David B. Robelen: 1940–2007
Longtime modeler David Robelen passed away Saturday, April 7, 2007. He was the first person to be inducted into the National Indoor RC Aircraft Council Hall of Fame, and he was one of the most respected indoor and micro RC modelers.
Dave had many construction articles published in national aeromodeling magazines. At the time of his death he wrote MA’s bimonthly “Micro‑Flying” column, moderated an electronic bulletin board, and had been the chairman of AMA’s Electric Contest Board since 2002.
He started his National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) career in October 1958, on the day NACA (National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics) ended and NASA began. Dave graduated from the NASA apprentice school and served as a machinist and instrument maker in what would become the Fabrication Division.
Dave transferred from the Instrument Construction Section to the Operations Support Division in 1976 and worked in the Dynamics and Stability Branch at the 30- by 60-foot full-scale wind tunnel, where his knowledge and skills in model aviation were extremely important. He received many Tech Brief Awards and at least one patent on work he had done.
Dave retired from NASA in March 1995, and he and his family moved to Farmville, Virginia, where they bought a small farm. He will be missed by his many friends and family. To learn more about Dave, you can read his autobiography at https://www.modelaircraft.org/museum/biolist.asp.
MA — Marny Skora District IV
Tribute to a Living AMA Legend
Jack Albrecht has been an active modeler for 79 years. He has also been a competitor and a leader in the model-hobby industry, with exceptional knowledge concerning RC technology. Jack has received many honors in his lifetime, yet he is a quiet, unassuming man who is quick to give credit to those he has worked with rather than promote himself.
In the 1970s RC was a relatively young and struggling activity, governed by restrictive rules concerning what could be flown and by whom. AMA’s Frequency Committee was a group of dedicated modelers with electronics expertise who were trying to change the government regulations to allow more hobbyists to participate.
Five years of committee work resulted in RC model hobbyists receiving “a slice of the radio frequency spectrum you can have for your activity, if you can figure out how to use it to benefit the most people, with the least harm to other users of the spectrum.”
The new frequency assignment and distribution plan was given to Jack, who devised the RC frequency plan that we use now. His contribution was the focus of what the Federal Communications Commission approved 25 years ago, and it is still the core of what we enjoy today.
Jack started modeling at age 9 in San Francisco, California, constructing solid- and rubber-band-powered airplanes. He was an avid reader of the old Flying Aces model magazine and World War I pulp‑fiction magazines such as G-8 and His Battle Aces.
Jack’s years in the hobby have included working for the Kraft and Airtronics companies. His many honors included the AMA Distinguished Service Award, the Howard McEntee Award, the Model Aviation Hall of Fame award, the Frank and John Zaic Memorial Award, and he was a member of the Vintage Radio Control Society Hall of Fame.
To read Jack’s detailed autobiography, go to http://www.modelaircraft.org/museum/biolist.asp.
MA — John Worth District IV
Hannan’s Runway Downsizes
Bill and Joan Hannan are scaling back their mail-order book business after roughly 20 years of successful operation. The website, Hannan’s Runway’s publications, and Frank Zaic books will continue to be available for the foreseeable future. The many items that are being closed out can be viewed at http://www.hrunway.com.
The Hannans express their gratitude to the magazine and newsletter editors and columnists who have been so kind in helping them with promotion through the years, to their international network of talented contributors, and especially to their many faithful customers. Bill hopes he will be able to build some new models with the spare time the move creates.
We send our best to the Hannans for their tireless work in informing and entertaining so many modelers for so long.
MA — AMA Headquarters
Buddy Box Program
AMA’s new-member buddy-box program ended April 30, 2007. We are pleased with the response from those who were eager to start flying using this method. Roughly 2,800 new members took advantage of this fledgling program. Keep checking the AMA website and MA for future programs and promotions.
MA — Tom Schwyn Marketing Director
AMA Leader Club Program Modification
April 21, 2007, AMA's Executive Council modified the long-running, well-received AMA Leader Club Program to provide access to clubs that have been denied participation in the past. The program's required activities have been a hindrance to some otherwise worthy clubs being recognized for their efforts. The current requirements are as follows.
- Clubs must have been chartered by AMA for a minimum of five years.
- Club membership must be open to all AMA members and not limited to a certain number.
- Clubs must develop and post Safety and Operational Rules at its flying site.
- Clubs must file a copy of Safety and Operational Rules at AMA Headquarters.
- A club's flying field must have separate areas for fliers and spectators, clearly marked as such.
- The AMA Safety Code must be posted and visible at the club field.
The modification is that for a club to be considered for Leader Club status, a district vice president may waive one of the preceding requirements.
The revised application is posted at http://www.modelaircraft.org. Under "Membership Services," go to "AMA Documents (PDF)," "708." Contact Programs Coordinator Erin Dobbs at [email protected] if you have any questions.
MA — Programs Department
AMA Staff and Family Support the Weak Signals
Special Hobby Shop Recognition
AMA's Programs Department has been informed that Al's Hobby Shop in Elmhurst, Illinois, will be celebrating 60 years in business.
Al's Hobby Shop is part of the Hobby Shop Incentive Program, for which details can be obtained from Programs Coordinator Erin Dobbs at (765) 287-1256, extension 272, or [email protected].
Congratulations to Al's Hobby Shop, and we appreciate the support it provides to AMA.
MA — Programs Department
AMA Seeks Volunteer Host/Hostess Couples
The Academy is reaching out to the membership in a new way in 2007. Keeping watch over the 1,100-acre National Flying Site in Muncie, Indiana, is a formidable task. Borrowing a successful page from the National Park Service and many state-park programs, AMA is seeking retired couples to participate in our volunteer program as flying-site hosts.
Qualifications
To qualify for this position, applicants must:
- Possess a love of all aspects of model aviation.
- Own an RV that is suitable for 30-day stays.
- Have outstanding people skills and a willingness to represent AMA in a positive manner to fellow members and guests.
- Be willing to live on-site for one month during the flying season (April–September).
- Follow all flying-site rules and guidelines.
A familiarity with model aviation and flying-site norms and customs is a plus.
Benefits
The Academy will provide volunteers with the following:
- A camping site with full hookups.
- Transportation for use on-site.
- A cell phone for AMA use.
- Caps and golf shirts with AMA Host/Hostess designation.
- Store discounts.
Duties
Duties will include:
- Helping members and guests who visit AMA's flying site.
- Helping ensure that the AMA Safety Code is observed on the flightlines.
- Helping check in/register members and visitors at the camping sites.
- Communicating with AMA staff about flying-site conditions.
This host-and-hostess buddy system will allow responsibilities to be shared while covering the site most days of the week. Because of the nature of this opportunity, we ask that only couples apply.
If you would like to become an AMA Host and Hostess, contact Mary Hurn at [email protected]. To download an application in PDF format, visit http://www.modelaircraft.org/hr.asp.
These positions are not available to any past or present AMA employee or official.
MA — AMA Headquarters
AMA Club Supports a Fallen Hero
The Cen-Tex Modelers is a small club located near Fort Hood, Texas, that has many active and retired military members. Every club member who has deployed has returned home safely, but the members are occasionally touched by a family's loss.
A military father stationed at Fort Hood was deployed to Iraq. He wrote a letter to tell his children — an 8-year-old boy and an 11-year-old girl — that they would learn to fly RC models upon his return. In early April 2006 he was killed in action before he could return and keep his promise.
CW4 Clayton Mahalite Sr., a Cen-Tex club and AMA member, was assigned as a Casualty Assistance Officer (CAO). These soldiers assist surviving family members of deceased soldiers through official notification and the memorial/funeral services, and they help prepare and submit claims to various agencies for benefits.
Clayton began flying model airplanes in the 1980s, and after a long break he re-entered the hobby with his son approximately five years ago. When Clayton learned through the children's mother of the letter their father wrote to them, he immediately began working toward making that father's wish come true.
Clayton contacted AMA to request that the kids be included on his membership as Junior members, but AMA offered the memberships and MA magazine to the family at no cost. Shortly thereafter, Clayton approached Cen-Tex President John Eyre and asked if the club would be willing to donate memberships to the family. John immediately said yes and arranged to have Clayton brief the club at a monthly meeting.
At the time of the meeting Clayton had purchased the model and engine, and the kids' mother had purchased the radio. With all the equipment installed, they were ready to begin flight training. Lynn Kelch made a motion at the meeting to reimburse Clayton and the children's mother for their purchases, and it passed unanimously.
The children have begun flight training with Clayton as their instructor. Club members who live near the kids offer to ferry them to and from the flying site.
The American hero's promise will be kept.
Family members' names have been omitted by their request for the sake of privacy.
MA — Jim Rice District VIII Vice President
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
