Sponsors:
Aero Electric
Airtronics
Applebee’s
AMA Supply and Service
Chase
Elite Printing
Hideaway RV Rental
Higher Plane Productions
Hobbico
Lukes RC Planes
Retro RC LLC
Toyota Scion of Muncie
Zeus Battery
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Left: Tethered balloon rides at dusk were one of many family activities offered at the 75th Anniversary Celebration. Jennifer Orebaugh photo.
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This was the scene at the flightline Saturday, shortly before the noon airshow. Saturday’s airshow was the longest and appeared to have the largest crowd. Rachelle Haughn photo.
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AMA District VII Vice President Jim Rice shows off his custom-covered AMA 75th Anniversary commemorative airplane. Haughn photo.
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NASA’s Exploration Experience allowed visitors a glimpse of the past, present, and future of aviation and aerospace. Featuring 3-D imagery and video technology, the exhibit trailer provided a learning experience about how the space program improves everyday life, a moon rock to touch, and a souvenir photo as an astronaut. Orebaugh photo.
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Pilots from EAA Chapter 226 pose in front of their airplanes. Youth were offered their first general aviation flights along with a logbook and free, unlimited access to the Sporty’s Complete Pilot Training Course online, if they wanted to pursue an interest in aviation. Orebaugh photo.
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The Aero Telemetry team poses with the Hughes Racer after another successful flight. Greg Hahn, second from the right, piloted the aircraft. Jay Smith photo.
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The National Model Aviation Museum dedicated the Robert “Hoot” Gibson exhibit, located in the museum lobby. The exhibit includes Hoot’s Nats trophies and winning F-16 model, a model of his full-scale Cassutt racer, a model of the Space Shuttle Atlantis (his last orbiter flight), and his flight suit, complete with flight mission patches and the exclusive Mach 25 patch. Orebaugh photo.
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Eric Meyers flew this wonderfully detailed US Army Apache helicopter with skill and precision.
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The half-scale Howard Hughes H-1 Racer, built by Joe Bock and the crew of Aero Telemetry, making a smoke on photo pass. Smith photo.
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The highly-detailed Howard Hughes pilot figure was as impressive as the aircraft. Aero Telemetry enlisted the help of a Hollywood designer to complete him. Smith photo.
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Model aircraft and beautiful floral arrangements decorated the Horizon Convention Center, scene of the well-attended AMA 75th Anniversary Gala. Smith photo.
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This beautiful, electric-powered 1/18-scale DC-10 was designed, built, and flown by Robert Pannell.
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L-R: Captain Tom “Huffer” Huff, Sam Wright, and Captain Robert “Hoot” Gibson address the crowd during the airshow. Smith photo.
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Drew McCarty, age 7, Indianapolis, took a break from flying to take pictures of other pilots’ airplanes. Haughn photo.
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A youngster is all smiles after his EAA Young Eagles flight in a Piper Cub. Youth ages 8-17 were given the opportunity to experience their first general aviation flights at Reese Airport on Saturday, by volunteer pilots from the local EAA chapter. Orebaugh photo.
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The elevated drivers stand at the RC car track was filled with willing participants. Trucks were provided in partnership with Hobbico for use throughout the event. Smith photo.
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L-R: Johnathan Taylor and Will Taylor of Indianapolis, made balsa airplanes. Their mother brought the boys to the event after hearing NASA astronaut Hoot Gibson interviewed on radio station Q95’s Bob and Tom Show. Haughn photo.
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Robert “Hoot” Gibson, AMA’s ambassador, uses a Space Shuttle model to discuss the principles of space flight at one of several seminars. Smith photo.
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L-R: Aero Telemetry crew chief Butch Fleck, Aero Telemetry CEO Joe Bok, and AMA Technical Director Greg Hahn take some time at the Saturday night pool party to discuss the day’s H-1 Racer flights. The party, held at the Delaware County Country Club, gave everyone a chance to relax after a long, hot day. Orebaugh photo.
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RC trucks were raced throughout the weekend on Vojslavek Raceway at the AMA. Smith photo.
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This B-25 was built by Jack Conwell using Ziroli plans. The 120-inch-span bomber is powered by two Zenoah G-45s engines. Guidance is provided by a Futaba radio. It is also outfitted with Robart retracts and a bomb drop. Smith photo.
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AMA’s Greg Prater was one of several instructor pilots giving attendees—young and old—their first RC experience. Smith photo.
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As part of the festivities, six drawings for $75 were held for pilots who flew during the event. Here, MA Editor Jay Smith presents cash to pilot Donald Blackwell. Haughn photo.
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Three new inductees into the AMA Model Aviation Hall of Fame were present at the gala and were joined by other Hall of Famers in attendance. Smith photo.
AMONG THE spectacular airplanes at the AMA’s 75th anniversary event was one that stood out from the crowd. With its massive size, sleek design, and dominating presence in the sky, the half-scale Hughes H-1 Racer clearly was the star of the show.
The crowds cheered as the engine fired up, roared at takeoff, and grew silent as the aircraft made low passes—taking time to appreciate the airplane’s magnificence, while wildly snapping pictures. It was almost as if the late Howard Hughes’ dream was again alive. But this time, it was in the skies over Muncie, Indiana.
Los Angeles resident Joe Bock and his crew at Aero Telemetry were responsible for recreating this vital part of aviation history. They were commissioned by the AMA roughly a year ago to build a Scale version of a Howard Hughes airplane, similar to the ones the company built for the 2004 film, The Aviator.
On the third day of the AMA celebration, Joe took a break from preparing the model for its noon airshow and sat down in his tent for an interview.
“We talked about the three big models here: the Spruce Goose, the XF-11, and this one. Spruce Goose in Muncie, Indiana, would be kind of illegal. The XF-11 was a very challenging plane, and to be honest, there’s no way we could build it under 125 pounds. [The AMA currently has a weight limit of 125 pounds for propeller-driven airplanes.] So, we said the H-1 would be a great plane to build. Everybody in the shop’s passionate about the airplane.
“One of the reasons why this was actually an interesting project for me, this one here, [for] the AMA, is it’s given us the opportunity to build these planes. It’s funny, the more time that has gone by the more passionate we got about wanting to build one [again]. We were looking for an excuse to do it and here was a great one.
“So this particular one here, sitting behind you, the third one, serial number three, being at 123 pounds, that was an extraordinary challenge. That wasn’t actually something that we wanted to do, but I tell you what; we learned a lot.”
The 1/2-scale version of the H-1 that Joe and his crew built for the movie weighed 450 pounds. He took the model commissioned for the 75th anniversary event to AMA Expo in January and it weighed in at 225 pounds. About a week later, he learned that the airplane’s weight must be cut by at least 100 pounds. Joe and his employees spent nearly two months trying to come up with ways to slim down the airplane. They finally found a solution.
“The primary weight-saving technique was the use of carbon fiber and resin infusion technology. It’s a technique by which you lay up the carbon fiber and it allows for the least amount of resin to be absorbed by the fabric. So you keep the structure as light as possible. Some of the stuff that we’ve done on this plane wasn’t available to us in 2003.”
Joe and his crew are happy with the results.
“As a designer, fabricator, and builder that’s an exponential accomplishment. Just on that standard alone, the weight one. We’re all ecstatic about that.”
Roughly a week before the new H-1 was to take its maiden flight in Muncie, Joe learned that the pilot he had chosen to fly it was unable to attend the event. He contacted the AMA and someone suggested Competitions Department Director Greg Hahn. Joe said he didn’t know Greg, but had heard of him.
Greg has been in the hobby industry for 20 years and is known for flying large, heavy, complex models. He also has been a successful Scale Masters competitor for several years.
The AMA employee clearly was at ease when he took the controls for the airshows. All of the takeoffs and landings were smooth. Joe and his crew were impressed with how Greg handled the H-1 during the 75th anniversary event.
“He’s got an understanding like we do for safety and scale and not overflying,” said Aero Telemetry’s crew chief, Butch Fleck. “He knows the potential of it and he knows what this plane was made to do.”
“I’m really, really, really happy I made his acquaintance. And I tell you what, if we do any more flying with this plane or anything else—if he can get on an airplane and come out to California—he’s the man,” Joe said.
For the full version of this article, visit www.modelaviation.com.[dingbat]
—Rachelle Haughn
AMA’s 75th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION, held July 14-17, was a successful gathering of many of our members and the local community. Airplane enthusiasts of all ages and disciplines took advantage of the festivities including daily airshows, seminars, NASA exhibits, vendors, and the gala.
The AMA’s education trailer provided attendees the chance to fly model airplanes on RC flight simulators. Once comfortable with the transmitter and the basics of flight, it was time to move on to the real thing—flying high-wing trainers with the help of an instructor. The smiles on the faces of these new pilots were all the thanks required to keep the instructors going all day!
Another form of “first flights” was taking place at Reese Airport in conjunction with the event. Young Eagles flights, through the local EAA Chapter, allowed countless children to come away experiencing their first-ever flight in a full-scale aircraft.
Large crowds gathered for the noon and 5 p.m. daily airshows. People brought their camp chairs, sat on the temporary bleachers, and stood wherever there was a spot to catch a glimpse.
The scale version of the Howard Hughes H-1 Racer, built by Joe Bock and the crew of Aero Telemetry, was clearly the star of the show. The crowds cheered as the engine fired, and watchers held their breath during takeoff.
AMA’s Technical Director, Greg Hahn, piloted the Hughes Racer throughout the event. He flew the large aircraft safely and provided several photo passes so everyone in attendance could get a picture and a better look at the amazing aircraft.
Throughout the celebration, the air was filled with aircraft—gas-powered, glow-powered, and electric motors. There were models of all kinds from Scale warbirds to park flyers. Although the majority of the action happened at Site 4, shuttle buses were on hand to ferry people to the training area, the CL flying site, the RC car track, the Soaring Nats venue, and Young Eagles event.
Evenings included many activities as well. Hot air balloons provided tethered rides to attendees and night flying was also an option.
The 75th Anniversary Gala Celebration at the Horizon Convention Center in downtown Muncie, Indiana, took place Friday night. The ballroom was beautifully decorated with aircraft and floral arrangements.
Old friends and new gathered to dine and catch up. It was humbling to be among so many aeromodeling legends.
The nightly events concluded with the Saturday night Pool Party at the Delaware County Country Club. A band, food, drinks, and good friends chatting and laughing, spelled success at the end of a long, hot weekend. Bobby Watts was even on hand to entertain with a helicopter night fly and fireworks. The AMA’s 75th Anniversary concluded on Sunday at noon and several were still in attendance and taking advantage of the spacious flying site.
From the beginning, the AMA 75th Anniversary Celebration was planned with the member in mind. From the hats and shirts and other goodies the pilots received to the $75 cash giveaways, it was all about fun and fellowship and a way to say thank-you to AMA’s membership.
If success can be measured by the comments received, the smiling faces of those in attendance, and the willingness of the AMA staff and volunteers to go above and beyond, then we succeeded in hosting an event worthy of an organization celebrating 75 years of service to its members.
Thank you to everyone who came out to lend their support and make the 75th Anniversary Celebration feel like a big family gathering!
