District III
Battery safety
One of our Associate Vice Presidents (AVP), Jim Martin, provided this picture of a 12-volt gel-cell battery that had been connected with reverse polarity during charging. Luckily, the modeler disconnected the swelling battery before it exploded. We remind everyone to be vigilant when charging all types of batteries.
Briar Creek R/C Flyers — TAG program
The Briar Creek R/C Flyers of Berwick, Pennsylvania, use a field on public lands owned by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and operated by the Columbia County Board of Commissioners. The club was chosen to participate in the AMA Take Off And Grow (TAG) program.
Approximately 50 people participated in the successful program. A brief ground school, together with a simulator, answered common questions. Trainers then allowed the participants the "real" experience.
HAWKS 25th Annual Four Cycle Rally (Sept 15–16)
On September 15–16, the Hamilton Area Wireless Kontrol Society (HAWKS) held its 25th annual Four Cycle Rally at Joyce Park in Hamilton, Ohio. The Four Cycle Rally is co-sponsored by Great Planes and O.S. Engines. Each year in September, four-cycle engine enthusiasts gather for a two-day event packed with fun and flying under the Ohio skies. The event concludes with O.S. four-cycle engines given away as awards and a 160 Gemini (complete with engine and radio) raffled off to lucky winners.
This year’s skilled-event winners were Stephen Hill-Harriss (S.E.5A in Sports Scale) and Gary Ebberhardt (Christian Eagle in freestyle aerobatics). AMA District III AVP Randy Adams was in attendance to present an AMA Award of Merit—on behalf of the AMA and District III Vice President Bob Brown—for 25 consecutive years of successful four-cycle rallies. Check the HAWKS website for club information and rally pictures: www.hawksrc.org.
Valley R/C Model Club — 35th Annual Competition Fun-Fly
Twenty-three entrants from Canada, Connecticut, New York, Ohio, Maine, and Pennsylvania competed at the Valley R/C Model Club’s (VRCMC) 35th annual Competition Fun-Fly in Athens, Pennsylvania.
Junior, Sportsman, and Expert Fun-Fly classes completed many flights during the weekend. Three Junior-class entrants continued VRCMC’s tradition of promoting RC to younger fliers. Matt Hunger won first place in Junior—good job, Matt, on your first try!
The event winners and all entrants received Baron-engraved awards, VRCMC plaques (made by AMA), and other prizes. Sponsors included:
- Lantz’s Hobby Shop (Horseheads, New York)
- Baron Technologies
- Skipp Turner / TPP
- VRCMC members Carl Shay, George Brooks, Jim Champion, and Dan Luchaco
- BSI
- Sullivan
- Master Airscrew
- Sig
- RTL Fasteners
- Lone Star Balsa
- R/C Report
- Model Airplane News
- Great Planes
- Micro-Fasteners
- Propwash Video
- Dremel
- Fly RC
Please support these sponsors. The Saturday picnic dinners were catered by Callears BBQ. Jim Champion served as Contest Director (CD). VRCMC members and families covered contest duties.
Cook crew and contest staff:
- Cook crew lead: Dean Luchaco (crew included Dean and sons Bryan and Kevyn, Jim Spencer, Paul Buckthal, Ron Davidson, and Carl Shay)
- Judges: Dan Luchaco, Steve Luchaco, Rob Vandermulen, and Bruno Mahonski
- Scoreboard: Dan Luchaco and Rob Vandermulen handled the scoring and numbers
We look forward to our next chance to visit and fly with our friends.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
