AMA Thanks Its Lifetime Supporters
The Academy recently welcomed Life Members Clifton Moy, Parker CO; Matthew Laine, Cleveland OH; Jim Haggerty, Palm Springs CA; Francis J. Walsh, Saddle River NJ; Rodney J. Lorimor, Spokane WA; John P. Rheiner, Fair Oaks Ranch TX; Vicente A. Mendez, Crestview FL; Kousha Najafi, Sunnyvale CA; Bill S. Elrod, Greenbrier AR; George W. Monk, Minot ND; and Anson G. Hargrove, Lubbock TX.
For information about becoming a Life Member, contact AMA Headquarters at (800) 435-9262.
—AMA Membership Department
Tustin Blimp Hangar selected as National Aeromodeling Historic Site
On October 19, 2013, AMA’s Executive Council (EC) recognized the North Hangar Building #28, at the Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) in Tustin, California, as a historic site under the AMA’s National Aeromodeling Heritage Program. The North Hangar and its sister South Hangar are also recognized on the National Register of Historic Places and designated as National Historic Civil Engineering Landmarks.
Constructed during World War II, both hangars were built by the U.S. Navy as bases to house lighter-than-air reconnaissance blimps. Because of wartime material shortages, the hangars were primarily built from wood and measure more than one football field wide, three football fields long, and approximately 17 stories high. They are two of the largest free-standing wooden buildings in the world.
Model aircraft flying began in the North Hangar following World War II and included events such as the Western States Open Contest, Plymouth Internats eliminations, and the 1952, 1955, 1959, 1963, and 1967 Indoor Nats. During the 1960s and 1970s, the US F1D Indoor team selection events were also held in the hangar. For multiple-day events, fliers commonly slept in the building overnight.
Famous Indoor modelers such as Joe Bilgri, Bill Atwood, NASA test pilot Robert Champine, Clarence Mather, Erv Rodemsky, Warren Williams, Cezar Banks, Larry Calliau, Bob Randolph, and Steve Brown were regular visitors to the site. It was considered to have the best flying conditions of any indoor flying arena in the world.
With the combination of excellent flying conditions and great modelers, it was only time before AMA National and FAI World Indoor endurance records for Catapult Glider, Hand-Launched Glider (HLG), and Rubber Power were established. In 1973, Ron Wittman set a Category IV Indoor HLG two-flight duration record of 2:58.6 seconds in the hangar, a record that stood for 36 years. In 1997, Steve Brown set a single flight record for a rubber-powered microfilm model of 60:01 minutes.
In April 2010, the North Hangar was again the location for two Category IV record flights: Jim Buxton’s HLG two-flight total of 3:29.4 minutes, and Ralph Ray’s Standard Class Catapult-Launched Glider (CLG) two-flight total of 3:52.3 minutes. In May 2011, Stan Buddenbohm upped the ante in Category IV Unlimited Class CLG, with a two-flight total of 4:31.9 minutes.
MCAS Tustin was decommissioned in 1999 and the Tustin community is presently reviewing options to reuse the site for commercial and residential development, plus the establishment of an 85-acre county regional park that includes the hangar.
The members of the Harbor Soaring Society, an AMA Gold Leader Club, thank the AMA EC for commemorating the North Hangar’s historic significance and for its assistance in the club’s ongoing efforts to gain permanent access to the facility.
For information about how you can help preserve the North Hangar, please visit www.1hss.org.
—Michael Smith
National Model Aviation Museum Director
Hobby Shop Program Winner
Congratulations to Hobby Hut, located in Norristown, Pennsylvania! Hobby Hut was 2013’s $1,000 Hobby Shop Program winner. Each store that participates in the Hobby Shop program within a calendar year will be entered into an annual drawing for $1,000. The drawing takes place December 31.
Do you represent a hobby shop that is not in the AMA Hobby Shop Program? It’s so easy to join, and you get money for signing up members!
Here are a few ways that this program benefits the hobby shop:
• The program is designed to reward hobby shop owners with $8 for each new adult and $6 for a senior membership, $4 for each Introductory Membership (three-month trial), and $4 for each new Park Pilot Program membership.
• Each month, all new members including Open, Senior, Park Pilot, Three-Month Trial, and Youth will have one entry into a drawing for a $100 gift card to be spent at the store where they purchased their AMA membership. AMA will provide the $100 to each store. These gift certificates will not be redeemable for cash.
• The $100 gift certificate winner will be featured in an email to AMA members within a 30-mile radius of your store.
• Quarterly hobby shop newsletter.
• Free AMA membership materials are shipped directly to the store including applications, brochures, counter displays, and general AMA information.
• Free social media coverage upon joining the program via AMA blogging, Facebook, and Twitter.
The following stores won $100 gift certificates in 2013:
• January: Hobby Express, Cranberry Township PA
• February: Devil Dog RC, Baldwin Park CA
• March: KC Hobby, Archdale NC
• April: Field’s Hobby Center, Cheektowaga NY
• May: HobbyTown USA, West Melbourne FL
• June: Coyote Hobby, Oregon City OR
• July: Empire Express Hobbies and Toys, Craig CO
• August: RC Hobbies, Huntsville AL
• September: J and C Hobbies, Penn Hill PA
• October: Big Boy Toys, Lafayette LA
• November: B & B Hobbies, Spokane WA
• December: Al’s Hobby Shop, Elmhurst IL
What are you waiting for? Join today! For more information, contact [email protected] or call (765) 287-1256, extension. 272.
—Erin Dobbs
Marketing Partner Lead
FAQs for the AMA History Program
Q. What is the AMA History Program?
A. Since the 1940s, the AMA has been interested in recording the history of aeromodeling. Several efforts were made throughout the years; however, it wasn’t until the late 1990s when the AMA History Program was developed to preserve the history of model aviation for future generations. The AMA History Program has successfully recorded and currently maintains nearly 900 modeler’s biographies and autobiographies, as well as the histories of clubs, Special Interest Groups (SIGs), companies, and other industry associates.
Q. How can I find more information about the AMA History Program?
A. Call Archivist/Assistant Historian Jackie Shalberg at (765) 287-1256, extension 511, or email [email protected]. Norm Rosenstock is AMA’s Volunteer Historian. His telephone number is (561) 798-5154, or email [email protected].
Q. How do I write a biography for the AMA History Program?
A. The History Program offers a writing guide or a questionnaire form for those who do not have the time or desire to write his or her own biography. These forms are available online at www.modelaircraft.org/museum/history.aspx.
Q. Do I have to write my own biography? What are my options?
A. You can have another person write your biography or contact the AMA History Program personnel for other options. A biography can be submitted through a taped interview, on the telephone with the archivist/assistant historian, or you may send a video tape or DVD. If you plan to visit Muncie, Indiana, you can make an appointment to be interviewed.
Q. Can I write someone else’s biography?
A. Yes. Many people do this. Please include in your writing the subject’s contact information so that person can be contacted to verify, approve, and/or update the information before it is published on AMA’s website.
Q. Where do I send finished biographies?
A. Mail a copy to the AMA History Program, attn.: Archivist/Assistant Historian, 5151 E. Memorial Dr., Muncie IN 47302.
Email an attachment to [email protected] or fax it to (765) 281-7904, Attn: AMA History Program.
Q. What happens to the biographies and histories? Where can I find them?
A. Biographies and histories are added to AMA’s website at www.modelaircraft.org/museum/history.aspx. The AMA History Program’s records are physically maintained at the National Model Aviation Museum.
Q. Is a biography like an obituary?
A. Our biographies are meant to be ongoing and updated as people accomplish more, but we also keep biographies of those who have passed away.
History Preserved
In several columns throughout the past few years, museum employees have asked for help in locating information about some of our acquisitions. Thank you to everyone who has offered his or her knowledge about these subjects. It is time to share some updated information.
The June 2011 “History Preserved” column discussed two models loaned to the museum by Dr. David Roberts in 1989, and asked for help in locating Dr. Roberts or his family. The models, a Stuka Ju-87 and a Mitsubishi A6M Zero are both well-built, detailed, static scale models, most likely built from Guillow’s kits. Despite a promising lead, we have been unable to contact anyone related to Dr. Roberts.
The museum is announcing that if no contact or claim is made by the family of Dr. Roberts by June 1, 2015, both the Stuka Ju-87 static scale model and the Mitsubishi A6M Zero static scale model will become legal property of the National Model Aviation Museum, as operated by the Academy of Model Aeronautics.
The June 2012 “History Preserved” column showcased an unidentified RC helicopter. There were many people who commented about the model, speculating that it might be a Schluter design. Others suggested we look into American RC helicopters and GMP. We looked into all of these possibilities, and while several model designs nearly fit, none matched closely enough for a conclusive decision.
The December 2010 “History Preserved” column discussed a gull-wing model that we believed was designed by Michael J. Roll, although the information we had about him was scant. Thanks to two people who knew him, we learned that the model in the collection is a RC version of Roll’s 1938 Berryloid entry. It was built by Roll in the 1980s after he rediscovered his interest in model aviation.
Please feel free to contact Maria at [email protected], or (765) 287-1256, extension 508, to share any comments or memories regarding these models.
—National Model Aviation Museum staff