District IX Report - 2010/06
About TAG
One of the most successful programs that AMA offers is the TAG (Take Off and Grow) program. Clubs apply to host a TAG Model Aviation Day and are provided with a complete program requirements-and-guidelines document to use as a guide. That document includes ideas for promoting and advertising the event as well as an outline of possible activities.
On the day of the event, attendees receive brief classroom instruction to familiarize them with model aviation and give them an idea of what to expect. After that, attendees receive hands-on training under the supervision of a club instructor to help them become acclimated to the basics of flight and how everything works.
Funding and Ambassador Program
If your club is selected to host a TAG Model Aviation Day, AMA will provide up to $1,000 in advance to set up the program. This year Arvada Associated Modelers, Airpark Elite, and Rapid City Aces split the $1,000 pool. After the event, items purchased are the club’s to keep as AMA’s way of saying “thanks for helping out.”
Through TAG, individual AMA members can also take advantage of AMA’s Ambassador Program: sign up three new Open or Senior members with AMA, and the referring member will earn next year’s membership as a thank-you.
Airpark Elite TAG Day (by Tom Neff)
Airpark Elite is a relatively small club with 18 members. Tom Neff submitted this report on how his club’s TAG Day went.
#### Preparation With membership dwindling and concern that model aviation was losing public interest, Airpark Elite decided to host a TAG Day after hearing about the program at the District IX AMA meeting. Four of Airpark’s top pilots were selected to become certified flight instructors.
The club accumulated training-type aircraft purchased at the Jefco Aeromod'lers annual auction that would be suitable for teaching flight to a group of Civil Air Patrol (CAP) cadets. After purchase, the aircraft were sent home with the resident team of experts for tweaking and flight-trimming to ensure a successful TAG Day. Several minor problems were repaired under the supervision of the certified AMA flight instructors.
#### Event Day
- The day opened with a guest speaker, retired Major William Rice, a former P-38 pilot who flew along the coasts of California during World War II to help ensure coastal safety. He presented information about the P-38 and gave each cadet a memorable picture to take home. He also discussed cockpit familiarization and procedures for handling an engine loss on takeoff, and he urged the cadets to pay close attention to the flight instructors.
- Tom Neff led the ground school, covering basic flight information and safety so the cadets knew what to expect.
- After ground school, the cadets were split into four groups. Each flight instructor briefed their group on what would be expected during flying sessions.
- Three groups went to the flight line to fly using buddy boxes with an instructor on the other end.
- The fourth group used a flight simulator set up inside a trailer for screen clarity, managed by Norm Names. The simulator used a laptop, a generator, and a training program to teach basics; Brian Neff demonstrated flight areas relative to the stand position.
- Egg timers were used to distribute airtime evenly. In the competent hands of Alan Thovson, more fuel was burned and more airtime was accrued—a change of venue for Alan, who is more often involved in Combat events.
- Lunch: Airpark provided pizza for everyone. Feeding about 20 hungry teenagers was handled by fresh, hot pizza delivered by Janis Neff.
- After lunch, Brian Neff put on a 3-D air show with his giant-scale Yak, demonstrating snap rolls on takeoff, hovering one foot off the deck, and inverted flat spins to show what practice can achieve.
- Every cadet was given an old “junk” transmitter to move the sticks while waiting their turn; about 20 transmitters were donated by club members Dave Wilbur and Duane Gall.
- Some senior CAP members tried flying at the end of the day and realized it wasn’t as easy as the resident experts made it look.
#### Results and Thanks The afternoon ended with no destroyed aircraft. The group used approximately two gallons of fuel, broke one prop, and damaged two landing-gear screws.
A great time was had by all. Huge thanks go out to everyone who made the TAG Day successful, and special thanks to Ed and Betsy Tauer for the donated trainer.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
