District IV - 2006/12

December 2006 179
CHANGES IN DISTRICT IV: Will Hicks
has been appointed the safety coordinator
for District IV. Will’s contact information
can be found in the column header.
I want to thank Tom McClain for his
years of service as one of District IV
associate vice presidents (AVPs) in Virginia.
Tom has resigned and is moving to Arizona.
Ron King from Gainesville, Virginia,
will become the new AVP. Ron began
modeling in 1960 and has been an AMA
member since 1964. A CD, Leader Member,
and Life Member, Ron grew up flying FF
and CL with the Tulsa Glue Dobbers in
Oklahoma.
Ron flew CL Carrier, Team Racing, and
Speed throughout college and was
introduced to digital proportional RC in
1970. He has since competed in CL events
and RC Pattern, Pylon, Soaring, Scale, and
Helicopter.
He is a member of the Precision
Aerobatics Model Pilots Association
(PAMPA) and the National Society of Radio
Controlled Aerobatics (NSRCA), both AMA
Special Interest groups. Ron is currently a
member of three clubs and a former member
of a number of others.
Welcome, Ron!
East Coast Hand-Launch Classic 2006:
The winds held off during the first morning
of the two-day event in Baltimore,
Maryland, sponsored by the Baltimore Area
Soaring Society (BASS). Held this year on
May 6-7, 16 pilots competed in eight rounds
of different tasks from the quick, eight 1-
minute flights in eight minutes, to the more
demanding 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-minute flights
within a 10-minute flight window.
By two o’clock, the winds were gusting
to 28 knots, challenging even the most
experienced pilots. In the last round of day
one, five of the 9-ounce airplanes were lost
in the trees but four were recovered. Tom
Kiesling, Shane Spickler, and Phil Barnes
took top honors for the day, with CDs Erich
Schlitzkus and Don Vetter placing fourth
and fifth.
The winners from day one.
The start of the task.
Sunday was perfect with light winds and
sunny skies. With replacement airplanes in
hand, 19 pilots gave it a throw. Average
scores were 200 to 500 points higher on the
second day with the same eight tasks. Phil
Barnes, Joe Wurts, and Tom Kiesling took
home the top three medals, with BASS
members Don Vetter and Russ Bennett
taking home fourth and fifth places.
Discus hand launch is a fascinating
variation of Soaring with lightweight, 9-
ounce gliders launched 100 or more feet into
the air like a diskus. Pilots hold the glider
from a peg at the end of one wing, make at
least a 360º turn, and hurl the glider up.
With wing loadings of about 4.2 ounces per
square foot, it doesn’t take much to keep the
models soaring, and their thin chord allows
them to penetrate well.
Thanks to BASS member Dudley
Whitney for this report.
This spring the West Hickory Aero
Modelers, Inc. held an informal Four Star 40
race for local modelers. The airplanes were
Sig Four Star 40s with .40 stock engines
using club-furnished fuel.
The entrants took their turns at the
different race positions to help keep
everything moving. Even the helpers
enjoyed the event along with the spectators.
A race such as this can be fun and
inexpensive. Try it sometime!
Everyone had a great time and another
race is planned for the near future.
Until next time, teach a kid to fly.
District IV
Bliss Teague, District IV Vice President; [email protected]
Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia
Bliss Teague
Vice President
625 5th Ave. SW,
Hickory NC 28602
Tel.: (828) 324-2164
Fax: (828) 267-0956
[email protected]
Associate Vice
Presidents
George Abbott, Raleigh NC;
(919) 848-6719;
[email protected]
Randy Elliott, Radford VA;
Home: (540) 239-0645; Office:
(540) 994-2316;
[email protected]
Chuck Foreman, Kill Devil Hills
NC; (252) 441-5855;
[email protected]
David Jones, Newport NC;
(252) 727-4750;
[email protected]
Ron King, Gainesville VA;
[email protected]
John Kirchstein, Newark DE;
(302) 731-2831;
[email protected]
Richard (Rick) Moreland,
Edgewater MD; (301) 261-7366;
[email protected]
Steve Moulton, Chesapeake VA;
(757) 421-4545;
[email protected]
Frequency Coordinator:
George Fryer, Fayetteville NC;
(910) 867-9524;
[email protected]
Contest Coordinators:
RC: Andy Kane, 305 Natick Ct.,
Silver Spring MD 20905; (301)
785-3022; [email protected]
FF and CL: Jim Coffin, 4604
Hollbrook Dr., Annandale VA;
[email protected]
Safety Coordinator: Will Hicks,
25 Blessing Ct., Hendersonville
NC 28739; (828) 553-8116;
[email protected]
D i s t r i c t I V Volunteers