AMA News: District VIII-2012/11

Jack Matlock and I attended the Austin
RC Association’s Big Bird 2012 event
in August. The weather was nice and
everyone had a good time.
Will Gohmert and Papaw enjoying the event.
The hardest-working person at the
event was the club president, Doug
Nelle. He was hauling groceries, setting
up PA systems, acting as interim CD,
and taking time to visit with everyone
at the event. All clubs need a few
people like that, but it is usually
someone the president can lean on for
help. I know there are many others in
that club who worked hard, but Doug
set the pace for everyone.
Will Gohmert was likely the
youngest pilot at the event. He is 12
and has been flying for three years. He
has a couple of nice gas 3-D airplanes
that he can put through the paces. He
was a pleasure to visit with as well. In
fact, I watched him approach another
youngster, extend his hand, and
introduce himself. Adults could learn
from him.
His grandfather, Skip, keeps a close
watch on him and has done well in
his growth within the hobby. I tried
to take a picture of the tail on the
airplane he was flying but it is too
blurry to print. It says “Sponsored by:
Papaw’s Savings and Loan. Financing
Dreams Since 1977.”
Since my time is short, maybe you will
forgive me for blatantly bragging about
the newest flier in the Rice family. Son
Gary’s youngest daughter, Hannah,
is 9, and she asked if I would teach
her how to fly. We signed her up for
AMA and gave her my father’s old
AMA number. I took her to fly with
her other grandfather’s antique Kadet
Senior. It was a pretty neat day. She
was flying with her Opa (that’s me)
using her grandpa’s airplane and with
her great-grandfather’s AMA number.
She did well so we advanced her to
an aileron LT 40 the next day and the
battery had an intermittent open in
it and we lost the airplane. I tried to
save it but there was no response. That
didn’t deter us. She has had two more
lessons and is progressing well.
My time as your district vice president
is winding down. I think I will take
part of each of the next few columns to
say thanks and farewell.
I feel certain that when my father
joined AMA in 1936, he had no idea
of the impact this organization could
have on the future of model aviation
and both his and his son’s futures. I
wish that he had been able to observe
and enjoy my tenure as district vice
president. I hope I wouldn’t have
The hat covers up a lot of the pretty girl
(Hannah Rice) but helps with the flying.
been a disappointment to him, but am
thankful that he put modeling DNA
in my veins and the basic values of life
into me.
I have truly met thousands of
modelers around the district and across
the US. It is amazing how our common
interest in modeling can quickly
establish lasting relationships.
I don’t have any idea how many
events I have attended in the last six
years, but it is a bunch. I enjoyed them
all, but if pressed to pick a favorite, I
would say that my trip to Plainview,
Texas, to fly with that Indoor group in
the Ollie Liner Center, was a highlight.
What a great bunch of people, and
they live for the next time they are
able to rent that building. They make
the most of the time they have it
rented and truly enjoy each other’s
company. Special thanks to Royce,
Reegan, and Britton May.
A quick thought about my friend,
Jim Cherry, who passed from this
Earth way to soon. I am thankful I had
the opportunity to enjoy his and his
lovely wife, Lynn’s, company. We lose
the good guys way too soon!
More later; this column is way too
short to say it all.
Have fun and fly safely. See you on the
flightline.