AMA News: District II-2012/11

The 2012 District II Fun-Fly was
hosted this past August by the Lazy
Eight R/C Club of Johnstown, New
York. The event was a great gathering
of friends from across the district.
As an all-interest event, numerous
categories were represented. My
30-year-old, 9-foot Nosen Giant Stick
was right at home with a quadcopter.
Everyone had a great time sharing the
sky!
With the Lazy Eight’s Charity Air
Show happening the week before the
District Fun-Fly, some pilots camped
out and flew the entire week. A Gold
Leader Club, the Lazy Eight is highly
involved in the community!
The club’s Charity Air Show
benefits the local humane society,
and the annual Adirondack Heli Bash
supports the local hospital’s cancer
fund. In recognition of these and other
numerous community efforts, it was
my pleasure to present the Lazy Eight
club with AMA’s Award of Merit
during the weekend’s activities. Many
thanks to the Lazy Eight members,
families and volunteers!
Mass glider launch at the District II Fun-Fly.
Everyone enjoyed Dave Jaggie’s CL demo at
the District II Fun-Fly.
Recent advances have made RC
helicopters increasingly popular.
District II associate vice president,
Tony Rossi, sent this report from the
Burlington County Radio Control
Club (BCRCC) Heli Smackdown in
Pemberton, New Jersey.
The weather was perfect for
the first Heli Smackdown, and a
smackdown it was. The three-day
event, held in May, drew more than
40 pilots and more than 100 helis.
There was constant flying each day
and into Saturday evening. Some of
the machines included a Trex700E
flown by Chad Graham, a Nitro
Whiplash flown by Pete Campbell,
a Logo 800 Xxtreme flown by Jan
Matro, a Fury 55 flown by Mark
Schneider, a Trex 550 flown by Bob
Alberding, and Tony’s Raptor 50.
Pete Campbell and others
performed a tremendous demo.
Tony wrote, “As a heli novice, I will
never aspire to that level. Heck, I’m
happy just to hover. I hope to fly
around in circles, do a loop, and land
successfully. Who knows? A Tic-Tock
may be in my future.”
Thanks to Rich Afflerback, BCRCC
president, along with Beth and Bob
Afflerback, Micki and Bill Bowne, Lou
and Matt Benjamin, Mary and Melissa
Stieb, Jim Burns, and Mike Picozzi.
You can plan an event but it takes
people to make it happen.
I hope everyone had a blast and
returns for next year’s BCRCC Heli
Smackdown! Thanks Tony!
BCRCC Heli Smackdown volunteers (L-R) CD
Tony Rossi, Micki Bowne, Bill Bowne, Mike
Picozzi, Melissa Stieb, Rich Afflerback, Bob
Afflerback, Mary Stieb, and Beth Afflerback.
Another great District II heli event
was the 2012 Northeast Model
Helicopter Jamboree, hosted by the
Rochester AeroModeling Society
(RAMS). The Jamboree is the work of
CD Jacob Kirsch, Dave Playford, Ray
Stacy, and club volunteers.
The Jamboree featured numerous
world-class competitors, more than
110 pilots, amazing night flying, and
a fantastic fireworks show. AMA
President Bob Brown, Executive Vice
President Gary Fitch, and I attended.
In just 10 years this event has become
one of the district’s largest events and
one of the country’s top helicopter
venues! It’s great to have the Heli
Jamboree in District II.
Featured pilots at the RAMS Heli Jamboree
(L-R) Andrew Merlino, Bert Kramer, Nick
Maxwell, Jamie Robertson, Kyle Dahl, Bobby
Watts, and Kyle Stacy.
Remember, it’s not about what we fly,
It’s about the people and the friends
we make.