AS I SIT DOWN to write this edition of our
District II column, it is December 31, 2006.
The local weather report for the central New
York area is calling for unusually warm
temperatures tomorrow—somewhere in the
mid-50s—and we’re all looking forward to
our traditional New Year’s Day gathering at
the field to get in that first flight of the year.
Tomorrow, January 1, 2007, also marks
the beginning of my last term in office as
your district vice president. As many of you
know and as I wrote in my last campaign
statement, I’m a strong proponent of term
limits. I truly believe that any membership
organization such as ours continuously needs
new blood with fresh ideas and enthusiasm to
remain viable.
Although I intend to run for the AMA
presidency in this fall’s elections, this will be
my last term as District II vice president. In
the last few years my wife and I have visited
more than half of the nearly 200 AMA
chartered clubs in our district. My goal for
the remainder of my term is to visit as many
of the clubs we haven’t yet seen as we can.
In District II we’re fortunate to be the home
of several of the premier modeling events
held each year throughout the country. My
last column focused on the Mid-Hudson RC
Society’s 40th annual Rhinebeck Jamboree.
Each year in the week after Rhinebeck,
the Silent Electric Fliers of Long Island
(SEFLI) hosts the annual Northeast Electric
Airplane Technology (NEAT) Fair. Held in
the southern tier area of New York, NEAT
has grown to become—arguably—one of the
largest electric-only events held in the world.
Ray Juschkus, District II associate vice
president was a volunteer at the 2006 NEAT
Fair and sent the following:
“This year’s NEAT Fair was a success
with more than 300 pilots registering to fly.
The number of all-electric-powered model
aircraft on the site was more than twice the
number of pilots. During the three days of the
fair there were more than 1,000 recorded
official flights.
“Flying each day began at sunrise and
lasted well into the evening with lighted
models filling the night sky. Add to that more
than 40 vendors exhibiting their products, and
this year’s event was one of the best yet.
“The weather cooperated all three days
bringing more than 3,000 spectators out to
watch the nonstop flying activities.
Saturday’s spectator count broke all
attendance records for NEAT.
“In addition to the regular flying there
were the usual noon flying demonstrations.
One of the most impressive performances
was by Dr. Keith Shaw who flew his
Czechmate and was caught on radar at speeds
of more than 150 mph.
Dr. Keith Shaw’s models stand out at any
event and the NEAT Fair was no exception.
“Other demonstrations included Northeast
Sailplane Products with a nice aerobatic show
featuring the company’s new Accord, Team
FMA flying an outstanding aerobatic
performance with Greg Covey’s beautiful
Edge 540, and NEAT CD Tom Hunt wowing
the crowd with his Me109 Messerschmitt.
“This year’s NEAT Fair was a success
thanks to the dedication of the members of
the SEFLI and the efforts of several of the
participants who stepped in to share some of
the duties
necessary
for a
successful
event. As
one of the
finest
modeling
fly-ins held
each year in
the country,
NEAT has
become the place to be in the Northeast in
mid-September.”
Thanks, Ray. I have attended each of the
annual NEAT Fairs and can tell you that he is
right. It’s well worth the trip to Downsville,
New York, to be a part of this event.
Next month’s column will include a
report on the “other” part of the annual
NEAT Fair: the micro RC Indoor Flying
Event hosted by the Boston Micronauts.
Approximately 50 years ago, when RC
modeling was getting started, there were two
popular kits on the market: the deBolt Live
Wire Trainer and the Guillow Trixter Beam.
A third one, not as well known, was kitted
by Berkeley Models called the Impulse. Long
Island architect and modeler Bill Johnke
designed it. Bill, 88, surfaced this summer.
MA’s technical editor Bob Aberle struck
up a conversation with him and decided that
he would revisit the Impulse design that was
originally published in the February 1954
Model Airplane News.
Bob converted the model to electric
power. Last October, Bob and Ray Juschkus
took Bill out to the Stillwell Woods flying
field in Sysosset, New York. Bill not only
had the opportunity to watch Bob’s version
of the Impulse in flight, but received a few
minutes on the sticks flying a model that he
designed more than five decades before.
Bob Aberle gives pointers to John Johnke
flying Bob’s Impulse, a model John designed
more than 50 years ago.
See you next time ...
Dave Baron’s electricpowered
B-17 is a staple at
every NEAT Fair.
Edition: Model Aviation - 2007/03
Page Numbers: 155