October 2007 175
WE HAVE a large number of members and
clubs in our district that work hard to
promote model aviation in their local
communities. Clarence Ragland, a member of
the Lake Ontario R/C Flyers, sent me a DVD
of a recent television program in which he,
club president Ross Niver, and club vice
president Joe Bartholomew participated.
Titled Western New York Tonight, it was
broadcast on the local community television
channel.
This type of broadcasting is available in
many areas throughout the country. The halfhour
show was totally dedicated to model
aviation. Clarence, Ross, and Joe spent the
entire time being interviewed by the show’s
hostess and Clarence even had the
opportunity to fly a small electric RC
helicopter for the viewing audience.
Television stations such as this are always
looking for unique, community-related
activities such as model aviation as topics for
their programs. This presents a perfect, nocost
opportunity for us to make our friends
and neighbors aware of what we do as model
aviation enthusiasts.
A call to your local community television
station will get you more information—and
more than likely, an invitation to participate.
Give it some thought.
We are fortunate in our district to also have
dozens and dozens of clubs who give back to
their local communities by hosting events
that benefit any of a number of local
charities.
In June, the Plattsburg Radio Aero
Modelers (PRAM) held its annual fly-in for
the benefit of Hospice. The club gets
tremendous support from area businesses in
the form of donations. Additionally, local
advertising guarantees a good turnout of
spectators. This year in PRAM was able to
raise more than $1,000 for the local Hospice.
This is the first year I’ve been able to
attend this event and visit the PRAM flying
site. My first impression was that this is one
of the best-kept secrets in our district. PRAM
has developed the site into a first-class
facility. A number of years ago the club had
the opportunity to purchase this property.
Later this year a mortgage-burning party is
planned.
Tom Bickford holds the model for Bruce
Reed. Bruce and Tom are fixtures at most
events in Northern New York.
The turnout for this event of both club
members who were there to support the effort
and area modelers was impressive. Len
Smart, the local turbine guru, passed on a
major turbine event in the Northeast to
support his club. Other modelers from
throughout the New York North Country
were there as well. This made the weekend a
great success.
If you have an opportunity to visit the
Plattsburg area, consider attending one of the
PRAM events. I think you’ll enjoy yourself.
Stan Kopreski was dialing in his Jet Ranger.
Stan recently flew this model to a sixth-place
finish in Scale Helicopter in his first AMA
Nats earlier this year.
The Radio Control Club of Rochester
(RCCR) also held its annual Ray Edmunds
Memorial Fun-Fly in June. What made this
year special was that in addition to this being
the 20th annual edition of the fly-in, RCCR is
also celebrating its 50th anniversary as an
AMA chartered club.
This is always a well-attended event;
however, this special year and cooperative
weather made attendance higher than usual.
The club promotes the fly-in heavily in the
local media and a large number of spectators
came out to enjoy the flying.
Although this is an open fly-in, the club
presents several demonstrations, including
flights by featured pilots Devin McGrath and
Kyle Stacy, to give spectators a taste of
almost every facet of RC modeling.
Devin McGrath holds the model for Clay
Wheaton as he prepares to fly in the RCCR
noontime demonstration.
Stearmans were popular at this year’s RCCR
fly-in.
Congratulations and thank you RCCR for
50 years of supporting model aviation and
AMA.
Earlier this year I sent a letter to all of our
clubs in New Jersey about a cooperative
program we are trying to establish between
Civil Air Patrol (CAP) squadrons in New
Jersey and AMA chartered clubs.
The Mercer County Radio Control
Society (MCRCS) and the Washington’s
Crossing RC Flyers Association jumped on
this idea and have been working together,
along with CAP Commander Captain Ulric
Gordon-Lewis to organize an encampment to
be held at the MCRCS field in early
September.
The three-day weekend will include
demonstrations of RC and CL flying, talks by
members of the WCRC and MCRC on the
history and background of aeromodeling, and
a “star party” featuring a group of
astronomers with high-powered telescopes.
The cadets will participate in a ground school
and then buddy-box flying with experienced
pilots.
The last day, Sunday, will include final
training and solo flight tests. Awards will be
presented at the conclusion of the
encampment. A major goal of this program is
to get CAP cadets involved with local RC
clubs as potential members and lifetime RC
enthusiasts.
By the time this issue of MA reaches you
the event will have been completed. I’ll be
updating everyone on the success of this
project along with plans on how we’d like to
build on this for 2008.
See you next time …
Dave Mathewson
7271 State Fair
Blvd., Baldwinsville
NY 13027; Tel.:
(315) 727-4275;
Fax: (315) 635-
1039
For a complete
listing of
district officers and
volunteers, please
visit the District I1 Web site at
www.amadistrictii.org or see a
previous issue of this magazine.
District II
Dave Mathewson, District II Vice President; [email protected]
New Jersey, New York, Europe
D i s t r i c t I I
Edition: Model Aviation - 2007/10
Page Numbers: 175