192 MODEL AVIATION
CONGRATULATIONS to Maynard Hill
for making his record transatlantic flight.
This is a major accomplishment, and
Maynard has spent many years preparing for
this spectacular event. Full coverage of the
flight is in this issue of Model Aviation.
Congratulations from all of us at AMA
Headquarters, Maynard.
It’s the time of year to renew your
membership. Renewals are coming in heavy,
both by mail and online. Remember that at
this time of year the toll-free number is busy
and processing renewals takes longer than at
other times of the year.
If you need to verify your membership
for your club, check out our Web site at
www.modelaircraft.org. You need to have
the name and AMA number to see if the
membership has been processed. License
cards are mailed twice a week.
When calling Headquarters, make sure
you have your AMA number handy. This
helps expedite locating your records.
Membership Guide: Last year we tried
something new. We published an
abbreviated, easy-to-read Membership
Guide. I want to know how the membership
feels about this product.
Would you like the full version mailed to
you automatically or is having access to the
complete manual via the Web site or by
request sufficient? The merchandise catalog
was mailed to all members who receive the
magazine as part of the December issue.
Travel has been on my schedule for the last
six weeks. I was on vacation and happened
to be in Virginia when Hurricane Isabel
struck. Fortunately we only lost electrical
power.
I was happy to attend the first dedication
of an historic flying site, Torrey Pines
Gliderport in California. Sherri Lightner,
chairperson of the La Jolla Town Council,
presented me with a declaration of
appreciation. Rich Hanson covers this event
with pictures in his District X column.
I attended the Southwestern
Aeromodeling Convention in Arlington,
Texas. There was a nice turnout, but
because it was the week before the new
HobbyVisions International show, it took
away from some of the vendors and
consumers attending. Both were good
shows and exposed many modelers and
“If you build it, they will
come (fly). Thanks AMA
for a great facility.”
Joyce Hager Executive Director
View from HQ
newcomers to our hobby/sport.
I want to share a letter and pictures I received
from Allen Goff of Muncie, Indiana. His letter
starts out by saying, “If you build it, they will
come (fly). Thanks AMA for a great facility.”
This picture was taken at the Fellowship of
Christian Modelers (FCM) 2003 contest at the
AMA flying site in Muncie, Indiana. The
storm that hit on Saturday afternoon was
lurking behind the fliers coming from the
cornfield. This is an award-wining photo!
“Steamy hot weather gave way to a cold
front that made the temperature for the FCM
contest pleasant, but rain did shorten the first
day of competition. There was enough flying
on Saturday to call it a day for Classic and
Old-Time Stunt, but the Combat boys waited it
out and flew later Saturday evening. Precision
Aerobatics Model Pilots Association
(PAMPA) and Speed had a nearly perfect day
on Sunday.
“Seventy-one pilots registered to fly,
making this the biggest FCM contest to date.
The plans are to expand divisions for next
year’s fifth annual event with lots of Junior
classes and make the contest AAAA.
“It was fun seeing all the different venues
simultaneously busy competing. We were
especially happy to welcome the Speed pilots
to their first year at FCM. Wow, what a
turnout!
“The days are scheduled in a way to make
it a fun, easygoing contest, with good
Happy flying,
Joyce Hager
Executive Director
[email protected]
fellowship to go along with good flying.
Sweating the details — not allowed!
“FCM would like to thank Rev. Glenn
Griener for sharing in the Sunday morning
chapel time. We ran out of seats and that, after
all, is what FCM is all about. FCM would also
like to thank all sponsors for their
contributions to the giveaway of products.
The pilots like getting the goodies and we like
giving them away.
“Many thanks to AMA, Aero Products,
Build-It-Right (Walter Umland), Muncie
Model & Hobbies, Sig Manufacturing, Tower
Hobbies, Aces Video, Brodak Manufacturing,
and Horizon Hobby.”
Thank you, Allen, for sharing your
experiences here at the Muncie site and
providing the pictures. They are great! MA
01sig6.QXD 10/27/03 8:40 am Page 192
Edition: Model Aviation - 2004/01
Page Numbers: 192