District IV - 2015/06

He went by O.W., and few knew his real
name. O.W. Maness was the fun person
to be around, with a joke or a tale. An
accomplished pilot, model builder,
and one who helped bring Giant Scale
into existence—he was one of the first
recipients of the Joe Nall Award and
received countless master modeler
awards.
O.W. passed away in March 2015.
Somebody once said, “I want to grow up
to be like O.” He was that kind of man
and he will be sorely missed.
Our Facebook page (www.facebook.
com/amadistrictIV) is growing daily
with information being posted. Give us
a look and Like us.
As I write this, our authors have begun
to create the new District IV website.
Hopefully by the time you read this, we
will have it online.
If you don’t see your particular
activity, then it’s because we have no
author for it. If you want to see your
activity included on our website, ask
your friends and find an author to
start a page. Contact Jack Upchurch at
webmaster@ama-d4.org for details.
Everyone should be out having fun
flying and going to events. If you would
like to have your event highlighted in
this column, send me a report with
good-quality pictures.
Bob Sowder, AMA District IV Free
Flight (FF) associate vice president,
submitted the following report.
The DC Maxecuters is an engaged
and active club that found its beginnings
in the late 1950s. With the club’s roots
planted in rubber-powered FF models,
the club members fly year-round at
various indoor and outdoor venues.
On Sunday, March 8, 2015, the
venue was the Great Hall inside
the National Building Museum in
downtown Washington, D.C.—a
spectacular must-see building in
Washington. Thanks to member Paul
Spreiregen, the club established a
partnership with the museum and
attracted 20-30 youngsters who learned
how to build, trim, and fly Delta Darts.
Dave Mitchell headed up the building
session, along with club members,
who worked closely with the kids and
parents. Following the building session,
the kids went to a briefing on how
airplanes fly, and then the kids and
parents went down to the Great Hall
inside the museum to fly their newly
built models with club members.
After the Delta Darts, the Maxecuter
president and contest director, Glen
Simpers, got the FF contest started.
Competitors from Washington, D.C.,
and the surrounding areas gathered
in this fun, low-key event to fly truly
remarkable and gorgeous rubberpowered
indoor models. These models
are not only stunning, but amazing to
watch, no matter what you fly.
Maxecuter Paul Stamison
simultaneously ran light electric RC
flying on the other side of the Great
Hall. There was excellent participation
with an abundance of different and
interesting models. Unlike most outdoor
FF and RC flying, the National Building
Museum gives the AMA and our
activities great exposure to the public.
The level of enthusiasm and
commitment by the DC Maxecuters
is inspiring. Kudos to all. The club
members are truly planting the youthful
seeds of future flight.
Go fly and have fun safely.