attempting to tackle the ever-elusive
realm of flapping flight.
As time ran out on the project and filming
deadlines, one flight was attempted with the
pterosaur flapper model. If not for a failure in
the motor/gearing mechanism, the results may
have been different; however, there is still
much work to be done.
Although the one year of development came
and went quickly, many strides were made in
pterosaur research. The development of a
variable-geometry wing utilizing a membrane
wing structure was the major focus and success
of the project. The model boasted one of the
most complex wing structures ever built.
Provided that necessary funding is secured,
the team hopes to build on what was learned
during the project, applying it to the next
generation of pterosaur models.
The National Geographic documentary
titled “Sky Monsters,” which follows the team
in building several replicas, aired in January
2006 and is now available on DVD. For more
Modeling Skills Are Used to Replicate Prehistoric Creature
The tail was added to the back of the
creature to balance the weight of its
large head.
A close-up of the pterosaur shows the
incredible detail and realism.
The Pterosaur team (L-R): Peter Colpitts, Steve Collie, Jim Cunningham, Hall Train, Axel
Strang, Margot Gerritsen, Daniela Buchman, P.J. Thompson, Marie-Anne Letourneux,
Michael Luvara, and Lynsel Miller.
information visit www.nationalgeographic.com
and http://pterosaur.stanford.edu.
Photos were taken by Axel Strang and
myself. MA
—Michael Luvara
(Editor’s note: Michael Luvara is
president of the Santa Clara County Model
Aircraft Skypark model airplane club in
the San Francisco South Bay area. This
project was made possible with the club’s
assistance and the use of its superb flying
site located near Morgan Hill, California,
15 miles south of San Jose.)
Luvara, and Lynsel Miller.
INtheAIR
At AMA Convention 2006 in Ontario,
California, in January, two exciting pieces
of aeromodeling history were donated to
the National Model Aviation Museum: the
Supersweep 22 and a display case signed
by Burt Rutan that contained four model
kits flown onboard Scaled Composites,
LLC’s SpaceShipOne and a built AMA
Racer.
Ron Wittman donated the
Supersweep 22. In 1973 he set a Free
Flight Hand Launched Glider record of 1
minute, 30 seconds, with this aircraft,
Ron Wittman (L) presents Museum
Director Michael Smith with the
Supersweep 22.
Burt Rutan signs the display case
containing the SpaceShipOne payload.
AMA staff cannot thank the exhibitors and attendees who joined us this
year enough for their support. This show will probably be long
remembered by those of us who participated.
It is also important to us to thank the staff members who
stayed at AMA Headquarters and worked behind the scenes. If
it weren’t for these people, the show would never have run as
smoothly as it did.
Exhibitors, please look for our exhibitor-packet mailing in
July. Attendees can look forward to earlier advance-ticket
prices/purchases.
AMA wants to make the 2007 convention even better, so please direct any comments or
concerns to Show Director Jay Mealy at [email protected] or Erin Dobbs at
[email protected].
Everyone’s support is greatly appreciated, and we look forward to another successful
show in January. MA
—Jay Mealy and Erin Dobbs
AMA Convention Staff
AMA Convention 2006 a Success!
and the record still stands.
Mr. Wittman presented the aircraft to the
museum’s Acquisition Committee as a
possible donation in July 2005. After the
committee voted to accept the model, plans
were made for the official donation to take
place at the convention. AMA President
Dave Brown officially accepted the model
for the collection, after which Mr. Wittman
handed it over to me.
The four rubber-powered model kits—two
AMA Cubs and two AMA Racers—were
onboard SpaceShipOne September 29, 2005,
when it made its first of two historic flights to
capture the Ansari X Prize. The X Prize
awarded $10 million to the first privately built
vehicle that was capable of safely hauling a
pilot and the equivalent weight of two
passengers to the edge of space twice within
two weeks.
SpaceShipOne actually had three seats,
but the two “passenger” seats held ballast
tanks to meet the weight restrictions. As the
tanks were filled, Dan Kreigh—an
aeronautical and mechanical engineer at
Scaled Composites—talked with Tony
Naccarato of Tony & Addie Hobby Lobby
about what could be added for weight.
They agreed that rubber-powered models
should be included, so 12 aircraft from
Naccarato’s hobby shop were selected and
placed in the top of the tanks.
The September attempt, under the control
of pilot Mike Melvill, flew to 337,500 feet
Spread Spectrum Update
Spread spectrum radio-control systems are
here to stay and will probably be available
from several manufacturers in the not too
distant future. AMA Headquarters has
received a number of telephone calls and
messages concerning these systems.
Part of these questions stem from the fact
that the main system available right now is,
according to the manufacturer, designed for
park flyer-size aircraft use only. AMA fully
supports this statement and encourages all
AMA members to use this system only in this
size aircraft.
The AMA Frequency Committee met
February 9-10, 2006. A report of the meeting
is available in my column in this issue of MA.
MA
—Steve Kaluf
Technical Director
and reached a speed of Mach 3.1 as it
completed the first of the two flights. It was
not problem-free, though; as SpaceShipOne
climbed to altitude it rolled nearly 30 times.
Melvill was able to regain control, landing
the craft at the Mojave Spaceport.
The display case and kits were officially
turned over to the museum by Burt Rutan at
his Model Aviation Hall of Fame induction
dinner January 15. The items were donated
to the museum by Scaled Composites, LLC,
Tony Naccarato, and Wild R/C, Inc.
See page 16 for full coverage of the
AMA Convention. MA
—Michael Smith
Museum Director
No Homecoming at AMA
AMA’s Homecoming event has been
canceled for 2006. At this time no plans
have been made for 2007. For further
information, please contact Acting
Executive Director Joyce Hager at (765)
287-1256, extension 200, or jhager@
modelaircraft.org. MA
—AMA Headquarters
For the first time in nearly 30 years, Indiana, which had remained on Eastern Standard
Time, will join 47 other states in observing Daylight Saving Time.
Beginning April 1, 2006, nearly all of Indiana—including the cities of Muncie,
Indianapolis, and Fort Wayne—will observe Eastern Daylight Time. Residents will turn
their clocks from 2 a.m. to 3 a.m. the first Sunday in April and turn their clocks from 3
a.m. to 2 a.m. the last Sunday in October.
AMA’s hours of operation will be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. MA
—AMA Headquarters
12 MODEL AVIATION
AMA Museum Receives Historical Items
Indiana Observes Daylight Saving Time
construction article (with plans) was
published in Model Airplane News. All the
RC magazines featured the STARS and their
Scouts in one way or another, and the idea of
building big rapidly became a worldwide
craze.
The most interesting aspect is the impact
the development of Giant Scale aircraft had
on the STARS. In 1977 the club began
hosting its yearly Scale rally at the Olean
Municipal Airport in July. The goal was to
earn enough money and secure the group’s
future by purchasing a flying field.
The STARS drew large crowds and
modeling icons to its event. It was common to
see such people as Hal deBolt, Nick Ziroli,
Don Godfrey, Wendell Hostetler, and Frank
Noll at the fly-in, where they attended, flew,
and promoted their products.
Within 10 years the club had accumulated
enough money to purchase property from the
STARS member Clifford “Kip” Karn and
develop a permanent flying field, which is
now located just off the West Lake Road in
Cuba, New York.
Jim Messer started and developed a
business in which he designed and
manufactured Giant Scale kits. He also
became the first Quadra engine dealer in the
US, selling more than 400 Q-35 power plants
in the first year alone.
The STARS extends its sincere
appreciation to Don Koranda and Dave
Mathewson for their time and effort in
making this award possible. We would also
like to thank our friends and family members
who came to be with us and share in the
presentation. We are indebted to those nine
individuals who made the Giant Scale Dream
come true. MA
—Gary Fitch
STARS
INtheAIR
August 28, 2005, AMA recognized the
Southern Tier Aero Radio Society (STARS)
of Cuba, New York, for having a momentous
impact on the world of RC aircraft. AMA
members/pilots from Ithaca, Jamestown,
Corning, Rochester, Buffalo, Honeoye,
Franklinville, Wayland, Wellsville, and
Olean—all cities in New York state—came to
share in this historic event.
In addition, there were AMA members
from three cities in Pennsylvania—Eldred,
Bradford, and Warren—and MAAC members
from the Fort Erie and Kitchener, Ontario,
Canada, area.
AMA Executive Director Don Koranda
and District II Vice President Dave
Mathewson presented the STARS with the
highest honor bestowed by AMA: the
National Aeromodeling Historic Landmark
Award. This is only the second time in AMA
history that this honor has been presented.
The award consists of two heavy bronze
plaques, one of which is the newly designed
AMA header plaque. It has become the
standard for this and all future Historic
Landmark Awards. It reads, “National
Aeromodeling Historic Landmark,
Recognized and Dedicated by the Academy
of Model Aeronautics.”
The other plaque is unique to each
recipient. It reads:
“Clapp Field”—The Southern Tier Aero
Radio Society, operating from Clapp Field in
Olean, NY, is acknowledged as being a leader
in the development of Giant Scale Radio
Controlled Aircraft beginning in 1975. The
STARS relocated from Clapp Field to Cuba,
NY when the Society purchased this site in
the late 1980s. Established in 1935, STARS is
one of the oldest AMA clubs in the United
States.”
Today, in the era of 33%-, 40%-, and even
50%-scale ARFs, it is difficult to imagine
what STARS members Jim Messer, Bob
Dunn, Bill Messer, Bob Brown (longtime
AMA District III Vice President), Charlie
Nellis, Lou Eltscher, and deceased members
Ken Koeppel, George Privateer, and George
Clapp accomplished.
The story behind this award involved
several years and many trials in their
development of a flyable 1/4-scale Bristol
Scout during the 1970s. This was a significant
task because there were no kits, engines,
wheels, cowls, or propellers for Giant Scale
aircraft. A total of six Bristol Scouts made up
the first squadron of 1/4-scale models shown
anywhere.
The STARS members traveled to
numerous flying events in the US and
Canada, showing off their “huge” aircraft and
flying in formation. National fame came when
they flew in formation at the Rhinebeck
Jamboree in 1977 and 1978, where they were
voted “best of show.”
Their Scouts were featured on the cover of
Radio Control Speed & Sport magazine, and a
The National Aeromodeling Historic
Landmark Award is unveiled at the STARS
Aerodrome in Cuba NY.
New York Club Receives Prestigious AMA Award
AMA Recognizes Youngest Turbine Pilot
The Academy recognizes Desmond
Holland-Robinson (Desi) for his
outstanding accomplishment of obtaining a
fixed-wing turbine waiver at 10 years old.
He is currently the youngest pilot to hold a
turbine waiver.
Anyone who pilots turbine-powered
models knows that this is not entry-level
flying. Advancing to this level at such a
young age proves that Desi’s skills are
amazing for his age.
At age 5 he attended the Toledo Weak
Signals’ show for the first time with his
grandfather Norm. Desi was fascinated by
airplanes, and Norm challenged him to try
the simulators. Adding incentive, his
grandfather agreed that if Desi could take
off and land on the simulators before the
day was up, he would purchase one for
him. Desi mastered takeoff/landing within
a couple hours, and Norm purchased a
simulator for him to take home.
Norm continued to challenge his
grandson on the simulator, having him
perform different maneuvers, none of
which he had problems mastering. In 2001
Norm purchased 6-year-old Desi an Ugly
Stick model and took him out to the club
field to practice.
By the end of the day Desi was able to
take off and land the model without a
buddy box. After continuous practice and
training, he earned his pilot’s license from
The Greater Cincinnati RC Club in 2003.
In July 2005 Desi flew a Tom Cook T-
33 to obtain his turbine waiver. He is
currently piloting a Top Flite Giant Scale
P-51-G45, which he is able to fly in
formation with his grandfather and uncle.
According to Norm, Desi can fly almost
any airplane that is put in his hands.
Congratulations to Desmond Holland-
Robinson for his outstanding
achievements! We’re sure we will see
many exceptional things from him in the
future! MA
—Special Services Department
Desmond Holland-Robinson (L) uses his
piloting skills with his grandfather Norm
at his side.
April 2006 13
04sig1.QXD 2/27/06 8:57 AM Page 13
Edition: Model Aviation - 2006/04
Page Numbers: 9,10,11,12,13
Edition: Model Aviation - 2006/04
Page Numbers: 9,10,11,12,13
INtheAIRLATE-BREAKING NEWS FROM THE ACADEMY
AMA Marketing Department FAQ:
The Come Fly with Us Sweepstakes
Q: How do I enter the contest?
A: Join or renew your AMA membership on or before March 31, 2006, and you
will automatically be entered to win. You can also enter multiple times by mail.
Q: How do I enter multiple times?
A: Send an SASE to “Come Fly with Us” Sweepstakes, 5161 E. Memorial Dr.,
Muncie IN 47302, and you will receive an entry form in the mail. Simply return it
to AMA Headquarters. You can send as many SASEs as you want.
Q: What can I win in the monthly drawings?
A: During the entire promotional period—October 3, 2005-March 31, 2006—you
will be eligible to win monthly drawings for AMA merchandise from the Cloud 9
Museum Store with an approximate retail value of $200.
Q: Is a monthly sweepstakes winner able to win more than once?
A: A monthly winner can only win once during the promotional period, but
monthly winners are still eligible to win the Grand Prize.
Q: What is the Grand Prize?
A: A Giant Scale Hangar 9 46% TOC Ultimate biplane ARF with a DA-150
engine and a JR 10X radio—a $6,000 value!
Q: When will the Grand Prize winner be chosen?
A: The Grand Prize winner will be selected at random, from among all entries
received, in a drawing that will be held on or after the end date of the promotional
period. The winner will be notified in person or by US mail, telephone, or via Email
within 30 days of the drawing.
Q: Where can I find more information and the terms and conditions of this contest?
A: There is a link in the top left corner of the AMA Web site:www.modelaircraft.org.
Q: Where can I look to find out who the monthly winners are?
A: In MA’s “In the Air” section and on the AMA Web site.
Q: Are AMA employees eligible to win in the sweepstakes?
A: No. AMA employees, its subsidiaries, and affiliated personnel are ineligible to
win. MA
—Tom Schwyn
Marketing Director
District IV District Vice President Bliss
Teague (R) receives the Exemplary Service
Award from AMA President Dave Brown.
District XI Vice President Bruce Nelson
receives AMA’s Distinguished Service
Award.
District II Vice President Dave Mathewson
receives the Distinguished Service Award
from Dave Brown.
Dave Brown presents District VII Vice
President Bill Oberdieck with the
Distinguished Service Award.
AMA District Vice Presidents Dave Mathewson, Bill Oberdieck, and Bruce Nelson
were presented with Distinguished Service Awards at the January 28, 2006, Executive
Council (EC) meeting in Muncie IN. District Vice President Bliss Teague was honored
with an Exemplary Service Award, which is presented to EC members who have served
for three years.
The Distinguished Service Award is AMA’s second highest honor for individuals. It
is given in recognition of contributions, effort, and time spent serving and working with
others on behalf of the Academy. MA
—Rob Kurek
Director of Publications
EC Members Receive Awards
Links on theWeb!
For more news, events,
and information, go to
www.modelaircraft.org.
• L.F. Randolph presents his low-wing,
.10- to .15-size advanced RC trainer
called Stichin. CL fliers get a treat in
the form of Yves Fernandez’s
construction article for a 40-size
Classic Aerobatics machine called the
Stilomag 42, and Gene Hempel shows
how to build a tuned pipe for 1/2A CL.
Fred Reese represents FF with his
redesign of Frank Ehling’s AMA Cub:
the Baby Cub. Plans for it are shown
full size in this issue.
• Bob Beckman and Kirby Crawford
bring us Part 1 of a look at four
gasoline-burning engine used to power
RC Giant Scale aircraft.
• New products include a Hinge Slotting
Knife for $2.95, and Super Jet CA is
available in an economical 2-ounce
bottle for $12.95. Both are from Carl
Goldberg Models. The Airtronics XL
Series radio system comes with liner
exponential control and servoreversing
switching. Du-Bro Products
Twenty-Five Years Ago in MA:
April 1981
INtheAIR
introduces the Kwik-Lok Spinner for
quick detachment and reinstallation, and
it comes in four MonoKote matching
colors. MA
—Rich LaGrange
AMA Librarian
10 MODEL AVIATION
The Academy is always actively working
with the federal government to secure an
open relationship that will enhance the
image of modeling and help to secure its
future. One of the benefits of this proactive
concept is a Memorandum of Understanding
that signifies the partnership between AMA
and the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA).
Since the signing of the memorandum
and meetings with EPA officials, a “winwin”
opportunity was developed that could
not only secure the future of aeromodeling
but the positive relationships that local
modeling clubs can have with their
communities.
The EPA has “Superfund Sites,” which
are landfills that have been cleaned up
environmentally. These are large and often
in ideal locations for aeromodeling activities.
How these Superfund Sites are used is a
sensitive subject because of its
environmental nature.
AMA Flying Site Coordinator Joe Beshar
and his team have nurtured the EPA’s faith
in the Academy and its members to convince
them that the ideal use of these sites would
be for aeromodeling. They agree that the
benefit would be not only for AMA, but for
the EPA and the local community.
Now AMA has some leverage. After
Superfund Sites are cleaned up and covered
with clean soil over a plastic barrier, they
have to sit for 25 or more years before they
can be considered for other use. Since flying
sites basically need only the air above, the
land is ideal for modeling. AMA is
confident that the EPA will encourage
property owners (stake owners) and
recommend them to use their land as model
Superfund Flying-Site Program is Working!
AMA Flying Site Coordinator Joe Beshar (second from left) at the Washington DC EPA
conference meeting, where the Memorandum of Understanding was signed February 10,
2005. L-R: EPA Director Michael B. Cook, Bruce Giumarra, Melissa Friedland, and
Elizabeth Southerland of the EPA Assessment and Remediation Division.
flying fields rather than let them sit idle.
The first club to complete the Superfund
program was granted a flying facility with
no costs incurred. There were some
development expenses, but considering the
price of open land in today’s real estate
market, the benefits of this program are
hard to ignore.
To find out if there is a Superfund site in
your area, go to www.epa.gov/superfund/
sites/npl/locate.htm. There, all completed
National Priority List Superfund Sites are
listed by state and city. Visit the site that
looks most appropriate and contact Flying
Site Coordinator Joe Beshar at 198 Merritt
Dr., Oradell NJ 07649; Tel.: (201) 261-
1281; E-mail: [email protected].
Be prepared to supply the listed siteidentification
number, an AMA club
contact person, and his or her telephone
number and E-mail address; they will be
used to follow up with the EPA in
Washington DC. From there you will be
contacted by the local EPA regional
coordinator, who will work with your club
to obtain permission to use the site.
At the time of this writing, 24 Superfund
flying-site programs are in the works, one
of which is in Vermont. The site owner
there is eager for an AMA club to use the
property as a flying field, and AMA is
currently trying to locate a club to take it
over.
The Superfund program is still in its
infancy and the relationship is delicate, but
with the EPA on AMA’s side, the program
offers a tremendous opportunity. MA
—Michael Ramsey
MA Associate Editor
INtheAIR
April 2006 11
In 2004 a group of engineers set out to
build a realistic, flyable, full-scale replica of a
pterosaur. These long-extinct creatures lived
millions of years ago, and their aspects of
flight still remain a mystery today.
Based on a fossil Chicago-based
paleontologist Paul Sereno uncovered in
Africa, the group had a year to build a flyable
pterosaur and learn as much as possible about
its flight. Led by a group at Stanford
University and followed by a National
Geographic documentary team, the
international group went to work building this
ancient animal.
Before this effort the only other known
project of this scope was taken on in the mid-
1980s by Paul MacCready’s company—
AeroVironment—which built a large flying
model of Quetzacoatlus Northropi.
How does one approach building such a
weird animal? For the first stage of the project
a group of Bay Area high school students were
brought in to a summer outreach program at
Stanford. They built simple models and an RC
glider to test yaw control. With a large
destabilizing head out front, they sought how
to make a pterosaur fly in a stable manner
without a tail.
The international team members
(comprising paleontologists, professors,
aerodynamicists, and engineers) met
frequently at Stanford University for meetings
to share developments, ideas, and theories.
The pterosaur models then progressed to
electric-powered test beds mimicking pterosaur
wing outlines to test out the unusual wing
structure and flight-control theories. Much time
was spent on the development of a highly
complex variable-geometry wing, composed of
a custom-built carbon-fiber spar, movable
joints, and an elastic membrane surface.
As time progressed, theories were
dismissed or validated and more sophisticated
models evolved. At one stage the model
encompassed 14 servos to control the
articulations, including wing sweep, twist,
rotation, head movement up and down, etc.
Also installed were a telemetry system, an
onboard wireless video camera, a
microprocessor for head control, and Lithium
batteries. For such a small model this was a
testament to the miniaturization of today’s
electronic equipment. The craft’s weight
varied between 8 and 12 pounds with a 3-
meter wingspan.
For flight the pterosaur glider models were
slung underneath a “mothership,” carried aloft,
and released from altitude. They were then
flown back to the takeoff area. With a
successful gliding model built, the team
applied the wing technology to a flapping
model, attempting to tackle the ever-elusive
realm of flapping flight.
As time ran out on the project and filming
deadlines, one flight was attempted with the
pterosaur flapper model. If not for a failure in
the motor/gearing mechanism, the results may
have been different; however, there is still
much work to be done.
Although the one year of development came
and went quickly, many strides were made in
pterosaur research. The development of a
variable-geometry wing utilizing a membrane
wing structure was the major focus and success
of the project. The model boasted one of the
most complex wing structures ever built.
Provided that necessary funding is secured,
the team hopes to build on what was learned
during the project, applying it to the next
generation of pterosaur models.
The National Geographic documentary
titled “Sky Monsters,” which follows the team
in building several replicas, aired in January
2006 and is now available on DVD. For more
Modeling Skills Are Used to Replicate Prehistoric Creature
The tail was added to the back of the
creature to balance the weight of its
large head.
A close-up of the pterosaur shows the
incredible detail and realism.
The Pterosaur team (L-R): Peter Colpitts, Steve Collie, Jim Cunningham, Hall Train, Axel
Strang, Margot Gerritsen, Daniela Buchman, P.J. Thompson, Marie-Anne Letourneux,
Michael Luvara, and Lynsel Miller.
information visit www.nationalgeographic.com
and http://pterosaur.stanford.edu.
Photos were taken by Axel Strang and
myself. MA
—Michael Luvara
(Editor’s note: Michael Luvara is
president of the Santa Clara County Model
Aircraft Skypark model airplane club in
the San Francisco South Bay area. This
project was made possible with the club’s
assistance and the use of its superb flying
site located near Morgan Hill, California,
15 miles south of San Jose.)
Luvara, and Lynsel Miller.
INtheAIR
At AMA Convention 2006 in Ontario,
California, in January, two exciting pieces
of aeromodeling history were donated to
the National Model Aviation Museum: the
Supersweep 22 and a display case signed
by Burt Rutan that contained four model
kits flown onboard Scaled Composites,
LLC’s SpaceShipOne and a built AMA
Racer.
Ron Wittman donated the
Supersweep 22. In 1973 he set a Free
Flight Hand Launched Glider record of 1
minute, 30 seconds, with this aircraft,
Ron Wittman (L) presents Museum
Director Michael Smith with the
Supersweep 22.
Burt Rutan signs the display case
containing the SpaceShipOne payload.
AMA staff cannot thank the exhibitors and attendees who joined us this
year enough for their support. This show will probably be long
remembered by those of us who participated.
It is also important to us to thank the staff members who
stayed at AMA Headquarters and worked behind the scenes. If
it weren’t for these people, the show would never have run as
smoothly as it did.
Exhibitors, please look for our exhibitor-packet mailing in
July. Attendees can look forward to earlier advance-ticket
prices/purchases.
AMA wants to make the 2007 convention even better, so please direct any comments or
concerns to Show Director Jay Mealy at [email protected] or Erin Dobbs at
[email protected].
Everyone’s support is greatly appreciated, and we look forward to another successful
show in January. MA
—Jay Mealy and Erin Dobbs
AMA Convention Staff
AMA Convention 2006 a Success!
and the record still stands.
Mr. Wittman presented the aircraft to the
museum’s Acquisition Committee as a
possible donation in July 2005. After the
committee voted to accept the model, plans
were made for the official donation to take
place at the convention. AMA President
Dave Brown officially accepted the model
for the collection, after which Mr. Wittman
handed it over to me.
The four rubber-powered model kits—two
AMA Cubs and two AMA Racers—were
onboard SpaceShipOne September 29, 2005,
when it made its first of two historic flights to
capture the Ansari X Prize. The X Prize
awarded $10 million to the first privately built
vehicle that was capable of safely hauling a
pilot and the equivalent weight of two
passengers to the edge of space twice within
two weeks.
SpaceShipOne actually had three seats,
but the two “passenger” seats held ballast
tanks to meet the weight restrictions. As the
tanks were filled, Dan Kreigh—an
aeronautical and mechanical engineer at
Scaled Composites—talked with Tony
Naccarato of Tony & Addie Hobby Lobby
about what could be added for weight.
They agreed that rubber-powered models
should be included, so 12 aircraft from
Naccarato’s hobby shop were selected and
placed in the top of the tanks.
The September attempt, under the control
of pilot Mike Melvill, flew to 337,500 feet
Spread Spectrum Update
Spread spectrum radio-control systems are
here to stay and will probably be available
from several manufacturers in the not too
distant future. AMA Headquarters has
received a number of telephone calls and
messages concerning these systems.
Part of these questions stem from the fact
that the main system available right now is,
according to the manufacturer, designed for
park flyer-size aircraft use only. AMA fully
supports this statement and encourages all
AMA members to use this system only in this
size aircraft.
The AMA Frequency Committee met
February 9-10, 2006. A report of the meeting
is available in my column in this issue of MA.
MA
—Steve Kaluf
Technical Director
and reached a speed of Mach 3.1 as it
completed the first of the two flights. It was
not problem-free, though; as SpaceShipOne
climbed to altitude it rolled nearly 30 times.
Melvill was able to regain control, landing
the craft at the Mojave Spaceport.
The display case and kits were officially
turned over to the museum by Burt Rutan at
his Model Aviation Hall of Fame induction
dinner January 15. The items were donated
to the museum by Scaled Composites, LLC,
Tony Naccarato, and Wild R/C, Inc.
See page 16 for full coverage of the
AMA Convention. MA
—Michael Smith
Museum Director
No Homecoming at AMA
AMA’s Homecoming event has been
canceled for 2006. At this time no plans
have been made for 2007. For further
information, please contact Acting
Executive Director Joyce Hager at (765)
287-1256, extension 200, or jhager@
modelaircraft.org. MA
—AMA Headquarters
For the first time in nearly 30 years, Indiana, which had remained on Eastern Standard
Time, will join 47 other states in observing Daylight Saving Time.
Beginning April 1, 2006, nearly all of Indiana—including the cities of Muncie,
Indianapolis, and Fort Wayne—will observe Eastern Daylight Time. Residents will turn
their clocks from 2 a.m. to 3 a.m. the first Sunday in April and turn their clocks from 3
a.m. to 2 a.m. the last Sunday in October.
AMA’s hours of operation will be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. MA
—AMA Headquarters
12 MODEL AVIATION
AMA Museum Receives Historical Items
Indiana Observes Daylight Saving Time
construction article (with plans) was
published in Model Airplane News. All the
RC magazines featured the STARS and their
Scouts in one way or another, and the idea of
building big rapidly became a worldwide
craze.
The most interesting aspect is the impact
the development of Giant Scale aircraft had
on the STARS. In 1977 the club began
hosting its yearly Scale rally at the Olean
Municipal Airport in July. The goal was to
earn enough money and secure the group’s
future by purchasing a flying field.
The STARS drew large crowds and
modeling icons to its event. It was common to
see such people as Hal deBolt, Nick Ziroli,
Don Godfrey, Wendell Hostetler, and Frank
Noll at the fly-in, where they attended, flew,
and promoted their products.
Within 10 years the club had accumulated
enough money to purchase property from the
STARS member Clifford “Kip” Karn and
develop a permanent flying field, which is
now located just off the West Lake Road in
Cuba, New York.
Jim Messer started and developed a
business in which he designed and
manufactured Giant Scale kits. He also
became the first Quadra engine dealer in the
US, selling more than 400 Q-35 power plants
in the first year alone.
The STARS extends its sincere
appreciation to Don Koranda and Dave
Mathewson for their time and effort in
making this award possible. We would also
like to thank our friends and family members
who came to be with us and share in the
presentation. We are indebted to those nine
individuals who made the Giant Scale Dream
come true. MA
—Gary Fitch
STARS
INtheAIR
August 28, 2005, AMA recognized the
Southern Tier Aero Radio Society (STARS)
of Cuba, New York, for having a momentous
impact on the world of RC aircraft. AMA
members/pilots from Ithaca, Jamestown,
Corning, Rochester, Buffalo, Honeoye,
Franklinville, Wayland, Wellsville, and
Olean—all cities in New York state—came to
share in this historic event.
In addition, there were AMA members
from three cities in Pennsylvania—Eldred,
Bradford, and Warren—and MAAC members
from the Fort Erie and Kitchener, Ontario,
Canada, area.
AMA Executive Director Don Koranda
and District II Vice President Dave
Mathewson presented the STARS with the
highest honor bestowed by AMA: the
National Aeromodeling Historic Landmark
Award. This is only the second time in AMA
history that this honor has been presented.
The award consists of two heavy bronze
plaques, one of which is the newly designed
AMA header plaque. It has become the
standard for this and all future Historic
Landmark Awards. It reads, “National
Aeromodeling Historic Landmark,
Recognized and Dedicated by the Academy
of Model Aeronautics.”
The other plaque is unique to each
recipient. It reads:
“Clapp Field”—The Southern Tier Aero
Radio Society, operating from Clapp Field in
Olean, NY, is acknowledged as being a leader
in the development of Giant Scale Radio
Controlled Aircraft beginning in 1975. The
STARS relocated from Clapp Field to Cuba,
NY when the Society purchased this site in
the late 1980s. Established in 1935, STARS is
one of the oldest AMA clubs in the United
States.”
Today, in the era of 33%-, 40%-, and even
50%-scale ARFs, it is difficult to imagine
what STARS members Jim Messer, Bob
Dunn, Bill Messer, Bob Brown (longtime
AMA District III Vice President), Charlie
Nellis, Lou Eltscher, and deceased members
Ken Koeppel, George Privateer, and George
Clapp accomplished.
The story behind this award involved
several years and many trials in their
development of a flyable 1/4-scale Bristol
Scout during the 1970s. This was a significant
task because there were no kits, engines,
wheels, cowls, or propellers for Giant Scale
aircraft. A total of six Bristol Scouts made up
the first squadron of 1/4-scale models shown
anywhere.
The STARS members traveled to
numerous flying events in the US and
Canada, showing off their “huge” aircraft and
flying in formation. National fame came when
they flew in formation at the Rhinebeck
Jamboree in 1977 and 1978, where they were
voted “best of show.”
Their Scouts were featured on the cover of
Radio Control Speed & Sport magazine, and a
The National Aeromodeling Historic
Landmark Award is unveiled at the STARS
Aerodrome in Cuba NY.
New York Club Receives Prestigious AMA Award
AMA Recognizes Youngest Turbine Pilot
The Academy recognizes Desmond
Holland-Robinson (Desi) for his
outstanding accomplishment of obtaining a
fixed-wing turbine waiver at 10 years old.
He is currently the youngest pilot to hold a
turbine waiver.
Anyone who pilots turbine-powered
models knows that this is not entry-level
flying. Advancing to this level at such a
young age proves that Desi’s skills are
amazing for his age.
At age 5 he attended the Toledo Weak
Signals’ show for the first time with his
grandfather Norm. Desi was fascinated by
airplanes, and Norm challenged him to try
the simulators. Adding incentive, his
grandfather agreed that if Desi could take
off and land on the simulators before the
day was up, he would purchase one for
him. Desi mastered takeoff/landing within
a couple hours, and Norm purchased a
simulator for him to take home.
Norm continued to challenge his
grandson on the simulator, having him
perform different maneuvers, none of
which he had problems mastering. In 2001
Norm purchased 6-year-old Desi an Ugly
Stick model and took him out to the club
field to practice.
By the end of the day Desi was able to
take off and land the model without a
buddy box. After continuous practice and
training, he earned his pilot’s license from
The Greater Cincinnati RC Club in 2003.
In July 2005 Desi flew a Tom Cook T-
33 to obtain his turbine waiver. He is
currently piloting a Top Flite Giant Scale
P-51-G45, which he is able to fly in
formation with his grandfather and uncle.
According to Norm, Desi can fly almost
any airplane that is put in his hands.
Congratulations to Desmond Holland-
Robinson for his outstanding
achievements! We’re sure we will see
many exceptional things from him in the
future! MA
—Special Services Department
Desmond Holland-Robinson (L) uses his
piloting skills with his grandfather Norm
at his side.
April 2006 13
04sig1.QXD 2/27/06 8:57 AM Page 13
Edition: Model Aviation - 2006/04
Page Numbers: 9,10,11,12,13
INtheAIRLATE-BREAKING NEWS FROM THE ACADEMY
AMA Marketing Department FAQ:
The Come Fly with Us Sweepstakes
Q: How do I enter the contest?
A: Join or renew your AMA membership on or before March 31, 2006, and you
will automatically be entered to win. You can also enter multiple times by mail.
Q: How do I enter multiple times?
A: Send an SASE to “Come Fly with Us” Sweepstakes, 5161 E. Memorial Dr.,
Muncie IN 47302, and you will receive an entry form in the mail. Simply return it
to AMA Headquarters. You can send as many SASEs as you want.
Q: What can I win in the monthly drawings?
A: During the entire promotional period—October 3, 2005-March 31, 2006—you
will be eligible to win monthly drawings for AMA merchandise from the Cloud 9
Museum Store with an approximate retail value of $200.
Q: Is a monthly sweepstakes winner able to win more than once?
A: A monthly winner can only win once during the promotional period, but
monthly winners are still eligible to win the Grand Prize.
Q: What is the Grand Prize?
A: A Giant Scale Hangar 9 46% TOC Ultimate biplane ARF with a DA-150
engine and a JR 10X radio—a $6,000 value!
Q: When will the Grand Prize winner be chosen?
A: The Grand Prize winner will be selected at random, from among all entries
received, in a drawing that will be held on or after the end date of the promotional
period. The winner will be notified in person or by US mail, telephone, or via Email
within 30 days of the drawing.
Q: Where can I find more information and the terms and conditions of this contest?
A: There is a link in the top left corner of the AMA Web site:www.modelaircraft.org.
Q: Where can I look to find out who the monthly winners are?
A: In MA’s “In the Air” section and on the AMA Web site.
Q: Are AMA employees eligible to win in the sweepstakes?
A: No. AMA employees, its subsidiaries, and affiliated personnel are ineligible to
win. MA
—Tom Schwyn
Marketing Director
District IV District Vice President Bliss
Teague (R) receives the Exemplary Service
Award from AMA President Dave Brown.
District XI Vice President Bruce Nelson
receives AMA’s Distinguished Service
Award.
District II Vice President Dave Mathewson
receives the Distinguished Service Award
from Dave Brown.
Dave Brown presents District VII Vice
President Bill Oberdieck with the
Distinguished Service Award.
AMA District Vice Presidents Dave Mathewson, Bill Oberdieck, and Bruce Nelson
were presented with Distinguished Service Awards at the January 28, 2006, Executive
Council (EC) meeting in Muncie IN. District Vice President Bliss Teague was honored
with an Exemplary Service Award, which is presented to EC members who have served
for three years.
The Distinguished Service Award is AMA’s second highest honor for individuals. It
is given in recognition of contributions, effort, and time spent serving and working with
others on behalf of the Academy. MA
—Rob Kurek
Director of Publications
EC Members Receive Awards
Links on theWeb!
For more news, events,
and information, go to
www.modelaircraft.org.
• L.F. Randolph presents his low-wing,
.10- to .15-size advanced RC trainer
called Stichin. CL fliers get a treat in
the form of Yves Fernandez’s
construction article for a 40-size
Classic Aerobatics machine called the
Stilomag 42, and Gene Hempel shows
how to build a tuned pipe for 1/2A CL.
Fred Reese represents FF with his
redesign of Frank Ehling’s AMA Cub:
the Baby Cub. Plans for it are shown
full size in this issue.
• Bob Beckman and Kirby Crawford
bring us Part 1 of a look at four
gasoline-burning engine used to power
RC Giant Scale aircraft.
• New products include a Hinge Slotting
Knife for $2.95, and Super Jet CA is
available in an economical 2-ounce
bottle for $12.95. Both are from Carl
Goldberg Models. The Airtronics XL
Series radio system comes with liner
exponential control and servoreversing
switching. Du-Bro Products
Twenty-Five Years Ago in MA:
April 1981
INtheAIR
introduces the Kwik-Lok Spinner for
quick detachment and reinstallation, and
it comes in four MonoKote matching
colors. MA
—Rich LaGrange
AMA Librarian
10 MODEL AVIATION
The Academy is always actively working
with the federal government to secure an
open relationship that will enhance the
image of modeling and help to secure its
future. One of the benefits of this proactive
concept is a Memorandum of Understanding
that signifies the partnership between AMA
and the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA).
Since the signing of the memorandum
and meetings with EPA officials, a “winwin”
opportunity was developed that could
not only secure the future of aeromodeling
but the positive relationships that local
modeling clubs can have with their
communities.
The EPA has “Superfund Sites,” which
are landfills that have been cleaned up
environmentally. These are large and often
in ideal locations for aeromodeling activities.
How these Superfund Sites are used is a
sensitive subject because of its
environmental nature.
AMA Flying Site Coordinator Joe Beshar
and his team have nurtured the EPA’s faith
in the Academy and its members to convince
them that the ideal use of these sites would
be for aeromodeling. They agree that the
benefit would be not only for AMA, but for
the EPA and the local community.
Now AMA has some leverage. After
Superfund Sites are cleaned up and covered
with clean soil over a plastic barrier, they
have to sit for 25 or more years before they
can be considered for other use. Since flying
sites basically need only the air above, the
land is ideal for modeling. AMA is
confident that the EPA will encourage
property owners (stake owners) and
recommend them to use their land as model
Superfund Flying-Site Program is Working!
AMA Flying Site Coordinator Joe Beshar (second from left) at the Washington DC EPA
conference meeting, where the Memorandum of Understanding was signed February 10,
2005. L-R: EPA Director Michael B. Cook, Bruce Giumarra, Melissa Friedland, and
Elizabeth Southerland of the EPA Assessment and Remediation Division.
flying fields rather than let them sit idle.
The first club to complete the Superfund
program was granted a flying facility with
no costs incurred. There were some
development expenses, but considering the
price of open land in today’s real estate
market, the benefits of this program are
hard to ignore.
To find out if there is a Superfund site in
your area, go to www.epa.gov/superfund/
sites/npl/locate.htm. There, all completed
National Priority List Superfund Sites are
listed by state and city. Visit the site that
looks most appropriate and contact Flying
Site Coordinator Joe Beshar at 198 Merritt
Dr., Oradell NJ 07649; Tel.: (201) 261-
1281; E-mail: [email protected].
Be prepared to supply the listed siteidentification
number, an AMA club
contact person, and his or her telephone
number and E-mail address; they will be
used to follow up with the EPA in
Washington DC. From there you will be
contacted by the local EPA regional
coordinator, who will work with your club
to obtain permission to use the site.
At the time of this writing, 24 Superfund
flying-site programs are in the works, one
of which is in Vermont. The site owner
there is eager for an AMA club to use the
property as a flying field, and AMA is
currently trying to locate a club to take it
over.
The Superfund program is still in its
infancy and the relationship is delicate, but
with the EPA on AMA’s side, the program
offers a tremendous opportunity. MA
—Michael Ramsey
MA Associate Editor
INtheAIR
April 2006 11
In 2004 a group of engineers set out to
build a realistic, flyable, full-scale replica of a
pterosaur. These long-extinct creatures lived
millions of years ago, and their aspects of
flight still remain a mystery today.
Based on a fossil Chicago-based
paleontologist Paul Sereno uncovered in
Africa, the group had a year to build a flyable
pterosaur and learn as much as possible about
its flight. Led by a group at Stanford
University and followed by a National
Geographic documentary team, the
international group went to work building this
ancient animal.
Before this effort the only other known
project of this scope was taken on in the mid-
1980s by Paul MacCready’s company—
AeroVironment—which built a large flying
model of Quetzacoatlus Northropi.
How does one approach building such a
weird animal? For the first stage of the project
a group of Bay Area high school students were
brought in to a summer outreach program at
Stanford. They built simple models and an RC
glider to test yaw control. With a large
destabilizing head out front, they sought how
to make a pterosaur fly in a stable manner
without a tail.
The international team members
(comprising paleontologists, professors,
aerodynamicists, and engineers) met
frequently at Stanford University for meetings
to share developments, ideas, and theories.
The pterosaur models then progressed to
electric-powered test beds mimicking pterosaur
wing outlines to test out the unusual wing
structure and flight-control theories. Much time
was spent on the development of a highly
complex variable-geometry wing, composed of
a custom-built carbon-fiber spar, movable
joints, and an elastic membrane surface.
As time progressed, theories were
dismissed or validated and more sophisticated
models evolved. At one stage the model
encompassed 14 servos to control the
articulations, including wing sweep, twist,
rotation, head movement up and down, etc.
Also installed were a telemetry system, an
onboard wireless video camera, a
microprocessor for head control, and Lithium
batteries. For such a small model this was a
testament to the miniaturization of today’s
electronic equipment. The craft’s weight
varied between 8 and 12 pounds with a 3-
meter wingspan.
For flight the pterosaur glider models were
slung underneath a “mothership,” carried aloft,
and released from altitude. They were then
flown back to the takeoff area. With a
successful gliding model built, the team
applied the wing technology to a flapping
model, attempting to tackle the ever-elusive
realm of flapping flight.
As time ran out on the project and filming
deadlines, one flight was attempted with the
pterosaur flapper model. If not for a failure in
the motor/gearing mechanism, the results may
have been different; however, there is still
much work to be done.
Although the one year of development came
and went quickly, many strides were made in
pterosaur research. The development of a
variable-geometry wing utilizing a membrane
wing structure was the major focus and success
of the project. The model boasted one of the
most complex wing structures ever built.
Provided that necessary funding is secured,
the team hopes to build on what was learned
during the project, applying it to the next
generation of pterosaur models.
The National Geographic documentary
titled “Sky Monsters,” which follows the team
in building several replicas, aired in January
2006 and is now available on DVD. For more
Modeling Skills Are Used to Replicate Prehistoric Creature
The tail was added to the back of the
creature to balance the weight of its
large head.
A close-up of the pterosaur shows the
incredible detail and realism.
The Pterosaur team (L-R): Peter Colpitts, Steve Collie, Jim Cunningham, Hall Train, Axel
Strang, Margot Gerritsen, Daniela Buchman, P.J. Thompson, Marie-Anne Letourneux,
Michael Luvara, and Lynsel Miller.
information visit www.nationalgeographic.com
and http://pterosaur.stanford.edu.
Photos were taken by Axel Strang and
myself. MA
—Michael Luvara
(Editor’s note: Michael Luvara is
president of the Santa Clara County Model
Aircraft Skypark model airplane club in
the San Francisco South Bay area. This
project was made possible with the club’s
assistance and the use of its superb flying
site located near Morgan Hill, California,
15 miles south of San Jose.)
Luvara, and Lynsel Miller.
INtheAIR
At AMA Convention 2006 in Ontario,
California, in January, two exciting pieces
of aeromodeling history were donated to
the National Model Aviation Museum: the
Supersweep 22 and a display case signed
by Burt Rutan that contained four model
kits flown onboard Scaled Composites,
LLC’s SpaceShipOne and a built AMA
Racer.
Ron Wittman donated the
Supersweep 22. In 1973 he set a Free
Flight Hand Launched Glider record of 1
minute, 30 seconds, with this aircraft,
Ron Wittman (L) presents Museum
Director Michael Smith with the
Supersweep 22.
Burt Rutan signs the display case
containing the SpaceShipOne payload.
AMA staff cannot thank the exhibitors and attendees who joined us this
year enough for their support. This show will probably be long
remembered by those of us who participated.
It is also important to us to thank the staff members who
stayed at AMA Headquarters and worked behind the scenes. If
it weren’t for these people, the show would never have run as
smoothly as it did.
Exhibitors, please look for our exhibitor-packet mailing in
July. Attendees can look forward to earlier advance-ticket
prices/purchases.
AMA wants to make the 2007 convention even better, so please direct any comments or
concerns to Show Director Jay Mealy at [email protected] or Erin Dobbs at
[email protected].
Everyone’s support is greatly appreciated, and we look forward to another successful
show in January. MA
—Jay Mealy and Erin Dobbs
AMA Convention Staff
AMA Convention 2006 a Success!
and the record still stands.
Mr. Wittman presented the aircraft to the
museum’s Acquisition Committee as a
possible donation in July 2005. After the
committee voted to accept the model, plans
were made for the official donation to take
place at the convention. AMA President
Dave Brown officially accepted the model
for the collection, after which Mr. Wittman
handed it over to me.
The four rubber-powered model kits—two
AMA Cubs and two AMA Racers—were
onboard SpaceShipOne September 29, 2005,
when it made its first of two historic flights to
capture the Ansari X Prize. The X Prize
awarded $10 million to the first privately built
vehicle that was capable of safely hauling a
pilot and the equivalent weight of two
passengers to the edge of space twice within
two weeks.
SpaceShipOne actually had three seats,
but the two “passenger” seats held ballast
tanks to meet the weight restrictions. As the
tanks were filled, Dan Kreigh—an
aeronautical and mechanical engineer at
Scaled Composites—talked with Tony
Naccarato of Tony & Addie Hobby Lobby
about what could be added for weight.
They agreed that rubber-powered models
should be included, so 12 aircraft from
Naccarato’s hobby shop were selected and
placed in the top of the tanks.
The September attempt, under the control
of pilot Mike Melvill, flew to 337,500 feet
Spread Spectrum Update
Spread spectrum radio-control systems are
here to stay and will probably be available
from several manufacturers in the not too
distant future. AMA Headquarters has
received a number of telephone calls and
messages concerning these systems.
Part of these questions stem from the fact
that the main system available right now is,
according to the manufacturer, designed for
park flyer-size aircraft use only. AMA fully
supports this statement and encourages all
AMA members to use this system only in this
size aircraft.
The AMA Frequency Committee met
February 9-10, 2006. A report of the meeting
is available in my column in this issue of MA.
MA
—Steve Kaluf
Technical Director
and reached a speed of Mach 3.1 as it
completed the first of the two flights. It was
not problem-free, though; as SpaceShipOne
climbed to altitude it rolled nearly 30 times.
Melvill was able to regain control, landing
the craft at the Mojave Spaceport.
The display case and kits were officially
turned over to the museum by Burt Rutan at
his Model Aviation Hall of Fame induction
dinner January 15. The items were donated
to the museum by Scaled Composites, LLC,
Tony Naccarato, and Wild R/C, Inc.
See page 16 for full coverage of the
AMA Convention. MA
—Michael Smith
Museum Director
No Homecoming at AMA
AMA’s Homecoming event has been
canceled for 2006. At this time no plans
have been made for 2007. For further
information, please contact Acting
Executive Director Joyce Hager at (765)
287-1256, extension 200, or jhager@
modelaircraft.org. MA
—AMA Headquarters
For the first time in nearly 30 years, Indiana, which had remained on Eastern Standard
Time, will join 47 other states in observing Daylight Saving Time.
Beginning April 1, 2006, nearly all of Indiana—including the cities of Muncie,
Indianapolis, and Fort Wayne—will observe Eastern Daylight Time. Residents will turn
their clocks from 2 a.m. to 3 a.m. the first Sunday in April and turn their clocks from 3
a.m. to 2 a.m. the last Sunday in October.
AMA’s hours of operation will be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. MA
—AMA Headquarters
12 MODEL AVIATION
AMA Museum Receives Historical Items
Indiana Observes Daylight Saving Time
construction article (with plans) was
published in Model Airplane News. All the
RC magazines featured the STARS and their
Scouts in one way or another, and the idea of
building big rapidly became a worldwide
craze.
The most interesting aspect is the impact
the development of Giant Scale aircraft had
on the STARS. In 1977 the club began
hosting its yearly Scale rally at the Olean
Municipal Airport in July. The goal was to
earn enough money and secure the group’s
future by purchasing a flying field.
The STARS drew large crowds and
modeling icons to its event. It was common to
see such people as Hal deBolt, Nick Ziroli,
Don Godfrey, Wendell Hostetler, and Frank
Noll at the fly-in, where they attended, flew,
and promoted their products.
Within 10 years the club had accumulated
enough money to purchase property from the
STARS member Clifford “Kip” Karn and
develop a permanent flying field, which is
now located just off the West Lake Road in
Cuba, New York.
Jim Messer started and developed a
business in which he designed and
manufactured Giant Scale kits. He also
became the first Quadra engine dealer in the
US, selling more than 400 Q-35 power plants
in the first year alone.
The STARS extends its sincere
appreciation to Don Koranda and Dave
Mathewson for their time and effort in
making this award possible. We would also
like to thank our friends and family members
who came to be with us and share in the
presentation. We are indebted to those nine
individuals who made the Giant Scale Dream
come true. MA
—Gary Fitch
STARS
INtheAIR
August 28, 2005, AMA recognized the
Southern Tier Aero Radio Society (STARS)
of Cuba, New York, for having a momentous
impact on the world of RC aircraft. AMA
members/pilots from Ithaca, Jamestown,
Corning, Rochester, Buffalo, Honeoye,
Franklinville, Wayland, Wellsville, and
Olean—all cities in New York state—came to
share in this historic event.
In addition, there were AMA members
from three cities in Pennsylvania—Eldred,
Bradford, and Warren—and MAAC members
from the Fort Erie and Kitchener, Ontario,
Canada, area.
AMA Executive Director Don Koranda
and District II Vice President Dave
Mathewson presented the STARS with the
highest honor bestowed by AMA: the
National Aeromodeling Historic Landmark
Award. This is only the second time in AMA
history that this honor has been presented.
The award consists of two heavy bronze
plaques, one of which is the newly designed
AMA header plaque. It has become the
standard for this and all future Historic
Landmark Awards. It reads, “National
Aeromodeling Historic Landmark,
Recognized and Dedicated by the Academy
of Model Aeronautics.”
The other plaque is unique to each
recipient. It reads:
“Clapp Field”—The Southern Tier Aero
Radio Society, operating from Clapp Field in
Olean, NY, is acknowledged as being a leader
in the development of Giant Scale Radio
Controlled Aircraft beginning in 1975. The
STARS relocated from Clapp Field to Cuba,
NY when the Society purchased this site in
the late 1980s. Established in 1935, STARS is
one of the oldest AMA clubs in the United
States.”
Today, in the era of 33%-, 40%-, and even
50%-scale ARFs, it is difficult to imagine
what STARS members Jim Messer, Bob
Dunn, Bill Messer, Bob Brown (longtime
AMA District III Vice President), Charlie
Nellis, Lou Eltscher, and deceased members
Ken Koeppel, George Privateer, and George
Clapp accomplished.
The story behind this award involved
several years and many trials in their
development of a flyable 1/4-scale Bristol
Scout during the 1970s. This was a significant
task because there were no kits, engines,
wheels, cowls, or propellers for Giant Scale
aircraft. A total of six Bristol Scouts made up
the first squadron of 1/4-scale models shown
anywhere.
The STARS members traveled to
numerous flying events in the US and
Canada, showing off their “huge” aircraft and
flying in formation. National fame came when
they flew in formation at the Rhinebeck
Jamboree in 1977 and 1978, where they were
voted “best of show.”
Their Scouts were featured on the cover of
Radio Control Speed & Sport magazine, and a
The National Aeromodeling Historic
Landmark Award is unveiled at the STARS
Aerodrome in Cuba NY.
New York Club Receives Prestigious AMA Award
AMA Recognizes Youngest Turbine Pilot
The Academy recognizes Desmond
Holland-Robinson (Desi) for his
outstanding accomplishment of obtaining a
fixed-wing turbine waiver at 10 years old.
He is currently the youngest pilot to hold a
turbine waiver.
Anyone who pilots turbine-powered
models knows that this is not entry-level
flying. Advancing to this level at such a
young age proves that Desi’s skills are
amazing for his age.
At age 5 he attended the Toledo Weak
Signals’ show for the first time with his
grandfather Norm. Desi was fascinated by
airplanes, and Norm challenged him to try
the simulators. Adding incentive, his
grandfather agreed that if Desi could take
off and land on the simulators before the
day was up, he would purchase one for
him. Desi mastered takeoff/landing within
a couple hours, and Norm purchased a
simulator for him to take home.
Norm continued to challenge his
grandson on the simulator, having him
perform different maneuvers, none of
which he had problems mastering. In 2001
Norm purchased 6-year-old Desi an Ugly
Stick model and took him out to the club
field to practice.
By the end of the day Desi was able to
take off and land the model without a
buddy box. After continuous practice and
training, he earned his pilot’s license from
The Greater Cincinnati RC Club in 2003.
In July 2005 Desi flew a Tom Cook T-
33 to obtain his turbine waiver. He is
currently piloting a Top Flite Giant Scale
P-51-G45, which he is able to fly in
formation with his grandfather and uncle.
According to Norm, Desi can fly almost
any airplane that is put in his hands.
Congratulations to Desmond Holland-
Robinson for his outstanding
achievements! We’re sure we will see
many exceptional things from him in the
future! MA
—Special Services Department
Desmond Holland-Robinson (L) uses his
piloting skills with his grandfather Norm
at his side.
April 2006 13
04sig1.QXD 2/27/06 8:57 AM Page 13
Edition: Model Aviation - 2006/04
Page Numbers: 9,10,11,12,13
INtheAIRLATE-BREAKING NEWS FROM THE ACADEMY
AMA Marketing Department FAQ:
The Come Fly with Us Sweepstakes
Q: How do I enter the contest?
A: Join or renew your AMA membership on or before March 31, 2006, and you
will automatically be entered to win. You can also enter multiple times by mail.
Q: How do I enter multiple times?
A: Send an SASE to “Come Fly with Us” Sweepstakes, 5161 E. Memorial Dr.,
Muncie IN 47302, and you will receive an entry form in the mail. Simply return it
to AMA Headquarters. You can send as many SASEs as you want.
Q: What can I win in the monthly drawings?
A: During the entire promotional period—October 3, 2005-March 31, 2006—you
will be eligible to win monthly drawings for AMA merchandise from the Cloud 9
Museum Store with an approximate retail value of $200.
Q: Is a monthly sweepstakes winner able to win more than once?
A: A monthly winner can only win once during the promotional period, but
monthly winners are still eligible to win the Grand Prize.
Q: What is the Grand Prize?
A: A Giant Scale Hangar 9 46% TOC Ultimate biplane ARF with a DA-150
engine and a JR 10X radio—a $6,000 value!
Q: When will the Grand Prize winner be chosen?
A: The Grand Prize winner will be selected at random, from among all entries
received, in a drawing that will be held on or after the end date of the promotional
period. The winner will be notified in person or by US mail, telephone, or via Email
within 30 days of the drawing.
Q: Where can I find more information and the terms and conditions of this contest?
A: There is a link in the top left corner of the AMA Web site:www.modelaircraft.org.
Q: Where can I look to find out who the monthly winners are?
A: In MA’s “In the Air” section and on the AMA Web site.
Q: Are AMA employees eligible to win in the sweepstakes?
A: No. AMA employees, its subsidiaries, and affiliated personnel are ineligible to
win. MA
—Tom Schwyn
Marketing Director
District IV District Vice President Bliss
Teague (R) receives the Exemplary Service
Award from AMA President Dave Brown.
District XI Vice President Bruce Nelson
receives AMA’s Distinguished Service
Award.
District II Vice President Dave Mathewson
receives the Distinguished Service Award
from Dave Brown.
Dave Brown presents District VII Vice
President Bill Oberdieck with the
Distinguished Service Award.
AMA District Vice Presidents Dave Mathewson, Bill Oberdieck, and Bruce Nelson
were presented with Distinguished Service Awards at the January 28, 2006, Executive
Council (EC) meeting in Muncie IN. District Vice President Bliss Teague was honored
with an Exemplary Service Award, which is presented to EC members who have served
for three years.
The Distinguished Service Award is AMA’s second highest honor for individuals. It
is given in recognition of contributions, effort, and time spent serving and working with
others on behalf of the Academy. MA
—Rob Kurek
Director of Publications
EC Members Receive Awards
Links on theWeb!
For more news, events,
and information, go to
www.modelaircraft.org.
• L.F. Randolph presents his low-wing,
.10- to .15-size advanced RC trainer
called Stichin. CL fliers get a treat in
the form of Yves Fernandez’s
construction article for a 40-size
Classic Aerobatics machine called the
Stilomag 42, and Gene Hempel shows
how to build a tuned pipe for 1/2A CL.
Fred Reese represents FF with his
redesign of Frank Ehling’s AMA Cub:
the Baby Cub. Plans for it are shown
full size in this issue.
• Bob Beckman and Kirby Crawford
bring us Part 1 of a look at four
gasoline-burning engine used to power
RC Giant Scale aircraft.
• New products include a Hinge Slotting
Knife for $2.95, and Super Jet CA is
available in an economical 2-ounce
bottle for $12.95. Both are from Carl
Goldberg Models. The Airtronics XL
Series radio system comes with liner
exponential control and servoreversing
switching. Du-Bro Products
Twenty-Five Years Ago in MA:
April 1981
INtheAIR
introduces the Kwik-Lok Spinner for
quick detachment and reinstallation, and
it comes in four MonoKote matching
colors. MA
—Rich LaGrange
AMA Librarian
10 MODEL AVIATION
The Academy is always actively working
with the federal government to secure an
open relationship that will enhance the
image of modeling and help to secure its
future. One of the benefits of this proactive
concept is a Memorandum of Understanding
that signifies the partnership between AMA
and the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA).
Since the signing of the memorandum
and meetings with EPA officials, a “winwin”
opportunity was developed that could
not only secure the future of aeromodeling
but the positive relationships that local
modeling clubs can have with their
communities.
The EPA has “Superfund Sites,” which
are landfills that have been cleaned up
environmentally. These are large and often
in ideal locations for aeromodeling activities.
How these Superfund Sites are used is a
sensitive subject because of its
environmental nature.
AMA Flying Site Coordinator Joe Beshar
and his team have nurtured the EPA’s faith
in the Academy and its members to convince
them that the ideal use of these sites would
be for aeromodeling. They agree that the
benefit would be not only for AMA, but for
the EPA and the local community.
Now AMA has some leverage. After
Superfund Sites are cleaned up and covered
with clean soil over a plastic barrier, they
have to sit for 25 or more years before they
can be considered for other use. Since flying
sites basically need only the air above, the
land is ideal for modeling. AMA is
confident that the EPA will encourage
property owners (stake owners) and
recommend them to use their land as model
Superfund Flying-Site Program is Working!
AMA Flying Site Coordinator Joe Beshar (second from left) at the Washington DC EPA
conference meeting, where the Memorandum of Understanding was signed February 10,
2005. L-R: EPA Director Michael B. Cook, Bruce Giumarra, Melissa Friedland, and
Elizabeth Southerland of the EPA Assessment and Remediation Division.
flying fields rather than let them sit idle.
The first club to complete the Superfund
program was granted a flying facility with
no costs incurred. There were some
development expenses, but considering the
price of open land in today’s real estate
market, the benefits of this program are
hard to ignore.
To find out if there is a Superfund site in
your area, go to www.epa.gov/superfund/
sites/npl/locate.htm. There, all completed
National Priority List Superfund Sites are
listed by state and city. Visit the site that
looks most appropriate and contact Flying
Site Coordinator Joe Beshar at 198 Merritt
Dr., Oradell NJ 07649; Tel.: (201) 261-
1281; E-mail: [email protected].
Be prepared to supply the listed siteidentification
number, an AMA club
contact person, and his or her telephone
number and E-mail address; they will be
used to follow up with the EPA in
Washington DC. From there you will be
contacted by the local EPA regional
coordinator, who will work with your club
to obtain permission to use the site.
At the time of this writing, 24 Superfund
flying-site programs are in the works, one
of which is in Vermont. The site owner
there is eager for an AMA club to use the
property as a flying field, and AMA is
currently trying to locate a club to take it
over.
The Superfund program is still in its
infancy and the relationship is delicate, but
with the EPA on AMA’s side, the program
offers a tremendous opportunity. MA
—Michael Ramsey
MA Associate Editor
INtheAIR
April 2006 11
In 2004 a group of engineers set out to
build a realistic, flyable, full-scale replica of a
pterosaur. These long-extinct creatures lived
millions of years ago, and their aspects of
flight still remain a mystery today.
Based on a fossil Chicago-based
paleontologist Paul Sereno uncovered in
Africa, the group had a year to build a flyable
pterosaur and learn as much as possible about
its flight. Led by a group at Stanford
University and followed by a National
Geographic documentary team, the
international group went to work building this
ancient animal.
Before this effort the only other known
project of this scope was taken on in the mid-
1980s by Paul MacCready’s company—
AeroVironment—which built a large flying
model of Quetzacoatlus Northropi.
How does one approach building such a
weird animal? For the first stage of the project
a group of Bay Area high school students were
brought in to a summer outreach program at
Stanford. They built simple models and an RC
glider to test yaw control. With a large
destabilizing head out front, they sought how
to make a pterosaur fly in a stable manner
without a tail.
The international team members
(comprising paleontologists, professors,
aerodynamicists, and engineers) met
frequently at Stanford University for meetings
to share developments, ideas, and theories.
The pterosaur models then progressed to
electric-powered test beds mimicking pterosaur
wing outlines to test out the unusual wing
structure and flight-control theories. Much time
was spent on the development of a highly
complex variable-geometry wing, composed of
a custom-built carbon-fiber spar, movable
joints, and an elastic membrane surface.
As time progressed, theories were
dismissed or validated and more sophisticated
models evolved. At one stage the model
encompassed 14 servos to control the
articulations, including wing sweep, twist,
rotation, head movement up and down, etc.
Also installed were a telemetry system, an
onboard wireless video camera, a
microprocessor for head control, and Lithium
batteries. For such a small model this was a
testament to the miniaturization of today’s
electronic equipment. The craft’s weight
varied between 8 and 12 pounds with a 3-
meter wingspan.
For flight the pterosaur glider models were
slung underneath a “mothership,” carried aloft,
and released from altitude. They were then
flown back to the takeoff area. With a
successful gliding model built, the team
applied the wing technology to a flapping
model, attempting to tackle the ever-elusive
realm of flapping flight.
As time ran out on the project and filming
deadlines, one flight was attempted with the
pterosaur flapper model. If not for a failure in
the motor/gearing mechanism, the results may
have been different; however, there is still
much work to be done.
Although the one year of development came
and went quickly, many strides were made in
pterosaur research. The development of a
variable-geometry wing utilizing a membrane
wing structure was the major focus and success
of the project. The model boasted one of the
most complex wing structures ever built.
Provided that necessary funding is secured,
the team hopes to build on what was learned
during the project, applying it to the next
generation of pterosaur models.
The National Geographic documentary
titled “Sky Monsters,” which follows the team
in building several replicas, aired in January
2006 and is now available on DVD. For more
Modeling Skills Are Used to Replicate Prehistoric Creature
The tail was added to the back of the
creature to balance the weight of its
large head.
A close-up of the pterosaur shows the
incredible detail and realism.
The Pterosaur team (L-R): Peter Colpitts, Steve Collie, Jim Cunningham, Hall Train, Axel
Strang, Margot Gerritsen, Daniela Buchman, P.J. Thompson, Marie-Anne Letourneux,
Michael Luvara, and Lynsel Miller.
information visit www.nationalgeographic.com
and http://pterosaur.stanford.edu.
Photos were taken by Axel Strang and
myself. MA
—Michael Luvara
(Editor’s note: Michael Luvara is
president of the Santa Clara County Model
Aircraft Skypark model airplane club in
the San Francisco South Bay area. This
project was made possible with the club’s
assistance and the use of its superb flying
site located near Morgan Hill, California,
15 miles south of San Jose.)
Luvara, and Lynsel Miller.
INtheAIR
At AMA Convention 2006 in Ontario,
California, in January, two exciting pieces
of aeromodeling history were donated to
the National Model Aviation Museum: the
Supersweep 22 and a display case signed
by Burt Rutan that contained four model
kits flown onboard Scaled Composites,
LLC’s SpaceShipOne and a built AMA
Racer.
Ron Wittman donated the
Supersweep 22. In 1973 he set a Free
Flight Hand Launched Glider record of 1
minute, 30 seconds, with this aircraft,
Ron Wittman (L) presents Museum
Director Michael Smith with the
Supersweep 22.
Burt Rutan signs the display case
containing the SpaceShipOne payload.
AMA staff cannot thank the exhibitors and attendees who joined us this
year enough for their support. This show will probably be long
remembered by those of us who participated.
It is also important to us to thank the staff members who
stayed at AMA Headquarters and worked behind the scenes. If
it weren’t for these people, the show would never have run as
smoothly as it did.
Exhibitors, please look for our exhibitor-packet mailing in
July. Attendees can look forward to earlier advance-ticket
prices/purchases.
AMA wants to make the 2007 convention even better, so please direct any comments or
concerns to Show Director Jay Mealy at [email protected] or Erin Dobbs at
[email protected].
Everyone’s support is greatly appreciated, and we look forward to another successful
show in January. MA
—Jay Mealy and Erin Dobbs
AMA Convention Staff
AMA Convention 2006 a Success!
and the record still stands.
Mr. Wittman presented the aircraft to the
museum’s Acquisition Committee as a
possible donation in July 2005. After the
committee voted to accept the model, plans
were made for the official donation to take
place at the convention. AMA President
Dave Brown officially accepted the model
for the collection, after which Mr. Wittman
handed it over to me.
The four rubber-powered model kits—two
AMA Cubs and two AMA Racers—were
onboard SpaceShipOne September 29, 2005,
when it made its first of two historic flights to
capture the Ansari X Prize. The X Prize
awarded $10 million to the first privately built
vehicle that was capable of safely hauling a
pilot and the equivalent weight of two
passengers to the edge of space twice within
two weeks.
SpaceShipOne actually had three seats,
but the two “passenger” seats held ballast
tanks to meet the weight restrictions. As the
tanks were filled, Dan Kreigh—an
aeronautical and mechanical engineer at
Scaled Composites—talked with Tony
Naccarato of Tony & Addie Hobby Lobby
about what could be added for weight.
They agreed that rubber-powered models
should be included, so 12 aircraft from
Naccarato’s hobby shop were selected and
placed in the top of the tanks.
The September attempt, under the control
of pilot Mike Melvill, flew to 337,500 feet
Spread Spectrum Update
Spread spectrum radio-control systems are
here to stay and will probably be available
from several manufacturers in the not too
distant future. AMA Headquarters has
received a number of telephone calls and
messages concerning these systems.
Part of these questions stem from the fact
that the main system available right now is,
according to the manufacturer, designed for
park flyer-size aircraft use only. AMA fully
supports this statement and encourages all
AMA members to use this system only in this
size aircraft.
The AMA Frequency Committee met
February 9-10, 2006. A report of the meeting
is available in my column in this issue of MA.
MA
—Steve Kaluf
Technical Director
and reached a speed of Mach 3.1 as it
completed the first of the two flights. It was
not problem-free, though; as SpaceShipOne
climbed to altitude it rolled nearly 30 times.
Melvill was able to regain control, landing
the craft at the Mojave Spaceport.
The display case and kits were officially
turned over to the museum by Burt Rutan at
his Model Aviation Hall of Fame induction
dinner January 15. The items were donated
to the museum by Scaled Composites, LLC,
Tony Naccarato, and Wild R/C, Inc.
See page 16 for full coverage of the
AMA Convention. MA
—Michael Smith
Museum Director
No Homecoming at AMA
AMA’s Homecoming event has been
canceled for 2006. At this time no plans
have been made for 2007. For further
information, please contact Acting
Executive Director Joyce Hager at (765)
287-1256, extension 200, or jhager@
modelaircraft.org. MA
—AMA Headquarters
For the first time in nearly 30 years, Indiana, which had remained on Eastern Standard
Time, will join 47 other states in observing Daylight Saving Time.
Beginning April 1, 2006, nearly all of Indiana—including the cities of Muncie,
Indianapolis, and Fort Wayne—will observe Eastern Daylight Time. Residents will turn
their clocks from 2 a.m. to 3 a.m. the first Sunday in April and turn their clocks from 3
a.m. to 2 a.m. the last Sunday in October.
AMA’s hours of operation will be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. MA
—AMA Headquarters
12 MODEL AVIATION
AMA Museum Receives Historical Items
Indiana Observes Daylight Saving Time
construction article (with plans) was
published in Model Airplane News. All the
RC magazines featured the STARS and their
Scouts in one way or another, and the idea of
building big rapidly became a worldwide
craze.
The most interesting aspect is the impact
the development of Giant Scale aircraft had
on the STARS. In 1977 the club began
hosting its yearly Scale rally at the Olean
Municipal Airport in July. The goal was to
earn enough money and secure the group’s
future by purchasing a flying field.
The STARS drew large crowds and
modeling icons to its event. It was common to
see such people as Hal deBolt, Nick Ziroli,
Don Godfrey, Wendell Hostetler, and Frank
Noll at the fly-in, where they attended, flew,
and promoted their products.
Within 10 years the club had accumulated
enough money to purchase property from the
STARS member Clifford “Kip” Karn and
develop a permanent flying field, which is
now located just off the West Lake Road in
Cuba, New York.
Jim Messer started and developed a
business in which he designed and
manufactured Giant Scale kits. He also
became the first Quadra engine dealer in the
US, selling more than 400 Q-35 power plants
in the first year alone.
The STARS extends its sincere
appreciation to Don Koranda and Dave
Mathewson for their time and effort in
making this award possible. We would also
like to thank our friends and family members
who came to be with us and share in the
presentation. We are indebted to those nine
individuals who made the Giant Scale Dream
come true. MA
—Gary Fitch
STARS
INtheAIR
August 28, 2005, AMA recognized the
Southern Tier Aero Radio Society (STARS)
of Cuba, New York, for having a momentous
impact on the world of RC aircraft. AMA
members/pilots from Ithaca, Jamestown,
Corning, Rochester, Buffalo, Honeoye,
Franklinville, Wayland, Wellsville, and
Olean—all cities in New York state—came to
share in this historic event.
In addition, there were AMA members
from three cities in Pennsylvania—Eldred,
Bradford, and Warren—and MAAC members
from the Fort Erie and Kitchener, Ontario,
Canada, area.
AMA Executive Director Don Koranda
and District II Vice President Dave
Mathewson presented the STARS with the
highest honor bestowed by AMA: the
National Aeromodeling Historic Landmark
Award. This is only the second time in AMA
history that this honor has been presented.
The award consists of two heavy bronze
plaques, one of which is the newly designed
AMA header plaque. It has become the
standard for this and all future Historic
Landmark Awards. It reads, “National
Aeromodeling Historic Landmark,
Recognized and Dedicated by the Academy
of Model Aeronautics.”
The other plaque is unique to each
recipient. It reads:
“Clapp Field”—The Southern Tier Aero
Radio Society, operating from Clapp Field in
Olean, NY, is acknowledged as being a leader
in the development of Giant Scale Radio
Controlled Aircraft beginning in 1975. The
STARS relocated from Clapp Field to Cuba,
NY when the Society purchased this site in
the late 1980s. Established in 1935, STARS is
one of the oldest AMA clubs in the United
States.”
Today, in the era of 33%-, 40%-, and even
50%-scale ARFs, it is difficult to imagine
what STARS members Jim Messer, Bob
Dunn, Bill Messer, Bob Brown (longtime
AMA District III Vice President), Charlie
Nellis, Lou Eltscher, and deceased members
Ken Koeppel, George Privateer, and George
Clapp accomplished.
The story behind this award involved
several years and many trials in their
development of a flyable 1/4-scale Bristol
Scout during the 1970s. This was a significant
task because there were no kits, engines,
wheels, cowls, or propellers for Giant Scale
aircraft. A total of six Bristol Scouts made up
the first squadron of 1/4-scale models shown
anywhere.
The STARS members traveled to
numerous flying events in the US and
Canada, showing off their “huge” aircraft and
flying in formation. National fame came when
they flew in formation at the Rhinebeck
Jamboree in 1977 and 1978, where they were
voted “best of show.”
Their Scouts were featured on the cover of
Radio Control Speed & Sport magazine, and a
The National Aeromodeling Historic
Landmark Award is unveiled at the STARS
Aerodrome in Cuba NY.
New York Club Receives Prestigious AMA Award
AMA Recognizes Youngest Turbine Pilot
The Academy recognizes Desmond
Holland-Robinson (Desi) for his
outstanding accomplishment of obtaining a
fixed-wing turbine waiver at 10 years old.
He is currently the youngest pilot to hold a
turbine waiver.
Anyone who pilots turbine-powered
models knows that this is not entry-level
flying. Advancing to this level at such a
young age proves that Desi’s skills are
amazing for his age.
At age 5 he attended the Toledo Weak
Signals’ show for the first time with his
grandfather Norm. Desi was fascinated by
airplanes, and Norm challenged him to try
the simulators. Adding incentive, his
grandfather agreed that if Desi could take
off and land on the simulators before the
day was up, he would purchase one for
him. Desi mastered takeoff/landing within
a couple hours, and Norm purchased a
simulator for him to take home.
Norm continued to challenge his
grandson on the simulator, having him
perform different maneuvers, none of
which he had problems mastering. In 2001
Norm purchased 6-year-old Desi an Ugly
Stick model and took him out to the club
field to practice.
By the end of the day Desi was able to
take off and land the model without a
buddy box. After continuous practice and
training, he earned his pilot’s license from
The Greater Cincinnati RC Club in 2003.
In July 2005 Desi flew a Tom Cook T-
33 to obtain his turbine waiver. He is
currently piloting a Top Flite Giant Scale
P-51-G45, which he is able to fly in
formation with his grandfather and uncle.
According to Norm, Desi can fly almost
any airplane that is put in his hands.
Congratulations to Desmond Holland-
Robinson for his outstanding
achievements! We’re sure we will see
many exceptional things from him in the
future! MA
—Special Services Department
Desmond Holland-Robinson (L) uses his
piloting skills with his grandfather Norm
at his side.
April 2006 13
04sig1.QXD 2/27/06 8:57 AM Page 13
Edition: Model Aviation - 2006/04
Page Numbers: 9,10,11,12,13
INtheAIRLATE-BREAKING NEWS FROM THE ACADEMY
AMA Marketing Department FAQ:
The Come Fly with Us Sweepstakes
Q: How do I enter the contest?
A: Join or renew your AMA membership on or before March 31, 2006, and you
will automatically be entered to win. You can also enter multiple times by mail.
Q: How do I enter multiple times?
A: Send an SASE to “Come Fly with Us” Sweepstakes, 5161 E. Memorial Dr.,
Muncie IN 47302, and you will receive an entry form in the mail. Simply return it
to AMA Headquarters. You can send as many SASEs as you want.
Q: What can I win in the monthly drawings?
A: During the entire promotional period—October 3, 2005-March 31, 2006—you
will be eligible to win monthly drawings for AMA merchandise from the Cloud 9
Museum Store with an approximate retail value of $200.
Q: Is a monthly sweepstakes winner able to win more than once?
A: A monthly winner can only win once during the promotional period, but
monthly winners are still eligible to win the Grand Prize.
Q: What is the Grand Prize?
A: A Giant Scale Hangar 9 46% TOC Ultimate biplane ARF with a DA-150
engine and a JR 10X radio—a $6,000 value!
Q: When will the Grand Prize winner be chosen?
A: The Grand Prize winner will be selected at random, from among all entries
received, in a drawing that will be held on or after the end date of the promotional
period. The winner will be notified in person or by US mail, telephone, or via Email
within 30 days of the drawing.
Q: Where can I find more information and the terms and conditions of this contest?
A: There is a link in the top left corner of the AMA Web site:www.modelaircraft.org.
Q: Where can I look to find out who the monthly winners are?
A: In MA’s “In the Air” section and on the AMA Web site.
Q: Are AMA employees eligible to win in the sweepstakes?
A: No. AMA employees, its subsidiaries, and affiliated personnel are ineligible to
win. MA
—Tom Schwyn
Marketing Director
District IV District Vice President Bliss
Teague (R) receives the Exemplary Service
Award from AMA President Dave Brown.
District XI Vice President Bruce Nelson
receives AMA’s Distinguished Service
Award.
District II Vice President Dave Mathewson
receives the Distinguished Service Award
from Dave Brown.
Dave Brown presents District VII Vice
President Bill Oberdieck with the
Distinguished Service Award.
AMA District Vice Presidents Dave Mathewson, Bill Oberdieck, and Bruce Nelson
were presented with Distinguished Service Awards at the January 28, 2006, Executive
Council (EC) meeting in Muncie IN. District Vice President Bliss Teague was honored
with an Exemplary Service Award, which is presented to EC members who have served
for three years.
The Distinguished Service Award is AMA’s second highest honor for individuals. It
is given in recognition of contributions, effort, and time spent serving and working with
others on behalf of the Academy. MA
—Rob Kurek
Director of Publications
EC Members Receive Awards
Links on theWeb!
For more news, events,
and information, go to
www.modelaircraft.org.
• L.F. Randolph presents his low-wing,
.10- to .15-size advanced RC trainer
called Stichin. CL fliers get a treat in
the form of Yves Fernandez’s
construction article for a 40-size
Classic Aerobatics machine called the
Stilomag 42, and Gene Hempel shows
how to build a tuned pipe for 1/2A CL.
Fred Reese represents FF with his
redesign of Frank Ehling’s AMA Cub:
the Baby Cub. Plans for it are shown
full size in this issue.
• Bob Beckman and Kirby Crawford
bring us Part 1 of a look at four
gasoline-burning engine used to power
RC Giant Scale aircraft.
• New products include a Hinge Slotting
Knife for $2.95, and Super Jet CA is
available in an economical 2-ounce
bottle for $12.95. Both are from Carl
Goldberg Models. The Airtronics XL
Series radio system comes with liner
exponential control and servoreversing
switching. Du-Bro Products
Twenty-Five Years Ago in MA:
April 1981
INtheAIR
introduces the Kwik-Lok Spinner for
quick detachment and reinstallation, and
it comes in four MonoKote matching
colors. MA
—Rich LaGrange
AMA Librarian
10 MODEL AVIATION
The Academy is always actively working
with the federal government to secure an
open relationship that will enhance the
image of modeling and help to secure its
future. One of the benefits of this proactive
concept is a Memorandum of Understanding
that signifies the partnership between AMA
and the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA).
Since the signing of the memorandum
and meetings with EPA officials, a “winwin”
opportunity was developed that could
not only secure the future of aeromodeling
but the positive relationships that local
modeling clubs can have with their
communities.
The EPA has “Superfund Sites,” which
are landfills that have been cleaned up
environmentally. These are large and often
in ideal locations for aeromodeling activities.
How these Superfund Sites are used is a
sensitive subject because of its
environmental nature.
AMA Flying Site Coordinator Joe Beshar
and his team have nurtured the EPA’s faith
in the Academy and its members to convince
them that the ideal use of these sites would
be for aeromodeling. They agree that the
benefit would be not only for AMA, but for
the EPA and the local community.
Now AMA has some leverage. After
Superfund Sites are cleaned up and covered
with clean soil over a plastic barrier, they
have to sit for 25 or more years before they
can be considered for other use. Since flying
sites basically need only the air above, the
land is ideal for modeling. AMA is
confident that the EPA will encourage
property owners (stake owners) and
recommend them to use their land as model
Superfund Flying-Site Program is Working!
AMA Flying Site Coordinator Joe Beshar (second from left) at the Washington DC EPA
conference meeting, where the Memorandum of Understanding was signed February 10,
2005. L-R: EPA Director Michael B. Cook, Bruce Giumarra, Melissa Friedland, and
Elizabeth Southerland of the EPA Assessment and Remediation Division.
flying fields rather than let them sit idle.
The first club to complete the Superfund
program was granted a flying facility with
no costs incurred. There were some
development expenses, but considering the
price of open land in today’s real estate
market, the benefits of this program are
hard to ignore.
To find out if there is a Superfund site in
your area, go to www.epa.gov/superfund/
sites/npl/locate.htm. There, all completed
National Priority List Superfund Sites are
listed by state and city. Visit the site that
looks most appropriate and contact Flying
Site Coordinator Joe Beshar at 198 Merritt
Dr., Oradell NJ 07649; Tel.: (201) 261-
1281; E-mail: [email protected].
Be prepared to supply the listed siteidentification
number, an AMA club
contact person, and his or her telephone
number and E-mail address; they will be
used to follow up with the EPA in
Washington DC. From there you will be
contacted by the local EPA regional
coordinator, who will work with your club
to obtain permission to use the site.
At the time of this writing, 24 Superfund
flying-site programs are in the works, one
of which is in Vermont. The site owner
there is eager for an AMA club to use the
property as a flying field, and AMA is
currently trying to locate a club to take it
over.
The Superfund program is still in its
infancy and the relationship is delicate, but
with the EPA on AMA’s side, the program
offers a tremendous opportunity. MA
—Michael Ramsey
MA Associate Editor
INtheAIR
April 2006 11
In 2004 a group of engineers set out to
build a realistic, flyable, full-scale replica of a
pterosaur. These long-extinct creatures lived
millions of years ago, and their aspects of
flight still remain a mystery today.
Based on a fossil Chicago-based
paleontologist Paul Sereno uncovered in
Africa, the group had a year to build a flyable
pterosaur and learn as much as possible about
its flight. Led by a group at Stanford
University and followed by a National
Geographic documentary team, the
international group went to work building this
ancient animal.
Before this effort the only other known
project of this scope was taken on in the mid-
1980s by Paul MacCready’s company—
AeroVironment—which built a large flying
model of Quetzacoatlus Northropi.
How does one approach building such a
weird animal? For the first stage of the project
a group of Bay Area high school students were
brought in to a summer outreach program at
Stanford. They built simple models and an RC
glider to test yaw control. With a large
destabilizing head out front, they sought how
to make a pterosaur fly in a stable manner
without a tail.
The international team members
(comprising paleontologists, professors,
aerodynamicists, and engineers) met
frequently at Stanford University for meetings
to share developments, ideas, and theories.
The pterosaur models then progressed to
electric-powered test beds mimicking pterosaur
wing outlines to test out the unusual wing
structure and flight-control theories. Much time
was spent on the development of a highly
complex variable-geometry wing, composed of
a custom-built carbon-fiber spar, movable
joints, and an elastic membrane surface.
As time progressed, theories were
dismissed or validated and more sophisticated
models evolved. At one stage the model
encompassed 14 servos to control the
articulations, including wing sweep, twist,
rotation, head movement up and down, etc.
Also installed were a telemetry system, an
onboard wireless video camera, a
microprocessor for head control, and Lithium
batteries. For such a small model this was a
testament to the miniaturization of today’s
electronic equipment. The craft’s weight
varied between 8 and 12 pounds with a 3-
meter wingspan.
For flight the pterosaur glider models were
slung underneath a “mothership,” carried aloft,
and released from altitude. They were then
flown back to the takeoff area. With a
successful gliding model built, the team
applied the wing technology to a flapping
model, attempting to tackle the ever-elusive
realm of flapping flight.
As time ran out on the project and filming
deadlines, one flight was attempted with the
pterosaur flapper model. If not for a failure in
the motor/gearing mechanism, the results may
have been different; however, there is still
much work to be done.
Although the one year of development came
and went quickly, many strides were made in
pterosaur research. The development of a
variable-geometry wing utilizing a membrane
wing structure was the major focus and success
of the project. The model boasted one of the
most complex wing structures ever built.
Provided that necessary funding is secured,
the team hopes to build on what was learned
during the project, applying it to the next
generation of pterosaur models.
The National Geographic documentary
titled “Sky Monsters,” which follows the team
in building several replicas, aired in January
2006 and is now available on DVD. For more
Modeling Skills Are Used to Replicate Prehistoric Creature
The tail was added to the back of the
creature to balance the weight of its
large head.
A close-up of the pterosaur shows the
incredible detail and realism.
The Pterosaur team (L-R): Peter Colpitts, Steve Collie, Jim Cunningham, Hall Train, Axel
Strang, Margot Gerritsen, Daniela Buchman, P.J. Thompson, Marie-Anne Letourneux,
Michael Luvara, and Lynsel Miller.
information visit www.nationalgeographic.com
and http://pterosaur.stanford.edu.
Photos were taken by Axel Strang and
myself. MA
—Michael Luvara
(Editor’s note: Michael Luvara is
president of the Santa Clara County Model
Aircraft Skypark model airplane club in
the San Francisco South Bay area. This
project was made possible with the club’s
assistance and the use of its superb flying
site located near Morgan Hill, California,
15 miles south of San Jose.)
Luvara, and Lynsel Miller.
INtheAIR
At AMA Convention 2006 in Ontario,
California, in January, two exciting pieces
of aeromodeling history were donated to
the National Model Aviation Museum: the
Supersweep 22 and a display case signed
by Burt Rutan that contained four model
kits flown onboard Scaled Composites,
LLC’s SpaceShipOne and a built AMA
Racer.
Ron Wittman donated the
Supersweep 22. In 1973 he set a Free
Flight Hand Launched Glider record of 1
minute, 30 seconds, with this aircraft,
Ron Wittman (L) presents Museum
Director Michael Smith with the
Supersweep 22.
Burt Rutan signs the display case
containing the SpaceShipOne payload.
AMA staff cannot thank the exhibitors and attendees who joined us this
year enough for their support. This show will probably be long
remembered by those of us who participated.
It is also important to us to thank the staff members who
stayed at AMA Headquarters and worked behind the scenes. If
it weren’t for these people, the show would never have run as
smoothly as it did.
Exhibitors, please look for our exhibitor-packet mailing in
July. Attendees can look forward to earlier advance-ticket
prices/purchases.
AMA wants to make the 2007 convention even better, so please direct any comments or
concerns to Show Director Jay Mealy at [email protected] or Erin Dobbs at
[email protected].
Everyone’s support is greatly appreciated, and we look forward to another successful
show in January. MA
—Jay Mealy and Erin Dobbs
AMA Convention Staff
AMA Convention 2006 a Success!
and the record still stands.
Mr. Wittman presented the aircraft to the
museum’s Acquisition Committee as a
possible donation in July 2005. After the
committee voted to accept the model, plans
were made for the official donation to take
place at the convention. AMA President
Dave Brown officially accepted the model
for the collection, after which Mr. Wittman
handed it over to me.
The four rubber-powered model kits—two
AMA Cubs and two AMA Racers—were
onboard SpaceShipOne September 29, 2005,
when it made its first of two historic flights to
capture the Ansari X Prize. The X Prize
awarded $10 million to the first privately built
vehicle that was capable of safely hauling a
pilot and the equivalent weight of two
passengers to the edge of space twice within
two weeks.
SpaceShipOne actually had three seats,
but the two “passenger” seats held ballast
tanks to meet the weight restrictions. As the
tanks were filled, Dan Kreigh—an
aeronautical and mechanical engineer at
Scaled Composites—talked with Tony
Naccarato of Tony & Addie Hobby Lobby
about what could be added for weight.
They agreed that rubber-powered models
should be included, so 12 aircraft from
Naccarato’s hobby shop were selected and
placed in the top of the tanks.
The September attempt, under the control
of pilot Mike Melvill, flew to 337,500 feet
Spread Spectrum Update
Spread spectrum radio-control systems are
here to stay and will probably be available
from several manufacturers in the not too
distant future. AMA Headquarters has
received a number of telephone calls and
messages concerning these systems.
Part of these questions stem from the fact
that the main system available right now is,
according to the manufacturer, designed for
park flyer-size aircraft use only. AMA fully
supports this statement and encourages all
AMA members to use this system only in this
size aircraft.
The AMA Frequency Committee met
February 9-10, 2006. A report of the meeting
is available in my column in this issue of MA.
MA
—Steve Kaluf
Technical Director
and reached a speed of Mach 3.1 as it
completed the first of the two flights. It was
not problem-free, though; as SpaceShipOne
climbed to altitude it rolled nearly 30 times.
Melvill was able to regain control, landing
the craft at the Mojave Spaceport.
The display case and kits were officially
turned over to the museum by Burt Rutan at
his Model Aviation Hall of Fame induction
dinner January 15. The items were donated
to the museum by Scaled Composites, LLC,
Tony Naccarato, and Wild R/C, Inc.
See page 16 for full coverage of the
AMA Convention. MA
—Michael Smith
Museum Director
No Homecoming at AMA
AMA’s Homecoming event has been
canceled for 2006. At this time no plans
have been made for 2007. For further
information, please contact Acting
Executive Director Joyce Hager at (765)
287-1256, extension 200, or jhager@
modelaircraft.org. MA
—AMA Headquarters
For the first time in nearly 30 years, Indiana, which had remained on Eastern Standard
Time, will join 47 other states in observing Daylight Saving Time.
Beginning April 1, 2006, nearly all of Indiana—including the cities of Muncie,
Indianapolis, and Fort Wayne—will observe Eastern Daylight Time. Residents will turn
their clocks from 2 a.m. to 3 a.m. the first Sunday in April and turn their clocks from 3
a.m. to 2 a.m. the last Sunday in October.
AMA’s hours of operation will be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. MA
—AMA Headquarters
12 MODEL AVIATION
AMA Museum Receives Historical Items
Indiana Observes Daylight Saving Time
construction article (with plans) was
published in Model Airplane News. All the
RC magazines featured the STARS and their
Scouts in one way or another, and the idea of
building big rapidly became a worldwide
craze.
The most interesting aspect is the impact
the development of Giant Scale aircraft had
on the STARS. In 1977 the club began
hosting its yearly Scale rally at the Olean
Municipal Airport in July. The goal was to
earn enough money and secure the group’s
future by purchasing a flying field.
The STARS drew large crowds and
modeling icons to its event. It was common to
see such people as Hal deBolt, Nick Ziroli,
Don Godfrey, Wendell Hostetler, and Frank
Noll at the fly-in, where they attended, flew,
and promoted their products.
Within 10 years the club had accumulated
enough money to purchase property from the
STARS member Clifford “Kip” Karn and
develop a permanent flying field, which is
now located just off the West Lake Road in
Cuba, New York.
Jim Messer started and developed a
business in which he designed and
manufactured Giant Scale kits. He also
became the first Quadra engine dealer in the
US, selling more than 400 Q-35 power plants
in the first year alone.
The STARS extends its sincere
appreciation to Don Koranda and Dave
Mathewson for their time and effort in
making this award possible. We would also
like to thank our friends and family members
who came to be with us and share in the
presentation. We are indebted to those nine
individuals who made the Giant Scale Dream
come true. MA
—Gary Fitch
STARS
INtheAIR
August 28, 2005, AMA recognized the
Southern Tier Aero Radio Society (STARS)
of Cuba, New York, for having a momentous
impact on the world of RC aircraft. AMA
members/pilots from Ithaca, Jamestown,
Corning, Rochester, Buffalo, Honeoye,
Franklinville, Wayland, Wellsville, and
Olean—all cities in New York state—came to
share in this historic event.
In addition, there were AMA members
from three cities in Pennsylvania—Eldred,
Bradford, and Warren—and MAAC members
from the Fort Erie and Kitchener, Ontario,
Canada, area.
AMA Executive Director Don Koranda
and District II Vice President Dave
Mathewson presented the STARS with the
highest honor bestowed by AMA: the
National Aeromodeling Historic Landmark
Award. This is only the second time in AMA
history that this honor has been presented.
The award consists of two heavy bronze
plaques, one of which is the newly designed
AMA header plaque. It has become the
standard for this and all future Historic
Landmark Awards. It reads, “National
Aeromodeling Historic Landmark,
Recognized and Dedicated by the Academy
of Model Aeronautics.”
The other plaque is unique to each
recipient. It reads:
“Clapp Field”—The Southern Tier Aero
Radio Society, operating from Clapp Field in
Olean, NY, is acknowledged as being a leader
in the development of Giant Scale Radio
Controlled Aircraft beginning in 1975. The
STARS relocated from Clapp Field to Cuba,
NY when the Society purchased this site in
the late 1980s. Established in 1935, STARS is
one of the oldest AMA clubs in the United
States.”
Today, in the era of 33%-, 40%-, and even
50%-scale ARFs, it is difficult to imagine
what STARS members Jim Messer, Bob
Dunn, Bill Messer, Bob Brown (longtime
AMA District III Vice President), Charlie
Nellis, Lou Eltscher, and deceased members
Ken Koeppel, George Privateer, and George
Clapp accomplished.
The story behind this award involved
several years and many trials in their
development of a flyable 1/4-scale Bristol
Scout during the 1970s. This was a significant
task because there were no kits, engines,
wheels, cowls, or propellers for Giant Scale
aircraft. A total of six Bristol Scouts made up
the first squadron of 1/4-scale models shown
anywhere.
The STARS members traveled to
numerous flying events in the US and
Canada, showing off their “huge” aircraft and
flying in formation. National fame came when
they flew in formation at the Rhinebeck
Jamboree in 1977 and 1978, where they were
voted “best of show.”
Their Scouts were featured on the cover of
Radio Control Speed & Sport magazine, and a
The National Aeromodeling Historic
Landmark Award is unveiled at the STARS
Aerodrome in Cuba NY.
New York Club Receives Prestigious AMA Award
AMA Recognizes Youngest Turbine Pilot
The Academy recognizes Desmond
Holland-Robinson (Desi) for his
outstanding accomplishment of obtaining a
fixed-wing turbine waiver at 10 years old.
He is currently the youngest pilot to hold a
turbine waiver.
Anyone who pilots turbine-powered
models knows that this is not entry-level
flying. Advancing to this level at such a
young age proves that Desi’s skills are
amazing for his age.
At age 5 he attended the Toledo Weak
Signals’ show for the first time with his
grandfather Norm. Desi was fascinated by
airplanes, and Norm challenged him to try
the simulators. Adding incentive, his
grandfather agreed that if Desi could take
off and land on the simulators before the
day was up, he would purchase one for
him. Desi mastered takeoff/landing within
a couple hours, and Norm purchased a
simulator for him to take home.
Norm continued to challenge his
grandson on the simulator, having him
perform different maneuvers, none of
which he had problems mastering. In 2001
Norm purchased 6-year-old Desi an Ugly
Stick model and took him out to the club
field to practice.
By the end of the day Desi was able to
take off and land the model without a
buddy box. After continuous practice and
training, he earned his pilot’s license from
The Greater Cincinnati RC Club in 2003.
In July 2005 Desi flew a Tom Cook T-
33 to obtain his turbine waiver. He is
currently piloting a Top Flite Giant Scale
P-51-G45, which he is able to fly in
formation with his grandfather and uncle.
According to Norm, Desi can fly almost
any airplane that is put in his hands.
Congratulations to Desmond Holland-
Robinson for his outstanding
achievements! We’re sure we will see
many exceptional things from him in the
future! MA
—Special Services Department
Desmond Holland-Robinson (L) uses his
piloting skills with his grandfather Norm
at his side.
April 2006 13
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