In the Air - 201209

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
(ERAU) has campuses in Daytona
Beach, Florida, Prescott, Arizona, and,
through the Worldwide Campus, at
more than 150 locations in the United
States, Europe, Asia, Canada, the Middle
East, and through online learning. These
universities teach the science, practice,
and business of the world of aviation and
aerospace.
The Prescott, Arizona, campus offers
a Senior Design class that has received
the assistance of the Chino Valley Model
Aviators (CVMA) club for the past six
years. Professor Jim Helbling teaches the
Aircraft Detail Design class, in which
the students are presented with a set
of design requirements that must be
satisfi ed.
One of the challenges presented
to his students includes designing an
aircraft that must fi t within the confi nes
of a 4-foot square box and have a twohour
fl ight time while carrying a 10
to 15-pound payload. Another is to
design, build, and fl y a jet version of the
venerable DC-3.
Students break into teams that
tackle different aspects of the project.
They perform trade studies and then
present two alternative solutions to
Professor Helbling. He determines
which concept will be structurally
proof tested and fl ight tested based on
wind-tunnel results. The class must use
primarily full-scale building materials
and techniques.
The students then design and build an
RC model. CVMA provides them with
suggestions concerning how to safely
build an RC model, a fl ying fi eld where
they can safely test their models, and
an experienced RC pilot is available if
needed for the project.
Student pilots must be AMA
members. Their models have ranged
from a 50-pound monster to the latest
one tested at 37 pounds. Some of the
tests have been less than successful,
while others fl ew beautifully. The design
process and working as a team are the
important lessons learned. The student’s
grade is not contingent on the model
fl ying successfully.
Our Chino Valley club is honored
to be helping the future leaders of
the aerospace community and their
instructors. Club members who have
provided guidance to the students
throughout the years are: Randy
Meathrell, aeronautical engineer, 29
years at Lockheed Martin Skunk Works;
Bob Shanks, retired Air Force colonel
and ERAU adjunct professor; John
Stewart, model test pilot, 30 years Point
Mugu Naval Air Station and China
Lake; Chuck Colwell, retired Hollywood
director of photography, IMAA
Member; and Tony Pacini, model test
pilot, Prescott Valley, Arizona.
The second Camp AMA was held
at AMA’s International Aeromodeling
Center (IAC) in Muncie, Indiana, June
17-21, 2012. Seventeen kids, including
I, had the opportunity to fl y with
professional RC pilots Nick Maxwell
and R.J. Gritter at the AMA fl ying fi eld
each day. It was an experience I will
never forget.
I am 15 years old, and have been
fl ying RC aircraft for about seven years.
I have not entered any competitions,
but I am hoping to compete later this
year or next year. My aircraft range
from ultramicros to a 27% gas-powered
Edge. I am currently sponsored by West
Michigan Park Flyers, a company that
designs and builds 3-D foam aircraft.
I will be a sophomore in high school
this fall, and I hope to make a career
in the RC aviation fi eld. Last summer
I was able to meet Mike McConville,
John Redman, Seth Arnold, and Quique
Somenzini. They let me fl y with them
for a day and have continued to inspire
me to do the best I can.
I learned about Camp AMA from
an advertisement in Model Aviation.
This camp seemed to be everything I
was looking for, and it turned out to be
better than advertised! Check-in was
during the XFC fi nals, which was held at
the IAC.
We watched the end of the fi nals, had
a brief meeting, met the other campers,
were assigned roommates, and then said
goodbye to our parents for the next four
days. We were taken to our hotel, to
dinner, and then called it a day.
Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
were all about fl ying. The weather was
great all week except for the wind. It
made for some challenging fl ying, but
we were there to learn and train.
The fl ying was great, and we were
even given the controls of a Hangar 9
Sukhoi SU-26MM SE designed by Mike
McConville. We were also given a tour
of AMA Headquarters and the National
Model Aviation Museum.
The days typically started at 7 a.m.
with breakfast then loading up for the
ride to AMA. We would pick up our
aircraft, which were stored indoors, and
continue the ride out to the fl ying fi eld.
We broke for lunch at 1 p.m.,
switched aircraft if desired, and then got
back to fl ying until 5 p.m. We put the
aircraft away, ride back to the hotel, get
cleaned up, and then head to dinner at
about 6 p.m.
Dinner every night was at Applebee’s,
where we could order anything we
wanted, and lunch was provided by
Texas Roadhouse every day! What kid
would not like that? After dinner, we
would head back to the hotel and do
some indoor fl ying with some of the
small electric airplanes.
There was never a shortage of
supplies, tools, or guidance. Everyone
pitched in to help each other, and we
formed some great friendships by the
end of the week.
I recommend this camp to anyone
who loves to fl y RC aircraft, whatever
his or her skill level. The camp is broken
down into three groups: beginner,
Tristen Lobbezoo is on the le .
intermediate, and
advanced. I learned
a lot and will
continue practicing
the skills I was
taught at the camp.
Jessy Symmes
and Bill Pritchett were our camp
coordinators, and they were awesome!
They got us everywhere we needed to
be and made the experience the best it
could be.
This camp experience has been the
best time I have had fl ying. I learned
new fl ying skills, made new friendships,
and experienced selfl ess giving of
time, resources, and guidance by our
leaders and peers. A few of us put
together a YouTube channel where
we posted videos of our experience:
AMAtureRCSpinsider. This was an
experience I will never forget.
History preserved
Frank Zaic was a prolifi c fi gure in the
model aviation community. He began
building model airplanes in 1926 and
continued this hobby throughout his
life. He was one of the original founders
of the Academy of Model Aeronautics
in 1936. He was also the fi rst American
to receive the Paul Tissandier Diploma,
which is awarded to individuals who
have served the cause of aviation by
their work, initiative, and devotion.
Frank’s passion for aviation resulted
in his induction into the Model Aviation
Hall of Fame in 1969, the National Free
Flight Society Hall of Fame in 1978, the
Kits and Plans Antique Modelers Hall
of Fame in 1987, and the Society of
Antique Modelers Hall of Fame in 1989.
He was granted the Southern California
Ignition Flyers (SCIF) Good Guy award
as the “original old-timer” along with the
AMA Pioneer award in 1998.
The National Model Aviation
Museum is privileged to have many of
Frank’s important aviation documents
in our collection. Within the archives
resides an original New York City Parks
Department model aviation permit form
for Frank, which grants him permission
to fl y model airplanes in Central Park.
We also have an original FAI/NAA
USA Class B gider license for Frank
Zaic dated June 9, 1933, with Orville
Wright’s signature. The museum also has
documents from his non-modeling life,
including his certifi cate of registration in
the American Immigrant Wall of Honor,
notes about his attachment to the Statue
of Liberty, personal correspondence and
photographs from fellow champions
of aviation, and his original scrapbook
articles.
Frank has also made donations to
the museum collection. He was well
known for his collection of balsa thermal
airplanes, one of which, a 1942 Thermic
100 glider, hangs in the museum’s main
gallery. The museum also has personal
Pioneer Valley RC Club honored
On March 31, 2012, members of
the Pioneer Valley RC Club (PVRCC)
in Westfi eld, Massachusetts, attended
a banquet dinner at the Springfi eld
Sheraton Hotel hosted by the Civil Air
Patrol (CAP). The event was the annual
CAP Massachusetts Wing Conference,
Le : The PVRCC build members are (LR)
Gene
Paulson, project manager Roy Thompson, Rom
Milkay, and Roger Dionne. Below Le : 104th
Wing CAP o‹ cers, cadets, and PVRCC build
members. Below Right: The Frank G. Brewer
award and Airvan desk model.
which bestows awards on various
CAP groups throughout the state and
individual Cadet Honors.
Members of the club’s RC trainer
build project were invited and
recognized for their efforts in working
with the cadets from the Barnes Airport
104th Wing during the build activity, and
for constructing a Top-Flite Cessna 182
kit model that was on display.
The club’s project manager, Roy
Thompson, accepted the 2012 CAP
Frank G. Brewer Sr. Memorial Aerospace
Award plaque, a CAP United States
Air Force Auxiliary GA-8 Airvan desk
model, and CAP medallions from
Massachusetts Wing Commander Col.
William Meskill, 104th Wing Col. James
Pascitti, and Capt. Steve Pacitti.
Sharing in the awards ceremony were
fellow PVRCC build project members
Roger Dionne, Ron Milkay, and Gene
Paulson.
The Brewer award was established in
1959 to serve as a memorial to Frank
G. Brewer Sr. and his lifelong interest
in aviation, youth, and education.
Individuals and organizations that have
made outstanding contributions to the
advancement of youth in aerospace
activities receive recognition.
The awards were shared with other
build team members Bill Andras, Arnie
Paye, Andy Peters, and Dan Sears, and
were presented to the general club
membership during our regular April
meeting.