District I - 2006/01

160 MODEL AVIATION
THE SPORT OF aeromodeling began with
FF models and has evolved into many
categories and special-interest areas.
Today, 95% of our membership is
involved with RC, and as a result we forget
to recognize and promote FF, CL, and
Soaring as the worthwhile modeling
activities that they are.
The pictures in this column were sent to
me by Mark Fineman. They were taken at
the Glastonbury Modelers Flying Aces meet
held September 18, 2005, in Durham,
Connecticut.
All of the events were FF rubberpowered
Scale ones for models that were
traditionally constructed using a balsa
framework and covered in tissue.
This shows the popular FF World War II
mass-launch event.
Steve Blanchard shows off his great-looking
Cessna Cargomaster with twin-rubber
power.
Mark Fineman displays his F-82 Twin
Mustang.
Scale judge Paul Stott examines Vance
Gilbert’s beautiful D.H. Mosquito that won
the FAC Scale event.
Mark wrote, “Free Flight has a special
significance within District I. The modern
Flying Aces movement was created by Dave
Stott and the late Bob Thompson, both
Connecticut residences. These two men and
the Flying Aces clubs invented and
popularized Peanut Scale and Embryo
Endurance flying.”
With winter coming you might want to
check out some of the Indoor FF activity in
your area. Go online to the National Free
Flight Society (NFFS) at www.freeflight.org
for event listings, contest calendars, and
club contacts.
There are four FF clubs listed in District
I: Glastonbury Aero Modelers in
Glastonbury, Connecticut; Merrimack
Valley Air-Istocrats in Littleton,
Massachusetts; New England Wakefield
Group in Everett, Massachusetts; and
SAM 7 in Vernon Rockville, Connecticut.
Dave Scott launches his Loose Special and
Mark Fineman launches his Cessna CR-3.
Mark’s airplane won the Thompson trophy.
I will be covering CL, Soaring, and other
special-interest activities in future columns.
Your continued input is needed and most
helpful.
Al Lawton winds his Mr. Smoothie racer
while Bill Dietz holds it. The racer won the
Greve mass-launch event.
As the year comes to an end and flying
events wind down, I am looking forward to
finishing the airplanes I started but never
found the time to complete. Owning a hobby
shop, being an active modeler, and
performing the duties of a district vice
president are challenges, to say the least.
Change has been the order of this year. I
welcome your suggestions and comments on
district and AMA matters. Together we can
modify and prioritize our goals and
objectives to address current needs.
I want to thank all the members who
have supported this year’s revitalization
plan for District I. On behalf of the district
team, please have an enjoyable and safe
holiday season.
District I
Andy Argenio, District I Vice President; [email protected]
Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont
Associate Vice Presidents:
Position Open: AVP for New
Hampshire
Ed Faria, Somerset MA;
[email protected]
James Gilliatt, Concord MA;
[email protected]
Ray LaBonte, Standish ME;
[email protected]
Patrick Libby, Ascutney VT;
[email protected]
Frank Ponteri, Westerly RI;
[email protected]
Bob Wallace, Avon CT;
[email protected]
Frequency Coordinators:
Kevin Richards, Attleboro MA;
[email protected]
Joel Chappell, Milford NH;
[email protected]
Educational Coordinator:
Ed Spidell, Chepachet RI;
[email protected]
Webmaster:
Paul Costa, Attleboro MA;
[email protected]
Contest Coordinator:
Barry Schubert, Portsmouth RI;
Barry_N_Schubert@
raytheon.com
District Safety Coordinator:
Les Watson, Riverside RI; lesleslie@
cox.net
District News Editor:
Steve Berhm, Jamestown RI;
[email protected]
District 1 Web Site:
www.amadistrict1.com
Volunteers