The outdoor flying season is in full
swing and things are beginning to
heat up at the International
Aeromodeling Center (IAC) in Muncie,
Indiana. The Extreme Flight Championships
(XFC) will once again be held June 13-15.
The XFC is an intense, high-profile, 3-D
aerobatic competition that features some of
the best RC fixed-wing and helicopter
pilots in the world.
The competition begins early Friday
morning and runs through the final rounds
Sunday afternoon.
During the Fourth of July weekend, the
IAC will be open to the membership for a
weekend of open flying. No formal events
are scheduled, but the site will be open for
any member who wants to visit, fly, and
spend the weekend.
This promises to be a great opportunity
to renew old acquaintances and make new
modeling friends in a relaxed flying
environment. For those who wish to camp
on-site, camping fees are waived for the
weekend.
Monday, July 7, 2008, marks the
beginning of the outdoor portion of the 82nd
National Aeromodeling Championships
(Nats). The Nats runs for nearly six
consecutive weeks. Competition in RC
events includes Scale Aerobatics, Scale,
Combat, Pylon Racing, Soaring, and
Helicopter. CL events consist of Precision
Aerobatics, Scale, Combat, Speed, and
Racing.
The last week of the Nats—August 4-
8—is dominated by the FF competition. A
complete calendar of Nats events can be
found on the AMA Web site at www.mo
delaircraft.org.
Immediately following the Nats is the
annual International Radio Controlled
President’s Perspective
AMA President Dave Mathewson
T
Helicopter Association’s (IRCHA)
Jamboree. IRCHA is an AMA Special
Interest Group (SIG) and the Jamboree
boasts the largest turnout of registered
pilots at any modeling event in the world.
In the 2007 IRCHA Jamboree, 712
registered helicopter pilots took part.
In addition to some outstanding flying,
“Vendor’s Row” rivals that of any
modeling event and offers visitors the
chance to talk with most of the major
players in the industry. Add to that the
first-rate noontime demos, and the
Jamboree becomes a must-see event even
for those whose primary modeling interest
may not be RC helicopters.
In early September, the IAC will play
host to the 2008 Society of Antique
Modelers (SAM) Championships. SAM is
another AMA SIG. The September 8-12
event will attract members from across the
country who will be on-site to participate
in this competition involving models
designed during the Golden Era of model
aviation, from the 1930s until the
beginning of World War II.
Later in September yet another AMA
SIG—the Vintage R/C Society (VR/CS)—
will hold its Annual Muncie Fly-In at the
IAC. VR/CS is dedicated to flying models
designed at least 35 years ago.
Along with the activities I’ve described,
the IAC hosts dozens of additional events
throughout the summer. A visit on any
weekend will find at least one modeling
event taking place. The complete and upto-
date calendar of events is available on
the AMA Web site or by calling AMA
Headquarters at (765) 287-1256.
No trip to Muncie and the IAC is complete
without visiting the National Model
Aviation Museum located on-site.
Arguably the largest and best museum in
the world dedicated to model aviation, it
contains artifacts representing much of
model aviation’s most historical
achievements.
For those of you who haven’t visited
the museum in the last couple of years,
Museum Director Michael Smith has
overseen some significant improvements
to the facility. If you return for a visit, I’m
sure you’ll be impressed with his efforts.
Museum hours during the summer
months are 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
weekdays and 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on
weekends. Special hours will be in effect
during the Nats. Weekdays the museum
will remain open until 6 p.m. and hours
will be 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and
Sundays.
Visitors are free to explore the museum
at their leisure, or guided tours are
available for those who prefer one. If
you’d like to preview some of the exhibits
and special features in the National Model
Aviation Museum, visit the AMA Web site
and click on “Museum.”
Finally, if you visit the IAC, please
take a moment to stop into the
administration building to say hello and
meet some of the AMA staff members who
work so hard to support our membership.
The building is open from 8 a.m. until 5
p.m. weekends and, more often than not,
you’ll find some members of the staff
there after normal business hours as well
as on the weekends. As in the museum, if
you’d like, someone would be happy to
take you through a tour of the building and
introduce you to some of our staff
members.
If you plan to visit this summer, why
not bring along a model? While RC flying
can be limited depending on what events
are taking place and what frequencies are
in use, those flying on 2.4 GHz should
have no problem getting a flight or two in
on the flying site. MA
See you next time ...
July 2008 5
If you plan to visit this summer, why not bring
along a model?
Mission Statement
Dave Mathewson
AMA president
[email protected]
The Academy of Model Aeronautics is a world-class association of modelers organized for the purpose of
promotion, development, education, advancement, and safeguarding of modeling activities.
The Academy provides leadership, organization, competition, communication, protection, representation,
recognition, education and scientific/technical development to modelers.
Edition: Model Aviation - 2008/07
Page Numbers: 5