November 2006 163
District II
Dave Mathewson, District II Vice President; [email protected]
New Jersey, New York, Europe
ON JUNE 25, 2006, my wife and I were
invited to attend the Camden Cloudbusters’
field-improvement dedication/club
picnic/introduction-to-model-aviation day
involving a local Cub Scout pack.
In late 2005, a severe storm passed over
the club field doing considerable damage and
totally destroying the club storage facilities.
A relatively small club, the Cloudbusters
lacked the funds necessary to make all the
needed repairs which included building a new
storage shed. Through the efforts of the
club’s members and the generosity of some
members of the local business community the
field was returned to better-than-new which
prompted the day’s celebration. As part of the
activities the club invited the local Cub
Scouts to the field to try their hands at flying
an RC model airplane.
A Scout who has just returned from the
flightline explains just how it’s done to his
buddies waiting for their turn at the sticks.
I’m not sure who’s more intense here,
Cloudbusters’ members Chuck Wright (L)
and Ron Crist or this Scout putting a model
through its paces.
After lunch the kids lined up and one at a
time made their way to the flightline. In
recognition of their flights, each Scout was
presented with an AMA First Flight pin
marking the occasion, and everyone went
home with a smile.
Driving home, it struck me that this was a
perfect example of how when a club and a
community contribute to each other, the
result is a positive experience for all.
Al Kanser wrote that the Oneonta R/C Flyers
club has finally moved into its new field after
a more-than-four-year search. The field, with
its 750-foot runway, will accommodate any
size RC aircraft, allowing all the club
members to fly together. It is close to the city
of Oneonta and is large enough to
accommodate any amount of parking.
Looking down the length of Oneonta R/C
Club’s new flying site, the wide-open site
lends itself to almost all modeling disciplines.
After using the polo fields in Gilbertsville
for most of the club’s major activities for a
number of years, the club hosted its first
event at the new field on September 23-24,
2006. The success of the event has the club
considering hosting the 2007 AMA District II
Fly-In. It took much hard work and a
substantial amount of time but with dedicated
members and the help of AMA, the members
feel that they have succeeded.
Thanks Al, and congratulations on what
looks to be an outstanding facility.
Meet John Cuomo. John lives in Whiting,
New Jersey, in Ocean County, and is 88 years
young. He is a World War II veteran and a
life member of the Pine Barrens Radio
Control Club. Also a member of the East
Coast Indoor Modelers club, John flies
electric models indoors in Hangar One at the
Lakehurst Naval Base.
John shares his
enjoyment of
flying RC planes
by teaching
beginners how to
fly electricpowered
models
at the local field.
He builds all of
his own model
airplanes and uses
them to introduce
potential new
modelers to our
hobby.
According to
members of his
clubs, John is a patient and encouraging
teacher and fun to be with. John, thanks for
helping promote our hobby.
The outdoor flying season is beginning to
wind down for most in our district. In spite of
some unfortunate inclement weather at some
of the events we attended, it was an enjoyable
summer. It’s becoming common for many
clubs in the northeast to turn to indoor
electric activities. For those who haven’t tried
it yet, indoor RC can be much fun and can
break up those long winters for which we’re
so famous.
In some cases, getting the use of an indoor
facility, school gym, a church facility, etc.,
takes little more than asking. Often the
owners of these facilities only ask for the
assurance that they be financially protected if
an incident takes place. Just as we do with
thousands of outdoor flying sites, AMA can
help.
If you think we can provide you or your
club with assistance in acquiring a new
indoor site, contact me by any of the methods
in the column header or give AMA Special
Services a call at (765) 287-1256, ext. 250.
See you next time.
Dave Mathewson
7271 State Fair Blvd.,
Baldwinsville NY 13027;
Tel.: (315) 727-4275; Fax:
(315) 635-1039
www.amadistrictiii.org
Associate Vice
Presidents
Roy A. Brown, USAE
AFCENT CMR 460 BOX
585 APO AE 07903;
[email protected]
Sal Calvagna, Holbrook NY;
(631) 737-6327; ncalvagn@
suffolk.lib.ny.us
Gary Fitch, Franklinville NY;
(716) 676-2498;
[email protected]
Ray Juschkus, St. James NY; (631)
862-5589; [email protected]
Eric Henderson, Marlton NJ;
(856) 988-9184;
[email protected]
Jim Lewis, Ogdenburg NY; (315)
393-2580
Tom Murray, Basking Ridge NJ;
(908) 766-5656;
[email protected]
Ernie Nikodem, Lockport NY;
(716) 434-8350;
[email protected]
Bill Poythress, Saugerties NY;
(845) 246-8850
Adam Sattler, Latham NY; (518)
783-8929; [email protected]
Peter Seiffert, Baldwinsville NY;
(315) 635-6370;
[email protected]
Alexander Szemere, Kendall
Park NJ; (732) 821-5641;
[email protected]
Frequency Coordinator:
Dan Williams, Liverpool NY;
(315) 652-7740;
[email protected]
Webmaster: Doug Crawford,
Oswego NY; webmaster@
amadistrictii.org.
D i s t r i c t I I V o l u n t e e r s .
John Cuomo uses his
electric models to
introduce potential club
members to model
aviation.
Edition: Model Aviation - 2006/11
Page Numbers: 163