Nats Pylon Enthusiasts Contribute Scholarship Money
Each year, the National Miniature Pylon Racing Association (NMPRA) and pylon racing participants take up a collection during the annual National Aeromodeling Championships. Proceeds are donated to the AMA Scholarship Fund and directed to the Telford Scholarship, which is awarded for participation in AMA and FAI competition.
Telford Scholarship
The Telford Scholarship was created after Cliff Telford passed away a few years ago. In addition to serving on the Scholarship Committee, Cliff was an excellent pylon racing pilot, had a long history of serving the AMA in numerous capacities, and was highly respected in the pylon community.
Nancy Telford, Cliff’s wife, helped develop the criteria for the scholarship. Cliff had been a member of the AMA Scholarship Committee since its inception and served until his passing.
The scholarship application, available on the AMA website (www.modelaircraft.org/education/scholarships.aspx), explains the standards used to select recipients.
Collection at the Nats
The collection at this summer’s Nats generated $1,013, according to Nats Director Ron Morgan. These funds are normally given to Nancy during the Nats trophy presentation, who then passes them to Ron for delivery to AMA Headquarters. Nancy did not attend the Nats this year, so the money was handed directly to Ron.
“It is the only collection I know of like this and they do it every year at the Pylon Nationals,” wrote Ron.
The NMPRA, pylon fliers, and friends ask for nothing in return. A big thank you goes to the pylon contestants and spectators at this year’s Nats!
MA — AMA HQ
Love Two Fly!
Boone County, roughly 15 minutes north of Indianapolis, Indiana, has some of the most beautiful farmland in the country. A major part of that beauty is Jim and Sharon Love’s farm. Their two sons have homes and growing young families approximately a half-mile away on either side of them, and a path through the corn connects them all.
For the last 14 years, Jim and Sharon have provided a unique opportunity for students in Boone County 4-H: to learn how to fly a model aircraft. The couple has devised a 14-week program that encompasses instruction, hands-on building, simulation, and competition.
Program elements
- Fundamentals of flight
- Building an airplane (the GWS Slow Stick)
- Simulator time
- Flight instruction
- A three-division contest with photos and ribbons displayed at the annual Boone County 4-H fair
While building, students work at stations placed strategically in one of the barns. Each station has a fixture to assure perfect alignment, color 8 x 10 photos showing each step, and sample assemblies showing how each step should look upon completion.
Jim and Sharon arrange a deal with an Indianapolis hobby shop for the aircraft, transmitters, and receivers. They place a mass online order for motors, ESCs, batteries, and miscellaneous parts, then assemble a package for each student and stock extra propellers, batteries, and subassemblies for repairs.
Parents are required to be with each student for every session, and strict attendance is taken. If a student misses a session, he or she must make it up or cannot continue in the activity. Amazingly, this year 34 kids completed the program!
Two Loves giving kids the gift of flying is a Love Two Fly! The AMA thanks the entire Love family.
MA
— Bill Pritchett Education Director
CAP Squadron Builds to Promote Aeromodeling
On Saturday, March 20, 2010, I took my Civil Air Patrol (CAP) squadron (cadets and seniors) through Phase I, Module One, building the AMA Cub Delta Dart with great success. The six cadets and four seniors, with the exception of one senior, had never built a model aircraft.
Syllabus and approach
The syllabus I wrote seemed to work well. The quality of the builds and the level of interest were impressive.
I used my squadron to accomplish a few tasks:
- Test the syllabus.
- Establish times for breaks.
- Educate and prepare the group so it could help the next class with hands-on techniques.
Phase I, Module One, is designed to be a two-night, two-day class, but I condensed it into one full day. My squadron had already had buddy-box time at the Okeechobee Model Airplane Club field, so the initial field trip to see RC models in flight was not unnecessary.
When building started, I had my deputy commanders (both seniors; one had been building model aircraft for a few months) in front of the class, facing and building along with them. I insisted on following the instructions step by step and checking off each step as completed. The process began with the head table reading the instructions and waiting until each step was completed before proceeding.
I roamed the room to help where needed, and after roughly six steps I had cadets rotate to read each next step. This ensured each student understood how to read the instructions and what the directions required—an instinct that proved to be a major factor in the program’s success. It also supported my objective that each student build a model on his or her own.
It took approximately two hours to get the Cubs framed and pinned upside-down in the drying position. After a post-action discussion, we decided to cut the program back to one day and one night. To shorten drying time when the models are pinned upside-down, I used a drop of CA to glue the dihedral so we could fly the same day.
I also assembled an ARF Hangar 9 Alpha I had purchased for my son and grandson to get photos for my Phase II syllabus. Cadet Miller, who had been given one last year, helped handle the instructions while each cadet installed parts. This was documented for the syllabus.
After a conversation with Travis McGinnis about Cub and Boy Scouts’ attention spans and skill levels, I had concerns. All of those vanished once I began the program. The concentration and interest level—especially from kids as young as 12—was extraordinary. Even my senior members, two of whom are cadet parents, were amazed at the cadets’ focus.
I have no doubt we are on the cutting edge of something incredibly special. I have included a few pictures from the weekend. Our first actual weekend course with the other squadrons in Group 4 was on April 17. I hope to have more feedback on my syllabus for AMA.
MA
— Joe Paipasso Squadron Commander, Okeechobee Composite Squadron Okeechobee Model Airplane Club President District V
Hobby Haven
As with many boys who grew up in the 1930s and 1940s, Don Still’s passion for model airplanes started early—at age 6. His older brother aided him in the beginning. Even after Don’s brother was killed in France during World War II, Don continued to build and fly. He had engine problems at first, but his father bought him a new power plant that ran well.
In the early 1950s, Don was in college in Houston, Texas, studying drama. After graduation, he decided he really wanted to open a hobby shop. In September 1951, Hobby Haven opened in downtown Beaumont, Texas.
Achievements and focus
During that period Don mastered CL (control-line) precision aerobatics. Flying his now-famous Stuka (later available as a kit), he won the World Championships and many other events, including the Plymouth Internationals. His display case has dozens of trophies. Don was elected to the Precision Aerobatics Model Pilots Association Hall of Fame in 2000.
He has always focused on models and on what his customers want. Early aircraft were made from wood and tissue and control-line flying was king, but RC was taking hold. For many years plastic models were popular and Don stocked those too. He recently told me that, like many older modelers, he resisted electric power at first; now his product line includes all of the latest items.
If it is related to model airplanes, large or small, there is a good chance Don has it in stock. If he does not, he will get it for you—probably faster than any other source.
That is the way it has been at Don Still’s Hobby Haven six days a week for 59 years. But be sure to bring cash or a check; he does not take plastic!
MA
— John Embry [email protected]
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
