District I - 2008/08

168 MODEL AVIATION
WE CURRENTLY have 125 AMA clubs
in New England. Many of the clubs’ flying
sites can only accommodate a limited
number of fliers and parking.
These smaller clubs have fun-fly events
each year, but the attendance is restricted to
club members.
In the past I have written about clubs
that find larger temporary sites at parks,
airports, or colleges that can be acquired
for weekend use for flying events.
Another approach would be to have an
invitational or specialty flying event so the
attendance and parking could still be
accommodated at a club’s flying site. The
invitation could be sent to neighboring
clubs or their members.
As a good rule of thumb, I have found
that when my club invites other clubs to
attend an event at our site we average
roughly eight attendees from each. With our
own members and the guest fliers we can
handle approximately 30 pilots and cars.
These events provide a great
opportunity for area club members to meet
face-to-face, share knowledge and
experiences, make new friends, and be
exposed to a wider variety of aircraft,
flying styles, and skills.
The following report comes from one of
the district’s new associate vice presidents,
Christopher D’Arpino, and is an example
of an invitational multiclub RC fly-in.
“Several months ago Bill O’Donnell,
the Millis Model Aircraft Club president,
came up with the idea of doing an ‘Inter-
Club Fly-In.’
“It was decided that the event would be
open to allow all types of aircraft for flying
and would be limited to the following
Massachusetts clubs: Millis Model Aircraft
Club, Charles River Radio Controllers,
South Shore Radio Control Club, Wing
Busters Model Aircraft Club, Lazy Loopers
Flying Club, Discover Flying R/C Club,
and Northbridge R/C Flyers.
“Zahoor Bajwa (Baj), the South Shore
Radio Control Club president, graciously
volunteered to host this first multiclub event
at his club’s flying site on Sunday, June 1.
The participating clubs are all less than 50
miles from each other. More than 55 pilots,
representing each of the clubs, as well as
district officers Les Watson, Carl Vogel,
James Gilliatt, and Andy Argenio,
registered and flew at the event.
“Seventy-four aircraft were counted and
everything from small electrics and sport to
scale warbirds, including Giant Scale
aerobatic aircraft, were flown. The flying
started at 9 a.m. under a steady breeze and
warm temperatures after a pilot
briefing from the event CD Bill
O’Donnell and a welcome
message from Baj.
“This was one of the most
active flying events at this
club’s site with the five flying
stations busy all day. At
approximately 2 p.m. Mother
Nature decided she wanted to
join the fun with one heck of a
boomer thunderstorm. Everyone
scrambled to cover airplanes
and equipment and get under the
shade structures where they
enjoyed free coffee, soda, good
conversation, and laughter.
After roughly 30 minutes, the storm blew
through and behind it was a gorgeous blue
sky and practically no wind.
“Two of the clubs already volunteered
to host the multiclub event for next year.”
This event was only the first of what will
be annual multiclub events hosted at
different participating clubs each year. The
event brought to life the idea that we are a
district of members who can come together,
create new friendships, and share club
flying sites while enjoying our common
love of model aviation.
District I
Andy Argenio, District I Vice President; [email protected]
Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont
Andy Argenio
3 Sheila Ln.,
Smithfield RI 02917;
Home: (401) 231-
6901; Work: (401)
231-5380
For a complete listing of
district officers and volunteers,
please visit the District 1 Web site
at www.amadistrict1.com.
D i s t r i c t I
(L-R) Brad Kaye and his daughter Jade
worked the impound with Bill O’Donnell,
the event CD.
Jon Bier built and flew this beautiful Fokker
powered by a Zenoah G26 engine.
The South Shore R/C Club’s spacious pit area was busy all
day with pilots preparing their airplanes for flight. Seven
area clubs staged this first multiclub fly-in.
This unnamed pilot waits his turn to fly
another of the superb scale aircraft at this
event.
This giant PBY Mariner, built by John
Nicollacci, continues to be an attraction at
District I events.
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