Hank Mausolf, District IV associate vice president (AVP), submitted the following reports:
One of the best-kept secrets in northern Virginia is the Giant Scale fly-ins held at the Bealeton Aerodrome. For many years, this great facility has hosted many Scale contests. It is home to the popular full-size Flying Circus program, held every Sunday.
The D.C. Radio Control Club (DCRC) IMAA Big Bird Fly In has been held there with great success. Located off of U.S. 17, north of Fredericksburg, it is easy to get to and the area lends itself to supporting these events.
The most recent fly-in was held September 6-8, 2013. The event formerly was held in August. The weather was good for all three days, with temperatures in the high 70s and low 80s, and mild winds. Cloud cover was minimal, creating a good background for smoke systems.
Space is available for camping, and at the 2013 gathering there were many RVs and tents. A new bathhouse was a welcome addition, as well as the large, open-air shelter.
I typically arrive on Thursday to set up the AMA tent and park my trailer. This allows me to get in a quick flight before the fly-in starts.
Andy Kane from DCRC was the CD again, which he has done for several years. He was assisted by Jim McDaniel and his family.
AMA President Bob Brown, AMA District IV Vice President Bliss Teague, and Hank Mausolf were among those in attendance. Bob and Bliss presented the Fredericksburg Aeromasters with a 20-year Gold Leader Club Award. The club was one of the first in the Leader program. Only 12 other original Gold Leader Clubs are in existence. The award was accepted by club president Matt Yoder, with 20 Aeromasters members present.
Approximately 55 pilots registered for the event and brought more than 100 aircraft. Many types of models—from scale to aerobatic, and even a few multi-engines—were at the gathering. Jerry McCallum was there with his 1/2-scale spacewalker and his Sopwith Pup. His models’ sizes and details must be seen to be appreciated. A jet or two also flew during the weekend.
The now-famous barbecue dinner was held Saturday night. The food was great and there was plenty. The big prizes were raffled off during the dinner.
On Sunday, the DCRC show team put on a wonderful demonstration that kept the crowd entertained. After that, the field was cleared and the famous Bealeton Flying Circus put on a full-size barnstorming air show. From skydivers to aerobatic Stearmans, it is a thrilling afternoon. It brought us back to the golden age of aviation with many 1930s aircraft.
This is a must-attend event if you are ever in the central Virginia area in September.
A 14-year-old student from Chantilly, Virginia, has qualified to be on the US F3P World Championships team in Poland, in April 2015. Joseph Szczur is an eighth grade student at Rocky Run Middle School, and a third-generation aeromodeler following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. He was one of 16 pilots who competed in the US Indoor RC Aerobatic Team Trials, held March 21-23, 2014, in Akron, Ohio. Joseph was the highest-placing junior, earning him a spot on the team, along with Open members Ryan Clark, RJ Gritter, and Devon McGrath.
Joseph flew an Excel V1 designed by Scott Barnhart. It weighed in at 86 grams without the battery, and was controlled by a Spectrum DX18 radio. It was powered by an E-Flight 250 motor running on a Thunder Power two-cell 7.4-volt battery.
As if this was not enough, Joseph represented the US in the 2013 FAI World Championship for Aerobatic Model Aircraft, class F3A, in Johannesburg, South Africa. He is also the president of a model airplane club at his middle school for students interested in aeronautical engineering.
I have met Joseph and his father, Don, and witnessed their great flying skills. Not many father-son teams have accomplished as much as they have, and it is gratifying to see. I, along with the Academy, want to wish them the best in the upcoming World Championships and look forward to many more accomplishments by them.
