BY NOW most of you have your winter
projects nearly finished or are in fact done.
Of course, if you are an ARFer, the most
you had to do was assemble some pieces
have a finished model. That is a sign of
technology.
March is a signal for me that the Toledo
Expo is just around the corner, and for me,
the flying season will be starting soon after.
It will be interesting to see what new items
will be offered.
Lately I have been getting a number of
inquiries regarding how clubs can protect
their flying sites. Unfortunately, except for
owning your own property, you are at the
mercy of others.
If your field is on a farmer’s property and
he or she gets an offer from a housing
development, it might be too good to turn
down. If your field is on city, county, or
state property there is the risk of political
intervention. You may think a landfill might
be the perfect place but that’s not
necessarily true either.
Why do I bring these subjects up now?
Because each one of these has happened in
the past year and the results were
devastating.
There is some light at the end of the
tunnel and we have to make some positive
changes to how we conduct the operations
of our clubs. The AMA Executive Council
and staff are working diligently with
agencies for the use of flying sites on public
land and landfills but the council and staff
cannot do it alone.
Clubs have to become proactive in the
sense that the club has to prove it is an asset
to the community. This applies to park and
recreation facilities and landfills. Flying
sites are (or can be) used all year around,
soccer fields in the northern climes only in
the spring and fall. There are more trips to
the emergency room from soccer injuries
than mishaps at a flying field. These are just
a few issues to think about.
Chris Balser from the Balsa Butchers of
Jonesville, Michigan, sent in this picture to
prove they do exist—after much kidding
from me.
The Balsa Butchers of Jonesville, Michigan.
Joe Pitts, vice president of the Des Moines
Modelaires in Iowa sent in these photos
from the annual Penguin fly-in.
There are no captions for the pictures but
they do prove that modelers are a hearty
bunch to brave the elements. After flying
and freezing for the day the pilots were
treated to a special chili dinner.
Till next time, get involved. Get some
youngsters involved in our hobby. You
might have fun doing it and so will they.
C.A.V.U.
Edition: Model Aviation - 2007/03
Page Numbers: 160