AMA News - 2005/05

FOR WHAT IT’S WORTH … The
sound you don’t hear is the sound that is
winning the minds—if not the hearts—of
elected officials and paid public servants
throughout the western region. As I have
indicated in the past, the thing that upsets
most AMA members is the lack of or loss
of a flying site, and the number one reason
we lose flying sites is noise.
Noise is a particular problem in areas of
high population density. Not surprisingly,
our membership is highly concentrated in
those same population centers.
What to do, what to do?
Two things come to mind,
based on up-close and
personal events attendant
to this job.
If you are a glow-power
or gas-power flier, start
looking for a site
somewhat removed from
residential development. If
you have a site from which
you can see homes being
built, accelerate your
search. I’ve heard many
club members state with
fervent conviction that he
or she will not drive 20
minutes or half an hour to
get to a flying site, period!
(See you at the next flea
market.)
The simple fact is that
with the emergence of
larger and faster fuelpowered
models, we’re
going to have to find sites a lot farther
down the road if we want to continue to
fly.
The emergence and rapid development
of electric technology as it relates to model
aircraft has made inner-city flying a
reality. In many cases where I have been
given a quick “No way” by recreation
planners, county supervisors, and the like
when asking for space to fly fuel-powered
aircraft, I have been given a second, far
more receptive audience when
demonstrating the relative quiet of the
electric motor.
In cases that are becoming far more
frequent, I have seen local governmental
agencies alter their city charters to
specifically include electric-modelairplane
flying as an acceptable activity in
designated city/county parks. That’s a
huge reversal from the norm just a few
years ago.
I have enjoyed the smell of glow fuel and
the roar of a warbird for more years than
I’d like to admit. Realistically, I can still
experience those joys far into the future,
but only after putting some of that $2.50
per gallon fuel in my car and going for a
drive. Or I can stay in my neighborhood
and think electric!
This reminds me of a great electric
event held during the last weekend in
January in Phoenix, Arizona.
The inaugural Arizona Electric Festival
was hosted by the Arizona Model Aviators
and CDed by Bob Ruff. Good local
advertising got the nonmodeling
population out as spectators and good
AMA News
Academy of Model Aeronautics 5161 E. Memorial Dr., Muncie IN 47302
View from HQ
See page 184
Flying Site Assistance
Wes De Cou
Coordinator,
Western Region
Districts VII-XI
Voice: (480) 460-9466
Cell: (480) 296 9515
Fax: (480) 460-9434
202 W. Desert Flower Ln.
Phoenix AZ 85045
E-mail: [email protected]
Joe Beshar, Coordinator,
Eastern Region, Districts I-VI
198 Merritt Dr., Oradell NJ 07649
Tel.: (201) 261-1281; Fax: (201) 261-0223
E-mail: [email protected]
Finding—Preserving—Maintaining
San Lakes Model Airplane Club, Sun Lakes AZ
Central CA Model Flyers, Merced CA
La Sierra Soarers, Riverside CA
Lichan Soaring Club, Penngrove CA
Conejo Valley Flyers, Thousand Oaks CA
Moonport Modelers Inc, Titusville FL
Daytona Beach RC Association, New Smyrna FL
Warped Wings RC Club, Allendale MI
East Wings Club of Detroit, Memphis MI
War Eagle Squadron, Dakota NE
UMP Flyers Association, Alamogordo NM
Avian RCers Lyceum Hubbardsville NY
Boonville Balsa Busters, Boonville NY
Fun Flyers, Princetown NY
Appalachin Airwolves RC Society, Owego NY
Carolina Corsairs, Little River NC
Hildebran RC Aeromodelers, Hildebran NC
County Line RC Modelers, Greensboro NC
North Iredell RC Club, Statesville NC
Sanford Model Airplane Club, Sanford NC
Mt. Airy RC, Dobson NC
Slope Model Aero Club, Bismarck ND
Geneva RC Club, Ashtabula OH
Lake Geouga Helicopter Assoc., Newberry OH
Tri State Helicoper Club, Milford OH
Cascade Flyers, Bend OR
JT’S, Sioux Falls SD
Lauderdale Airpark RC Club, Caldwell TX
Society of Harlington, Brownsville TX
Cedar Creek Aeromodelers, Malakoff TX
A.R.F. RC Club, Livingston TX
Flat Landers, Kress TX
Old Dominion RC Modelers, Tazewell VA
Four Mound Flyers, 9 Mile Falls WA
Flying Aces, Oak Creed WI
Cheyenne Hill Hoppers, Cheyenne WY
Flying Sites on Private Property
May 2005 147
Young AMA member Nathan Brown was
pretty sure he could get into the Cessna
337 over his left shoulder, and take it for
a ride. The Cessna and the other models
around Nathan were typical of the great
aircraft flown at the festival.
The Arizona Model Aviators made sure to
recognize their 36 contributing sponsors.“modeling-community”
advertising brought 126
pilots from as far away as
Germany and Sweden here
to perform.
The public was treated
to an awesome array of
models, ranging from the
smallest of foamies to a
43-pound Extra 260, a
huge Ultimate biplane,
some ducted fans, and
some incredible
helicopters. All were
electric; most were
electrifying.
Noiseless foamy 3-D
aircraft were evident
everywhere.
In addition, there was
great food available, as
well as 23 vendors
representing the gamut of
electric modeling “stuff.”
Thirty-six sponsors
contributed to the success
of the event.
Bob Ruff has indicated
that many more vendors
will be on hand for the
second annual Arizona
Electric Festival,
scheduled for January 27-
29, 2006.
And now for the lists:
thanks to those of you who
called or E-mailed me to
add or delete sites from the
Bureau of Land
Management and Schools
lists published in the
March 2005 column. This
month I’m showing the
lists we have on file for
flying sites on private
property (help us here!),
and for flying sites at fullscale
airports.
If you have facilities
such as this in your area,
try to get some flying
privileges. If you fly from
a site on one of these types
of facilities and you are not
on the list, let me know!