AMA News
Flying Site Assistance
Joe Beshar Coordinator, Eastern Region, Districts I–VI
198 Merrill Dr. Oradell, NJ 07649 Fax: (201) 261-0223 Tel.: (201) 261-1281 E-mail: [email protected]
Finding — Preserving — Maintaining
So you want a place to fly? Clarence Ragland writes:
"I would like to inform you that the Lake Ontario Flyers, a club in Western New York, have a brand new flying field located in Olcott, NY.
"The reason I am contacting you is to inform AMA that our field is an excellent site and readily available for any type of aeromodeling event.
"The site is on county park property. We want to show activity on this site to be sure the county recognizes the great value for the permission that they have granted for flying models."
This is great, guys! An opportunity to fly at an outstanding flying site (note the photos), a place to have a flying event, and at the same time help the Lake Ontario Flyers.
Dave Sears, the club president, states that he would love to host any event at any time. His E-mail address is [email protected].
Clarence Ragland can be reached at 546 Niagara St., Lockport, NY 14094, www.kites.org/rc_instructors.
This letter from Jim Bethea makes it all worthwhile and I would like to share it with you.
"With your help, we have accomplished what I will call a minor miracle. Our club, the Cloud Climbers of Southeast Louisiana, has been granted permission to use a large sod farm for our Free Flight activities. As you know, such properties are not easy to find, and even when you find them they are sometimes difficult to obtain.
"This sod farm is quite large and is irregularly shaped. I estimate the north–south length to be in excess of one-and-one-half miles, and the east–west width in some areas to be one mile or slightly wider.
"The property is crisscrossed with farm roads making retrieval fairly easy, and ground levels [are favorable]."
"It's a good idea to survey the wind direction for the area. If the wind comes out of the east 80% of the time, you would consider building a runway east–west. The local radio or TV station's weather department can provide you with a general consensus of this situation.
"The sun rises and sets east–west. It is not good to have a runway north–south. Half the day the sun is right in your eyes. If you think that is not irritating, see how it is when you're flying. If you fly mostly in the morning, and you fly facing west, then the sun is mostly at your back.
"The boundaries are most important. If on the northeast side of your field is a house or park, you might consider this. On your takeoffs and landings, you don't want to fly an airplane over these areas.
"If there is a house, park, golf course, an airport, or superhighway nearby, go and talk to these principals and see how much of a problem it will be flying your airplane in their spaces.
"Establish the ground rules up front and then plan from there. If someone will be very irritated about you flying over their space, do everything you can to stay out of their space.
"If there is a superhighway close by, this could be a great problem. You certainly don't want to be responsible for a highway accident.
"The closest house can also be a source of great complaints. Talk to these people first, tell them what you plan to do, and see what they think of this idea.
"Check the area for any big trees nearby. Believe me, your airplane will fly toward a big tree as if it had a magnet.
"Check the area's low spots. You don't want your runway underwater if you have a heavy rain, nor do you want to stand in water or mud when you assemble your aircraft.
"I have seen a few problems in my years of flying. One field had a golf course that people would fly over while landing or on takeoff. They spent more than $10,000 changing the direction of their runway to avoid this.
"Another field was parallel to the roadway. This was the main reason for only a 300-foot runway with a row of trees at both ends. Had they put the runway on a 20-degree angle to the road, they could have had a 500-foot runway and clear ends for another 200 feet.
"I've also seen a field where the pilots flew directly over a horse stable. Of course there was a complaint. Fortunately all they had to do was put the flight station 180 degrees from where they were so the stable was at their backs.
"So, consider all of these things. You have your work cut out for you, selecting a proper direction to build your runway. This will be the most important thing to consider in building a new field.
"Start with a little consideration to all who are around you and you just might have your field for a happy, long time."
District I Report
DISTRICT I Leader Clubs for 2001: As of April 4, 2001, seven clubs out of 130 have earned the Gold Leader Club status. They are:
- Rhode Island Aeromodelers, Club No. 582
- Cape Ann R/C Club, Club No. 338
- Northbridge Radio Control Modelers, Club No. 1324
- New England Sport Scale Association, Club No. 1312
- East Coast Swamp Flyers, Club No. 973
- Propsnappers, Club No. 871
- 107th R/C Flyers, Club No. 2097
Congratulations to all of the members of these clubs. You have worked hard for this distinction.
In the March District I column I included several pictures taken at the Hampshire County R/C'ers Scale fly-in. Since then I have found some pictures that should have been included.
In the May issue, the article on the Toys for Tots Day sponsored by the Southern New Hampshire Flying Eagles did not have room for this picture showing Joel Chappell, the club president and the District I frequency coordinator.
June. (He sent it to me in a timely manner; I am trying to catch up on some material.)
"For two years now we have had the privilege to fly with an organization called Northeast Passage. This group is for handicapped individuals and they promote barrier-free recreation.
"This past June we sponsored a fun-fly event/barbecue with this group. We had approximately 20 people show up for this event, almost evenly split between club members and Northeast participants.
"We had all types of airplanes to fly and buddy boxes for all who required them. Through this event we introduced many people to the hobby and some have joined local clubs and started flying on their own."
AMA News
Congratulations to my friend Bob McKay. On March 27, 2001, I had the distinct privilege of presenting Bob with the Academy of Model Aeronautics Superior Service Award for his lifelong support and commitment to model aviation.
Bob has been a stalwart in the modeling community in the northern New Jersey area for as long as anyone can remember.
A longtime member of the Central Jersey Radio Control Club, Bob was also instrumental in organizing both the Jersey Giants, one of the early International Miniature Aircraft Association (IMAA) chapters, and the Edison Township Senior Citizen Flying Group.
For years, Bob’s passion has been Giant Scale models and he has served as a District Director of the IMAA. In addition, for the past several years Bob has served as an AMA District II Associate Vice President (AVP).
The presentation was made in Rahway, NJ at a weekly breakfast gathering of the modelers in the area. I was told that the turnout for this event was two to three times greater than usual, a testament to the respect and admiration for Bob shown him by his many modeling friends.
On Saturday, March 25, 2001 I attended the Brooklyn Skyscrapers annual dinner. The history behind this club is mind-boggling.
In existence since 1935, the member roster reads like a Who’s Who in modeling. Larry Davidson, Bob Gutai, Bob Hatschek, Jean Paillet, and new club president Bob Langelius are just some of the better-known modelers associated with this group.
Of the several awards presented, two deserve special recognition. Bob Gutai was presented with the club’s Outstanding Modeler award for winning the America’s Cup in both F1C and F1J.
A special plaque was presented to Andrew Barron, expressing the Skyscrapers’ gratitude for his acquisition of the Wawayanda Flying Site for Free Flight use. The inscription on the plaque reads, “Andrew Barron—Thank you for your resourceful and generous acquisition of the Wawayanda Free Flight Site—YOU HAVE GIVEN US A PLACE TO FLY.”
I have seen pictures of the Wawayanda site and will be down there sometime this summer to see it for myself. From what I’ve been told, pictures don’t do this site justice.
I’d like to pass on my thanks and appreciation to Andrew on behalf of all Free Flighters. What an incredibly generous gesture!
A lot has been made lately about the lack of junior modelers in our hobby. AVP Gary Fitch sent a report from the Southern Tier Aero Radio Society’s (STARS) annual winter party.
The club has a history recognizing those individuals who, throughout the year, engage in sometimes unfortunate events, which make them eligible for more than 30 humorous awards that are given out during this dinner.
The award that got my attention though was the Young R/C Hotdogs award, presented to four Junior members of the STARS: Eric Anderson, Jarod Bittinger, Tom Coleman, and Cane Miller. It’s very obvious the STARS are doing something right when it comes to introducing young modelers to the hobby.
At the Toledo expo I attended a forum on park flyers. Also present were representatives from the print media, manufacturers, distributors, and retailers, in addition to officers of the Model Aeronautics Association of Canada and AMA officers and staff.
Space constraints prohibit me from giving a full report here but I have summarized the forum in an article in our district newsletter, which your club president should have received around the first part of May.
A coordinated effort has been started and will focus on making the buyers of these park flyers aware of our organized system of RC flying and educating them on frequency and interference issues. If you haven’t seen the newsletter, ask your club president. If you have any questions or thoughts on the issue, please let me know.
See you at the field.
If you would like to have your club mentioned in this column, the process is quite simple. Please send pictures with simple captions and a brief description of the event to your Vice President at the address shown in the column header.
Another method for club notoriety is the District III web page, http://clubs.intouch.net/amadistrictiii/Home.htm. Why don't you contact Randy? He will certainly assist you.
The Cleveland Free Flight Society, also known as the "Cleveland Clowns," sponsored a clinic to teach the coaches dealing with the Science Olympiad event known as The Wright Stuff.
Eleven coaches attended the two-day affair focused on the how and why of flight. Chuck and Don Slusarczyk and John Kagan carried the major portion of the teaching load.
At this time, at least five youngsters from the Cleveland area will be at the USIC. Thanks are extended to Lundy Geosling for the great pictures and to Dr. Vernon Hacker for the article.
This is certainly another feather in the "Clowns'" hat!
Last month's column mentioned several clubs that are participating in the Leader Club program.
Several additional clubs have now been added to the list. They are:
- Johnstown R/C Club, Johnstown, Pennsylvania
- Keystone Radio Control Society, Middletown, Pennsylvania
- Northeast Philadelphia R/C Club, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Westerville Model Aeronautics Association, Westerville, Ohio
- Valley R/C Model Club, Inc., Sayre, Pennsylvania
- The Weak Signals RC Club, Toledo, Ohio
Congratulations to these great clubs!
As I write this column, it is but two days before the Toledo show. I have attended all but one show since 1967. In those 34 years, modelers have changed considerably.
Years ago at Toledo, the modelers met, discussed their latest building tricks, and viewed the earthshaking innovations the manufacturers produced. Today's modeler has little building time and is very self-focused. Unfortunately, this appears to be the society of today.
Why do I mention this? The Academy spends considerable time contending with modelers who cannot live in harmony. We all have our differences but we also have to live on this earth together.
Wouldn't our time and yours be much better spent working toward positive activity in the aeromodeling world?
The Mayor Has Arrived (submitted by Chic White and Rick Moreland)
"Despite the blowing wind and temperatures in the high teens, I, Rick Moreland, president of the Prince George's Radio Control (PGRRC) club, and Chic White, vice president, prepared our airplanes for a mid-morning session of flying.
"However, this flying session is not like any other, for today, Chic and I will be hosting a very special person, a VIP in the true sense of the word. Today we will be hosting the mayor of Washington D.C., Mayor Anthony Williams.
"I made sure that Chic knew that I was violating a very special rule, my 50-degree rule—that is, no flying below 50 degrees. Boy, did I violate my rule.
"The mayor is coming to the PGRRC field for his introduction to Radio Control (RC) model airplane flying. The mayor was made aware of our flying club through one of Chic's student pilots, Bernard Brooks, a restaurateur who services the local dignitaries and NBA basketball team.
"The city of Bowie, Maryland provided our club with a beautiful field. The city fathers have told us how they greatly approve of our model airplane activities, our relationship within the community, and our club's diverse population.
"After arriving at the field around 9 a.m., we began preparing a trainer for the mayor to fly, and a Quarter Midget racing airplane as an AMA demonstration.
"Bernard went to the major highway about five minutes away to await the mayor.
"After what seemed like hours of waiting out in the cold weather, Bernard returned to the field with the mayor's front man.
"Chic and I thought he looked like one of the Washington Redskins NFL linebackers. He told us it is customary for one of the mayor's security team to arrive at any location prior to the mayor's arrival in order to inspect and survey the area to thus ensure the safety of the mayor.
"After viewing our field and commenting positively on it and our facilities, the front man made a phone call and told the other members of the security team traveling with the mayor that all was well. The front man then told us that he would return with the mayor in about 20 minutes.
"Approximately 30 minutes later, three black Crown Vics showed up. Out of the second car appeared Mayor Williams himself.
"He looked quite a bit different from what we expected. You see, when we see him here on the local news, he is always wearing a bow tie, and seeing him without his bow tie was unusual.
"After a round of introductions, I grabbed the camera and Chic invited Mayor Williams to try his hand at flying RC model airplanes. Mayor Williams has a fair amount of experience in aviation as he has flown F-16s with the D.C. National Guard.
"Despite the cold weather, the O.S. 46 started right up. The Sig LT-40 ARF trainer easily took to the cold, clear blue sky.
"Using a JR radio system and buddy box, the mayor began his lesson with a fair amount of control. Chic only took back control of the trainer when the mayor became disoriented and flew too close to the ground. Control was quickly returned to Mayor Williams and the lesson resumed.
"Due to the cold weather, a few moments were given to the mayor to allow his hands to warm up.
"Having spent eight years in North Dakota while in the Air Force, Chic didn't have a problem with the cold weather; however, I was in Vietnam, and boy did I have a problem with the cold weather. I fully understood how Mayor Williams felt after three 15-minute sessions of flying.
"After warming up the Midget racer in my truck, I fired up the racer and Chic launched the airplane. The mayor was in awe at how fast a model airplane could fly.
"After the flying demonstration, Mayor Williams thanked Chic and me for braving the weather to introduce him to RC model airplane flying. He told us that despite the weather, he had a very wonderful time and will surely return in the spring to continue flying model airplanes.
"When it was all over Chic and I realized what a great opportunity we provided the mayor and what an even greater opportunity we had had to give exposure to our hobby.
"Now, if only spring would come."
Go take a mayor flying, and have him bring along his kid!
I attended the recent 10th Annual Big Bird Fly-In of the Sun Dancers RC Club in Port St. Lucie, FL, and caught this nice picture. It is club newsletter editor Gene McIlvaine and his pretty wife Tony posing in front of Gene's Ultimate Biplane. Gene puts out a good newsletter.
Here, at the same Sun Dancers bash, is a snap of Bob Gelina with his 1910 Deperdussin. Bob's model is intricately assembled and would enhance any museum. Bob was on the "Set-Up and Teardown" committee for the big fly-in. More than 2,000 spectators showed up during the two-day period.
We have an excellent Associate Vice President (AVP) in the Tampa area, Fred Mulholland. Fred sent me the following pictures from some of the contests he has attended recently.
Fred attended the Pinellas Flying Club Fun-Fly pictured below. Fred says the surface looks like concrete but it is only porous plastic matting from an old paper mill.
Shown here are Don Jenkins, Ed Hazinski, Ray Hawkinson, Sid Donoghue, Harold Wolfson, and Ed Rousse.
Pictured above is the Old-Timer SAM Contest at Bradenton, FL last month. Left to right (mostly) are Fred Mulholland, Barbara Krueger, Tom McCoy (President of the Society of Antique Modelers, SAM), Jack Ross, Herbie Walters, Bud Tanner, Hank Stumpf, Ted Patrolia, Lloyd Underwood, and Jim Hainer.
There may be more nice faces in the picture than the names Fred mailed me, so if you are in this snap and your name isn't mentioned, send me your name and I will publish it in the next issue of this exciting magazine.
The Birmingham HeliModelers sponsored their annual Central Alabama Heli Fun-Fly at the Helena, AL field. Each year this radio-controlled helicopter affair gets bigger. This year, modelers came from as far away as Indiana and Louisiana.
A close examination of these spectacular models easily reveals the complicated engineering that goes into their construction. It is every bit as much as a real, full-scale machine.
There were helicopter pilots from Indianapolis, Martinsville, Lafayette, and other cities in Indiana. The modeler above had several models.
In this picture above, a family arrived from Lafayette, Louisiana to fly daddy's model.
Meet Craig Bourque with his pretty wife Jeannie, daughter Megan, age two, and son Stephen.
Interestingly, it was Stephen's birthday that day but he did not wish to have his picture taken. If you examine the snap, you can see he is buried in his father's lap as deep as he can get.
When I adjusted the camera to get a better picture, Stephen split away as fast as any human I have ever seen split. The other family members were just as nice as they could be.
Thanks for the nice picture, Craig.
When I was at the Nature Coast RC Fun-Fly a couple of weeks ago, an important member of the club told me the only way he would ever get a picture of his model in the magazine would be for him to bust it up to make it interesting.
Well, here is Russ Bergman (L) and Ken Brown, with Ken's airplane all in fragments from a poor landing. Ken is a former club president. (Ken, you didn't have to go to that much trouble to get your model in the magazine.)
District VI Report
We have a new member of the District VI team. Bud Bodzioch has retired as the Control Line Contest Coordinator.
Art Johnson, Rockford, IL, is the new Control Line Coordinator. His address is 1818 Oslo Drive, Rockford, IL 61108.
Our thanks to Bud for his many years of service to the District.
Jacksonville, IL: Club 1328, the Jacksonville Propkickers, had a few brave members show up for their annual President's Challenge. The temperature was 13 degrees and the wind chill was -6, but the President's Challenge took place on January 1 of this year.
With the field conditions ideal for ski operations, a LeMans start at 2 p.m. saw Brian Ward's Senior Kadet off the ground first, followed immediately by Jim Butler's 90 percent Fazer, then president John Hunter's red Cub.
Other fliers were Bernard Marvel with his Hooter's Special, Chuck McCormick piloting a Citabria, Roger Russell with a Star 60, Matt Hayes with his trainer, and Max Favio taking a turn with Brian's Kadet.
The words for the day were "dress warm and have fun."
St. Louis, MO: John Althoff of SAM Chapter NX-211 sent in the following:
"Our club sent a contingent to visit the Jacksonville, IL Propkickers home field to fly a Texaco Postal event.
"John Shifko led the scoring, followed by Ralph Wasser, and Frank Mehrtens flying Merle Menezes' Anderson 500.
"Bob Klipp served as the team manager. Propkickers president Roger Russell and others were on hand to welcome and assist the fliers.
"Good weather, good 'air,' and good time at the flying field."
Columbia, IL: Members of the Columbia R/C Club gathered once again for the annual Frozen Appendage Fly-In, held each year on the first day of the year.
This gathering at the Columbia R/C field has just about every kind of weather conditions you can imagine. One year it was in the seventies; once there was a blizzard with snow so heavy you couldn't see the runway.
This year had to be the best yet. Approximately 25 members were out to show their support. Members gathered on one of the coldest days of the season, with about a foot of snow on the ground and temperatures in the single digits.
The picture and information came from Brian Graves.
Homewood, IL: Club 274, the Suburban Aeroclub of Chicago, held a contest to see who would be the first to fly an RC aircraft at the field this year. Lights were not permitted on the aircraft, which had to ROG (rise-off-ground).
Three pilots and a group of helpers arrived in the pre-dawn darkness, dressed for the 18-degree temperature. Two got airborne successfully at 6:38 a.m.
John Kallend's helicopter was on floats so that it wouldn't sink into the two-foot-deep snow. President Ron Wegrzyn had to dig a runway for his takeoff.
All participants retired to a local restaurant very quickly after the flights.
Picture and information from John Kallend.
AMA News
In 1999 they raised more than $7,000, and in 2000 the event raised more than $10,000 to benefit the Children's Leukemia Foundation of Michigan.
This year Burt says he plans to beat that amount. Our best wishes for that. Of course, Burt could not do this if it were not for the many volunteers from local clubs and the cooperation of local governments and people.
I attended the first one and I would highly recommend to you that if possible, try to get there this year. Remember, the proceeds will go to a worthy charity.
Knowing Burt, this will be bigger and better than last year.
Robert Weller of the Wausau R/C Sportsman Club of Wausau, Wisconsin submitted the next report.
Bob explains that the R/C Sportsman Club came up with the idea of how they could get youngsters interested in aviation by offering a program called "Models for Success."
The program is intended to be a vehicle to teach youngsters the skills needed in everyday life by using the skills acquired in the building and flying of model Radio Control (RC) aircraft.
Skilled modelers teach building techniques, electronics, and mechanical aspects to complete the assignments to completion of an aircraft.
Of all the youngsters who are enrolled in the project, four are selected to win scholarships. The criteria for winning are based on community service, interest in aviation, and participation in aviation-related projects.
The scholarships, as they are called, are the receipt of an RC airplane, radio, engine, and membership in the club. In addition the winners will receive one-on-one instruction from competent club instructors to complete their pilot training with the airplanes the students have built.
The pictures tell the story. This is what makes the AMA what it is today—unselfish volunteers willing to give of themselves to promote our sport/hobby.
If all of the clubs were to be as active and involved as the R/C Sportsman Club, we would see this sport/hobby grow by leaps and bounds. It only takes a little more effort on our part to do this. The more who get involved, the easier it gets.
Look around you. See what you can do to youngsters, school programs, youth organizations, etc. Let's do it!
Until next time. C.A.V.U.
As I draft this column, the Southwestern Aeromodeling Conference 2001 is still seven weeks away. Much scheduling and preparation has yet to occur, but when you receive this magazine in the mail, the show will have just ended.
I want to acknowledge and sincerely thank all who participated as exhibitors, participants, volunteer workers, and attendees. It is all of you who have made this event what it has become! Thank you!
The following photographs were taken at a recent National Indoor Remote-Controlled Aircraft Council (NIRAC) fly-in. NIRAC is the newest of the AMA Special Interest Groups (SIGs). For additional information about NIRAC, please consult www.nirac.org.
The following photographs are of the March 30–31 Weatherford (Texas) Aero Modeling Society (WAMS) annual spring Swap Meet and Auction. Another absolutely outstanding event was staged by this group.
The event was directed by Richard Mennmann. For more information about this club, their activities, and future events, consult www.autocross.com/wams/.
The following photographs are from the March 17 Edmond RC Annual Swap Meet in Oklahoma City. Held at the Lakeside Church Recreation Center, this event was directed by Kent Officer (E-mail: [email protected]). It is Oklahoma's largest indoor swap meet.
A great time was had by all in attendance and I look forward to next year's gathering.
In the photo above, we discussed one of the latest formative SIGs for model aviation, the LadyHawks. Their objective is the encouragement and expansion of ladies actively involved in model-aircraft building and flying.
For additional information about this group please consult www.ladyhawks.net.
Flying, Fun, & Fellowship!
Sandy Frank W
District IX Report
Colorado / Kansas / Nebraska / North Dakota / South Dakota / Wyoming
Russ Miller Vice President
980 N. 3rd St. Carrington, ND 58421 Phone: (701) 652-3231 Fax: (701) 652-2994 E-mail: [email protected]
Associate Vice Presidents:
- Max Hansen, 1909 Wisconsin SW, Huron, SD 57350
- Nathan Lancaster, 3597 S. Kendall Street, Denver, CO 80235
- Troy Lapp, 1619 Wichita Dr., Bismarck, ND 58504
- Travis McGinnis, 8027 W. 81st Circle, Arvada, CO 80005
- Don Moden, 410 Hart St., Salina, KS 67401
- Jim Ricketts, 4921 Fernwood Drive, Sioux Falls, SD 57103-5573
- Jack L. Siebert, 3611 Kimberly Circle, Lincoln, NE 68506-4524
- Chuck Smith, 1091 Cheshire Street, Casper, WY 82609-3214
- Mark T. Smith, 14632 W. 50th Street, Shawnee, KS 66216
- Mike Weider, 6535 Foxdale Circle, Colorado Springs, CO 80919-1788
Frequency Coordinator: Steve Mangles, c/o Radio Service Center, 918 S. Sheridan, Denver, CO 80226
ARVADA ASSOCIATED Modelers Mall Show 2001: The Mall Show has been a yearly highlight of the Arvada Associated Modelers RC Club for more than two decades! Every year it has been said, "This is the best Mall Show ever!" And we honestly believe it every year.
The AAM Mall Show is quite the spectacular event, but this one has been the biggest and best to date.
With 79 airplanes and 80 tables, this show looked truly professionally done. The heather-gray satin table skirts and multidimensional table layout made the display absolutely stunning.
The tables were arranged in rows and islands, allowing the public to walk among the airplanes. This helped generate interest in the hobby and gave our members a chance to answer questions "up close and personal."
Fortunately, we have great participation of club members whose enthusiasm is infectious.
The "Plane You Can Touch" is always a big hit, and it helps keep little hands off the rest of the models.
The multidimensional layout of the tables allowed us to create a visual treat for visitors as they entered the display area.
The sight of a stand holding a P-38 with a 10-foot wingspan, posed as if to almost land on an UltraSport 1000, was truly impressive. The surrounding "lower" tables were loaded with WWII airplanes of all sizes and colors.
Each year the helicopter display manages to grow larger, adding Scale and sport helicopters. Each year, the heli-guys manage to get quite a few recruits, including quite a few AAM fixed-wing pilots. As always, they were present from the first thing in the morning until the final hallway checks at night.
One corner of the display area was set up for a "builder's corner," where two of our club members built and covered an LT-40 that was generously donated by a local hobby shop. It's a great piece of work that was the grand prize at the AAM banquet in March.
More than 40 members came to work the show and answer the many questions. More than 20 showed up Thursday night, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, setting up and covering tables too fast to keep up with. The tear-down of the show was rapid and efficient as well.
So many "vote for your favorite" ballots were handed out on Saturday night that we had to make more for Sunday.
Two of our club members took up the challenge as staff photographers. To see some of these pictures, check out the Web site at http://members.nbci.com/aamodellers/.
The recent multimillion-dollar remodel of Westminster Mall allowed us to spread out the display tables and create room for several conversation spaces where people could congregate without blocking the flow of traffic.
This show has become a great success because of the great attitude and efforts of the many people involved.
In all, this was the most stunning, most beautifully displayed, smoothest running, and most fun AAM Mall Show in our memory.
Thanks to all of you for your hard work, cooperative efforts, great attitudes, and beautiful airplanes.
District X Report
District X welcomes Wes De Cou, AMA's West Coast Flying Site Assistance Coordinator. Hailing originally from Alameda, CA, Wes was hired in July 2000 to take on the mammoth task of coordinating AMA's flying site assistance program in the Western United States—basically everything west of the Mississippi.
Wes is a retired AT&T executive, and past AMA Vice President for District II, and until recently, coordinated activities from his home in New Jersey as he endeavored to relocate his home out West. We are very glad to announce that Wes has completed the move to Phoenix and is now a full-time resident of the Valley of the Sun and District X.
With Wes's relocation to the West Coast, District X will begin scheduling a series of regional meetings around the district. These meetings will provide local club officers and modelers the opportunity to meet with Wes and discuss local flying-site issues and concerns.
The first of these meetings took place in Phoenix in April, followed by meetings in Southern California and the San Francisco Bay area. We will then branch out to other areas around the district.
Meeting notifications will be made through a mailing to the local clubs. Meeting information will also be available on the District X Web page.
We hope that everyone with an interest in flying-site issues will take advantage of these meetings, come out to meet Wes, and help make this program a success.
The fifth Annual Phoenix Helicopter Fun Fly was conducted March 16–18, at Schnepf Farms in Queen Creek, AZ. Contest Director and Arizona Rotary Modelers Society (ARMS) president Eric Stevens reported the 2001 Fun Fly exceeded all previous years' attendance with 160 pilots registering for the event.
Attendees included Curtis Youngblood, as well as many other well-known RC rotary-wing pilots from across the country.
Thanks to Tim Edwards of Gilbert, AZ for the great aerial photos of the event.
Contest Coordinator change: For years District X Contest Directors in Southern California have sent their sanction applications to our Southern California Contest Coordinator and Associate Vice President (AVP) Al Williamson. Well, the bad news is with Al's retirement last fall and move to Stover, MO, he is no longer able to serve in this capacity.
We want to thank Al for all his hard work and wish him the best in his retirement.
The good news is Al has left us an excellent replacement. Tim Attaway from Chula Vista, CA has agreed to serve in Al's stead and has been appointed as the District X Contest Coordinator for Southern California (Bakersfield south).
The Contest Coordinators' names and addresses are listed each month in the Competition Directory of Model Aviation; however, for clarification, the following is the list of the current District X Contest Coordinators:
- Arizona/Utah
Dave Lutt 1111 N. 64th St., Unit 53 Mesa, AZ 85205 (480) 981-0346
- Northern California/Northern Nevada (Bakersfield north)
Ellis Hall 5543 Willow Oak Way Fair Oaks, CA 95628 (916) 344-4411
- Southern California/Southern Nevada (Bakersfield south)
Tim Attaway 252 Sea Vale St. Chula Vista, CA 91910 (949) 427-6392
- Hawaii/Guam/Pacific Rim
Wayne Hamada 625 Iolana Ave., Apt. 604 Honolulu, HI 96813 (808) 521-7733
Till next time ... Keep 'em safe and Keep 'em flyin'.
District XI Report
Alaska / Idaho / Montana / Oregon / Washington
Bruce Nelson Vice President
807 E. Vicksburg St. Spokane, WA 99208 [email protected] (509) 326-4828 Office Fax (509) 467-1852 Home Ph/Fax
Web page: http://www.olywa.com/yosemiteflash/xiama.htm
Associate Vice Presidents:
- Al Culver, Box 86, Wilder, ID 83676 (E-mail: [email protected])
- Jerry Holcomb, 1010 NE 122nd Ave., Vancouver, WA 98684
- Reeves Lippincott, 4400 Gray Wolf Dr., Wasilla, AK 99654 (E-mail: [email protected])
- Mike Hazel, 1073 Windermere Dr. NW, Salem, OR 97304 (E-mail: [email protected])
- Richard Snær, 781 Lilloet Ct., LaConner, WA 98257
- Chick Young, 7411 154 Ave. E. #14, Sumner, WA 98390
Frequency Coordinator: Phil Tallman, Medical Lake, WA (509) 299-5102
IN THE PAST few years, the Yakima Valley Aeromodelers club has drilled a well, installed a sprinkler system, and finished a new 34 x 400-foot runway.
Below are some of the pictures of their latest project.
- Dave Kuiper prepares the field for the asphalters.
- Don Beeson and helpers break up the old concrete taxiway.
- Having a couple of contractors in the club helped with a project this size. Terry Patrick's men and equipment haul out old material.
- A compactor finishes
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
