District IV - 2014/09
Hank Mausolf, District IV associate vice president (AVP), submitted the following reports:
Bealeton Aerodrome Giant Scale Fly-In
One of the best-kept secrets in northern Virginia is the Giant Scale fly-ins held at the Bealeton Aerodrome. For many years this facility has hosted numerous scale contests. It is also home to the popular full-scale 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 U.S. 17 north of Fredericksburg, it is easy to get to and the area lends itself to supporting these events.
Last year’s fly-in was held September 6–8 (the event was formerly held in August). The weather was good for all three days, with temperatures in the high 70s to low 80s and mild winds. Cloud cover was minimal, creating a good background for smoke systems.
Space is available for camping; at the 2013 gathering there were many RVs and tents. A new bathhouse was a welcome addition, as was 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 contest director again, assisted by Jim McDaniel and his family. AMA President Bob Brown and AMA District IV Vice President Bliss Teague 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.
Event highlights:
- Approximately 55 pilots registered and brought more than 100 aircraft.
- Many types of models were flown — from scale to aerobatic and even a few multiengine ships.
- Notable aircraft included Jerry McCallum’s 1/2-scale Spacewalker and his Sopwith Pup; their size and detail must be seen to be appreciated. A jet or two also flew during the weekend.
- A barbecue dinner was held Saturday night with great food and prize raffles.
- On Sunday, the DCRC show team performed a demonstration for the crowd, followed by the full-scale Bealeton Flying Circus barnstorming air show — skydivers, aerobatic Stearmans, and other 1930s-era aircraft that evoke the Golden Age of Aviation.
This is a must-attend event if you are ever in central Virginia in September.
Local Junior Qualifies for US F3P World Championships Team
A 14-year-old student from Chantilly, Virginia, has qualified to be on the U.S. F3P World Championships team for 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.
Joseph was one of 16 pilots who competed in the U.S. Indoor RC Aerobatic Team Trials, held March 21–23, 2014, in Akron, Ohio. He was the highest-placing junior, earning him a spot on the team alongside Open members Ryan Clark, RJ Gritter, and Devon McGrath.
Joseph’s equipment:
- Model: Excel V1 (designed by Scott Barnhart)
- Weight: 86 grams (without battery)
- Radio: Spectrum DX18
- Motor: E-Flight 250
- Battery: Thunder Power two-cell, 7.4-volt
Joseph also represented the U.S. in the 2013 FAI World Championship for Aerobatic Model Aircraft (F3A) in Johannesburg, South Africa. He is 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-and-son teams have accomplished as much as they have. I wish them the best in the upcoming World Championships and look forward to their future accomplishments.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
