District II - 2012/03

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www.ModelAviation.com March 2012 Model Aviation 149
Among the many District II clubs
involved in their communities are
the Meroke RC Club of Wantagh,
New York, and the Cumberland
Controliners of Millville, New Jersey.
Cumberland Controliners club
members Bill Mazzoni and John
Saunders introduced me to an
education program called Intro to
Aviation—Aviation Through Model
Aeronautics. The Controliners work in
conjunction with the Millville Army
Air Field Museum’s 12- to 16-week
youth aviation program that starts
with aerodynamic fundamentals, and
culminates with students building and
flying model aircraft.
Interestingly, the program uses CL
airplanes! Controliners’ president,
Roy Wilson explains: “Two benefits of
control line aircraft are reduced cost
and students acquire a ‘feel’ for their
aircraft through the flying wires.”
Noted New Jersey State aerospace
educator, Howard Bueschel, leads the
Intro to Aviation program. Students
construct aircraft in a specific order,
while maintaining notebooks and
following handouts. Materials,
adhesives, and tools are covered and
students are issued their own engines.
This is real aeronautical course work!
In only four years as an AMA club,
the Cumberland Controliners have
become well-known community
members. The program is recognized
in local newspapers, and the club’s
flying site is courtesy of the Millville
Department of Parks and Recreation.
It’s a win-win for the club and the
community!
The Meroke RC Club’s flight
instructor, Philip Friedensohn, and vice
president, Charlie Lando, provided
me with information about the
club’s Come Fly With Us event, held
annually on the third weekend in May.
Based on AMA’s Take off And Grow
(TAG) program, the Meroke’s event
is publicized in March at the Model
Aircraft Expo at the Cradle of Aviation
Museum.
The Merokes invite Expo visitors to
fly a simulator. Visitors are encouraged
to sign up for the real, hands-on event
at Lufbery Aerodrome in Nassau
County’s Cedar Creek Park.
An aggressive publicity campaign
follows the Expo. The Merokes
announce the Come Fly With Us
event in local newspapers. Boy Scout
troops are invited to participate in
conjunction with their Aviation Merit
Badges and event flyers are placed in
libraries, schools, and other public
places.
The Merokes generally have 75
youth and parents preregistered for
Come Fly With Us. During the event,
each student is scheduled a training
time. Participants are first introduced
to flight theory and familiarized with
controls used to fly a buddy-box
trainer. Later, a Meroke AMA Intro
Pilot takes each student for a 5- to
10-minute intro flight. The Meroke’s
well-organized event is supported
throughout the year by the club’s
AMA Intro Pilots and club trainers
who are always at the ready!
Congratulations to Lloyd Quick of
the Mid Hudson Modelmasters for
receiving an AMA District Service
Award, recognizing his outstanding
service as a mentor, instructor, club
officer, and contributor to our hobby.
Remember, it’s not about what we fly,
it’s about the people!
Associate Vice Presidents: Dennis Andreas, Freeport NY; (516) 379-0135; [email protected]; Tom Bickford, Tupper Lake NY; (518) 359-2218; tjbick@northnet.
org; Gene Gavin, Staten Island NY; (718) 967-0598; [email protected]; Bill Hauth, Hamburg NY; (716)649-8582; [email protected]; Joe Sarbello, Woolrich Township
NJ; (856) 491-8481; [email protected]; Alexander Szemere, Kendall Park NJ; (732) 821-5641; [email protected]. RC Contest Coordinator: Jim Goodemote, Allegany
NY; (716) 372-1137. Safety Coordinator: Al Kanser, New Lisbon NY; (607) 293-7974; [email protected].
Eric Williams
Vice President
District II—New Jersey, New York, Europe
[email protected]
4242 Amanda Ln., Schenectady NY 12303
Tel.: (518) 356-2057; www.amadistrictii.org
Meroke Flight Instructor Ed Wiemann with a
student on the buddy box.
Intro to Aviation instructors (L to R) Howard Bueschel,
Ed Carlaw, Fran Wilson, and Roy Wilson with students.
Left: Aircraft building is part of the Intro to Aviation
program.
Top left: An Intro to Aviation student prepares to
launch his CL airplane.