ontests and fun-flys are just a couple
of the memorable happenings MA
brings to AMA members; at least
one event is featured each month. In this issue
we have three to bring you, plus World
Championships reports and local events are
splashed throughout the departments and
column spaces. Columnists like Richard
Lopez and John Kagan are inspirations to me,
and they both share reports that are teethclenching
to read.
The summer of 2008 was a successful
season for events of all types. Every one of
our satellite reporters and staff authors came
through with dynamite event coverage.
Over the next few months we’re going to
be playing catch-up. Even though these
reports won’t be the timeliest, the memorable
imagery should inspire and entertain enough
to encourage anyone with excess vacation
time to plan his or her attendance in the
coming year.
You can probably tell by looking at the
contents page that we’ve selected events that
have a Scale theme. Jay Smith and I attended
the Hoosier Dawn Patrol; it’s held right in our
own back yard, so why not? We had some
new electric WW I models to show off, and
lots of the attendants prepped us with helpful
advice.
Electrics at a WW I meet were a bit of an
oddity; most will tell you that when flying one
of these rag-covered wicker chairs with wings,
engine sound is everything. I agree but had
fun with the small volt-burning models—that
is, until the wind told us to put them back in
the car.
What Jay and I appreciated deeply was
that this event brought forth the builders of the
hobby. Not all were works of art—the fullscale
versions weren’t either—but 99% of
what was flown was either kit or scratch built.
Favored were the Flying Circus models of
the German air service, and the color schemes
were bright and distinctive. Stories about
building the models were just as fun to hear as
the historic retelling of what the full-scale
“aeroplanes” did for the evolution of flight.
A few weeks later, over the Labor Day
weekend, the Indiana Warbird Campaign
came to the International Aeromodeling
Center. This is an event we’ve been meaning
to bring to the MA readers for sometime.
It welcomes IMAA (International
Miniature Aircraft Association)-legal scale
models of military airplanes and helicopters
from any era. We presented the layout to
feature mainly the aircraft since WW I, just to
keep the two RC event articles distinctive.
The Henry County Wright Flyers, many of
which are veterans, make this event special by
providing an atmosphere that re-enacts the
period of 1940 through 1969. Heavy-metal
fighters blanketed the site with a county fair
atmosphere that pays tribute to greats such as
Meister, Ziroli, Hostetler, and Vaillancourt.
The wide-open spaces of the site made it easy
Editor Michael Ramsey
[email protected]
C
for everyone to find space and get comfortable
for the air show that happened all by itself.
Dennis Norman brings us coverage of the
biennial FAC Nationals held in Geneseo, New
York. We titled the article “Geneseo!” as it
really is an event that is as much a part of
where it’s held as it is about who attends and
what they bring.
And the Geneseo community welcomes
the FAC visitors with open arms, as their
character is rich and friendly—some call it
memorable. I love FAC events; the builders
seem to choose modeling subjects that are
unique and rich with character.
Speaking of communities, there seems to
be virtual communities forming on an almost
exponential level. Interests that cater to
modeling are both broad and sharply focused;
they flourish based on the freedom of the
community that supports them. When it comes
to the free-market community, fewer can think
of a spot better than eBay; it has been serving
the aeromodeler since the start of the World
Wide Web.
Ten years ago, I could spend a pleasant
evening and see every listing under “model
airplane.” Today, thousands of listings are
posted daily; to see them all would be almost
impossible. Imagine walking through the
doors of a hobby shop and finding everything
you wished for; that’s what it’s like to shop in
that environment, virtually.
The computer is surely not going to
replace the beloved local hobby shop, plus
there are some tips and warnings about the
virtual hobby resource. Our king of safety,
Dave Gee, gladly elected to bring us the
dos and don’ts. More memories are bound
to be made. MA
The Inside Loop
Published by The Academy of Model Aeronautics
Rob Kurek
Director of Publications
Editorial offices: (765) 287-1256, extension
224 (8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays); Fax: (765)
281-7907
Contributing Editors
Dave Mathewson
President
Doug Holland
Executive Vice President
Staff
(765) 287-1256 | www.modelaircraft.org
Fax: (765) 289-4248
Advertising Representative
Mark Lanterman, Airborne Media, 7414
Burton Dr., Liberty Township OH 45044
(513) 755-7494 | Fax: (513) 755-7495
Executive Director Jim Cherry
Model Aviation is an official publication of The Academy
of Model Aeronautics, Inc., an associate member of the
National Aeronautic Association (NAA). NAA is the
official U.S. representative of the Fédération
Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), the world governing
body for sport aviation, and represents the U.S. at FAI
meetings. NAA delegated to the AMA supervision of FAIrelated
aeromodeling activities such as record attempts,
competition sanctions, and selection of U.S. teams for
World Championships. (ISSN 0744-5059, USPS 087-930
Publications Agreement No. 40688541) is owned
exclusively by The Academy of Model Aeronautics, Inc.,
a nonprofit organization, and published monthly at 5161
E. Memorial Dr., Muncie IN 47302. Periodical rate
postage paid at Muncie IN and at additional mailing
offices. Canadian return address: Station A, PO Box 54,
Windsor ON N9A 615
Account Executive Angie Martin
Administrative Assistant Yolanda Jones
Assistant Editor Jay Smith
Communications Specialist Ashley Rauen
Director of Design/Production Carla Kunz
Editor Michael Ramsey
Executive Editor Elizabeth Helms
Graphic Designer Sarah Shaw
Managing Editor Shelia Ames Webb
Production Associate Jennifer Orebaugh
Stan Alexander
Bob Angel
Darwin Barrie
Bill Boss
Paul Bradley
Sal Calvagna
Mark Fadely
Dave Garwood
Dave Gee
Greg Gimlick
John Glezellis
Jim T. Graham
Donald Grissom
Eric Henderson
Jim Hiller
Louis Joyner
John Kagan
Rich Lopez
Joe Malinchak
Dennis Norman
Dean Pappas
Richard L. Perry
Matt Russell
Red Scholefield
Gene Smith
Joe Wagner
Editor Emeritus Bob Hunt
Technical Editor Bob Aberle
More memories are bound
to be made.
6 MODEL AVIATION
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Edition: Model Aviation - 2009/01
Page Numbers: 6