AMA News District I - 2007/08
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There are things in life that we must do — attending weddings, funerals, and graduations. If your hobby is building and flying RC airplanes, going to the Joe Nall event in May at the Triple Tree Aerodrome in South Carolina is one of those things.
My friend Steve Brehm and I were the only ones from our usual crew of seven who were able to attend Joe Nall 2007. We left May 15 at 6 a.m. and completed the 925-mile drive to the hotel by 11 p.m. The weather was perfect during our five-day stay.
Joe Nall is the largest RC flying event in the world, with more than 500 registered pilots. The Nall event represents more than just flying Giant Scale airplanes; it’s about visiting old friends, making new friends, viewing the latest RC airplanes and products, and getting to speak to and fly with world-class pilots. For many, the noon air shows — featuring both model and full-scale flying demonstrations by champion aerobatic pilots — are the highlight of Nall.
Each year we manage to leave the event having made a special new friend. During breakfast at our hotel, a man named Aurelio Montenegro and his wife noticed the airplane embroidery on our shirts and asked for directions to the event, so we invited them to join us. We thought he was just a spectator, but it turned out he was a long-time national champion of Chile in F3A and International Miniature Aerobatic Club (IMAC) events. He stopped competing in 2005 to pursue freestyle 3-D flying and performed at the Chile National Aerobatic shows in 2006–2007.
Aurelio is a close friend of Quique Somenzini, so we had the opportunity to spend time with both of these champion fliers during the event. It amazes me how those of us with a passion for aeromodeling enjoy the friendships we make at events as much as, if not more than, the flying itself. Sharing experiences and discussing hobby interests with people from other states and countries is the best part of our hobby/sport.
District I is always well represented at Joe Nall. This year three District I members attracted considerable attention with their huge aerobatic planes:
- Eli “Snap-a-Saurus” Houyes (Massachusetts) — 1/2-scale 540 Edge
- Craig (Connecticut) — 1/2-scale 540 Edge
- Bob Trueworthy — 1/2-scale Pitts Python
The three district members flew their airplanes early in the week and later had them flown by the pros, including Quique Somenzini, Jason Shulman, and Mark Leseberg, who demonstrated what these models were capable of doing.
We spent time with other friends from District I, including Bernie Liskov and John Banks from the RC Propbusters Club in Salem, Connecticut, and Joan Liska, IMAA District I director, and her husband Ron.
Highlights of the show included:
- Matt Chapman’s awesome aerobatic performances in his improved CAP 580, especially when he piloted the full-scale aircraft while Frank Noll flew a scale model. The two aircraft performed stall turns, spins, tail slides, and torque rolls in formation.
- Ralf Losemann (Germany) flew an unbelievable noon demonstration with his turbine airplane set up for 3-D and two-axis vector thrusting, allowing waterfalls, harriers, torque rolls, and flat spins that are inconceivable for a turbine-powered aircraft.
- A choreographed sequence with Curtis Youngblood’s helicopter and Quique Somenzini’s Yak produced tense, exciting moments and gasps from spectators.
- Mac Hodges’ Giant B-29, powered by four ZDZ 80 engines, thrilled the crowd by doing spins and point rolls and by dropping an X-1 rocket that glides close to the ground before firing its own rocket charge and sending it skyward again.
On Thursday night we held the AMA membership meeting on the grounds outside the hangar. AMA Executive Vice President Doug Holland discussed the AMA’s financial state, then introduced Executive Director Jim Cherry, who spoke about the future of the organization. Jim then introduced each of the district vice presidents in attendance and invited them to speak and answer questions from the membership.
We lined up for the barbecue Friday night, enjoyed the meal, and watched movie clips of the week’s activities.
We left at 2 p.m. Saturday and arrived home Sunday afternoon. It was a memorable week thanks to Pat Harthness and the Triple Tree crew.
I hope to see you this summer and fall at the district-sponsored flying events.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
