District II Report - 2004/05

170
MOST AMA CLUBS in our district do a
good job promoting what we do to our
neighbors and introducing model aviation
to younger members of our communities.
Efforts such as these become a significant
advantage to us when we find ourselves
faced with the loss of a flying site.
In these situations, when we go back to
our neighbors asking for their support they
very often remember the positive aspects of
aeromodeling and often become some of
our strongest advocates.
October 4, 2003, the Delaware Valley
Federation of Model Airplane Clubs hosted
Scouts to the Skies Camporee. More than
800 Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts
participated in this event that was held at
Lakehurst Navel Air Station, Lakehurst,
New Jersey.
Member clubs of the Federation include
The East Coast Indoor Modelers, The Scale
Old Timers Society, Washington Crossing
Radio Control Club, and The Philly Flyers.
This is a diverse group that flies a little
of everything including Free Flight, Indoor
RC, Control Line, and Radio Control.
Jim Gallagher of Washington Crossing
RC helped organize a first-class static
display for the Scouts who attended the
Camporee.
Members of the Philly Flyers Control
Line Club brought along a trainer and gave
many of the Scouts and Scout leaders an
opportunity to fly a Control Line model.
Steve Dinnerman talks about his model
to a group of attentive Scouts.
Having participated in a Camporee like
this one at Lakehurst, I can tell you that
you’ll never find a nicer group of young
men to work with than those associated
with Scouting.
The Mohawk Valley Radio Control
Modelers (Firebirds) put a lot of emphasis
on community relations. Each year the club
staffs a booth at the local county fair and
organizes an airshow, inviting members of
the community to come out and enjoy a day
of model flying.
The show is structured in such a way as
to give the spectators a good overall idea of
what model aviation is all about.
Demonstrations include flying sport
models, electrics, scale models, and even a
couple of rounds of Control Line Combat
are thrown in.
Joe Petro’s flights with his flying
lawnmower were probably the biggest
crowd pleasers.
The Firebirds run a raffle during the
county fair and hold the drawing during the
airshow. First prize in the raffle is a
complete, ready-to-fly Radio Control (RC)
trainer. The winner of this year’s raffle was
Matt Hauf shown in the picture below.
From the look on Matt’s face, it seems as
though the Firebirds have a new junior
member.
Matt Hauf accepts this ready-to-fly model
from Mohawk Valley Firebirds president
Tom Paciello.
The Town of Brookhaven on Long Island,
New York, provides two flying sites in the
town for modelers to enjoy. To show their
appreciation, the Long Island Aero Radio
Society (LIARS) recently presented a
plaque, recognizing the town’s support of
model aviation to Town of Brookhaven
Supervisor John Lavalle and Town Council
Board members.
Salvatore Anthony Calvagna and his
cousin Mario Calvagna presented the
plaque. Both boys are active junior
members of the LIARS and the Academy
of Model Aeronautics.
Long Island Aero Radio Society Junior
members Sal Calvagna and Mario
Calvagna present a plaque to Town of
Brookhaven Supervisor John Lavalle and
members of the Town Board recognizing
their support of model aviation.
Bob Reynolds sent the following regarding
some of the RC Combat activity taking
place at the Defense Hill Flying Site on
Long Island.
“On September 6, 2003, we had yet
another Combat event at Defense Hill in
New York. The fliers in the picture are
both Defense Hill and Meroke members
who meet once a month to compete and
best of all—eat!
“On this day we started with 17 fliers.
All contestants had flown a total of three
rounds each and in between we had a
barbeque which was not only for
contestants but spectators as well.
“Some of the members who deserve
recognition are Ed ‘The Baron’ Kaers, Ray
‘Curly’ Chiroux, Richie ‘Midair’ Melnik,
and George ‘The Treeman’ King. These
members have been promoting Combat and
as a result, the turnouts are growing. What
started out with only a few participants not
long ago has now topped 17.
“Hats off to all of these people as well
as all the fliers.”
Here is another group of District II
members involved in the growing sport
of Radio Control Combat.
See you next time.
District II Report
New Jersey/ New York/
Europe
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 all district volunteer workers
please consult the previous issue of Model
Aviation or the above Web address.