District II Report - 2003/05

146
INTERESTED in warbirds? The World
Miniature Warbird Association (WMWA) is
an international organization that got its start
in District II not that long ago. Today
WMWA boasts more than 500 members, not
only in the United States but also throughout
the world.
WMWA is an organization dedicated to
building and flying Radio Control (RC)
models of the aircraft, from any era, used for
combat and defense around the world.
Camaraderie and friendship are the bonds
that tie this group together and this is
obvious when you attend one of their events.
If you’d like to learn more about
WMWA you can visit its Web site at
http://www.wmwa.org.
WMWA participates in several events
throughout District II during the year. In
2002, WMWA held its annual Warbird
Classic in conjunction with the Warbirds
Over New York event, run by contest
director (CD) Bill Steffes, in Selkirk, New
York.
Warbirds Over New York CD Bill Steffes
and AMA District II Vice President Dave
Mathewson.
Bill and his crew have made this event an
activity modelers in the area look forward to
and an event that gives back to the
community in which it’s held. For several
years, Warbirds Over New York has donated
proceeds from the event to the local Drug
Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.)
program.
This year they raised nearly $6,000 for
this important cause, bringing the amount
donated through the years to a total in excess
of $25,000. More than 100 pilots participated
in this years’ event, making it one of the
largest warbird fly-ins held in our district.
This is only a portion of the flightline at
Selkirk.
The quality of some of the models flown
can only be described as exceptional. World
Miniature Warbird Association Wing #117
was there in force. From Long Island, the
Wing brought with them a total of 40
aircraft. They had a spectacular variety of
outstanding warbird models that added
significantly to the event.
One of the 40 spectacular models from
WMWA Wing #117.
Unfortunately, I recently heard from Bill
Steffes that the 2003 version of Warbirds
Over New York has been canceled. Let’s
hope this asset to model aviation in District II
soon gets back on track.
I was in Brooklyn last August 4 for the
Pennsylvania Avenue Radio Control
Society’s (PARCS) annual Warbirds Over
Brooklyn Fly-In, another event with a
WMWA presence. Jim Peterkin, current
PARCS president, sent me some photos and
text about the fly-in I want to share with you.
“The first international airport in New
York City was Floyd Bennett field in
Brooklyn and it is the site of many historic
achievements including the famous flights of
Amelia Earhart. Now, this entire 1,750-
square-acre facility has been turned into a
national park and it is the home of the 320-
plus-member PARCS.
Hank Iken and his award-winning Nieuport
28C-1.
“The weather could have been cooler but
not better and the sun shining over the 60-
plus airplanes on the tarmac made you feel
like it was a full-scale airport. The main
focus of this unlimited war bird event was to
introduce and promote the hobby to the
public and that is exactly what we did.”
“The spectators, more than 1,000, were
treated to an air show filled with class,
excitement, and speed. There were museumquality
airplanes built by some of the best
builders on the East Coast. We also witnessed
flights of Almost Ready-to-Fly aircraft (ARF)
including an ARF turbine jet. We decided to
keep it interesting by giving out prizes for the
most modified or best built ARFs.
“Some of the finest propjets were also on
hand for the propjet contest. We gave the
spectators and the pilots every opportunity to
witness and participate in just about all
aspects of this hobby of ours.
Mel Melton with his Hawker Tempest.
“I think that one of the best things about
this event was the intro pilot program
segment of the show. Jon Gerber, PARCS
treasurer, and his crew had four trainers
flying for more than an hour. Those guys had
many, many kids expressing their glee after
experiencing five minuets of flight.
“Jon said the transmitters were shut down
to cool them off. He told me that they used
up two gallons of fuel. Now that’s something
I will never forget.
“Our masters of ceremony, Scott Schultz,
Vincent Pacella, and Jon Gerber did a
masterful job
of entertaining,
informing, and
educating the
spectators as
well as
keeping the
show flowing.
“We were
proud of the
representation
and presence
of AMA at this
event and I’m
sure they will
be pleased to
know that we
signed up quite
a few new members that day.
“I could never write about that day with
out mentioning the fact that there were more
than 100 club members who volunteered
their time and effort and helped transform a
good idea into a spectacular event.
“Yeah, this is Brooklyn and we have fun
all the time.”
See you next time ...
District II Report
Dave
Mathewson
Vice President
7271 State Fair Blvd.,
Baldwinsville NY 13027
Tel.: (315) 727-4275
Fax: (315) 635-1039
E-mail:
[email protected]
District II Web page: www.amadistrictii.org
Note: For a listing of district volunteer
workers please consult the previous issue of
Model Aviation or the above Web address.
Jon Gerber (R) and
Horace Smith Jr. gave
intro flights to scores of
children at the fly-in.