Happy summer all! By now, fly-ins are in full swing. Florida Jets, the Southeastern Electric Flight Festival, Joe Nall have come and gone and many of the local clubs’ sponsor great events in District V as well.
Throughout the past few months, I have met some old friends and made hundreds of new ones. I have been through Florida, across the Mississippi, around Alabama, up the edge of Tennessee, of course around South Carolina where our membership meeting at the Nall was well attended. Thanks to all who came.
I am trying to visit as many clubs as timely possible. With the requests, emails, and calls, my calendar fills up fast. Please don’t stop inviting me. This is the best way to meet with the clubs in the district, although I do have several associate vice presidents (AVPs) who are just as capable of promoting AMA and assisting you in any way.
I had the privilege of opening the noon demo Friday at Joe Nall this year. After my introduction, we welcomed a special guest and a member of Ogeechee Aeromasters and Liberty Blazing Angels Staff Sgt. Scott Millican from Statesboro, Georgia, who was wounded in an IED incident on Route Rattlesnake while serving in Afghanistan. Staff Sgt. Millican was the recipient of a new Krill Extra 330 from Chief Aircraft, assembled by Brett Blixt.
The airplane was painted in U.S. Army colors and insignias from Doug Harrell and Oversprayer, in appreciation of his bravery, determination, and heroic efforts to fight for our freedom. Thank you to all of our veterans!
Don’t forget District V’s goal for all 335 clubs to participate in National Model Aviation Day on August 16, and help support the Wounded Warrior Project!
[box with light speed voting information in it]
[the national model aviation day advertisement]
Joe Nall Week in South Carolina is an amazing time for RC pilots. The event takes place at
Triple Tree Aerodrome in Woodruff, South Carolina. It is a beautiful, well-maintained site, staffed with friendly, hard-working volunteers. The Triple Tree Aerodrome seems to add something annually that further enhances the experience for everyone who attends.
This year event had 1,484 registered pilots representing 45 states and 10 foreign countries. If you needed anything for the hobby, the 94 vendors could probably supply it.
Triple Tree’s flightlines include the main one for Giant Scale aircraft meeting International Miniature Aircraft Association (IMAA) specifications; IMAA-size 3-D flying; float flying; electric less than 80 inches; helicopters with no size restrictions; and CL. The CL site also had trainers for anyone who wanted to learn or reacquaint themselves with that segment of the hobby.
Thursday evening was the AMA membership meeting with all but one of the district vice presidents (VPs) in attendance. District IV VP Bliss Teague was ill and unable to attend; we all wish him a speedy recovery. AMA Headquarters’ staff and the VPs covered a number of topics including finance, education, FPV and new technology, the AMA Foundation, and answered questions from the membership.
Joe Nall is a great flying event, but it is also a place to meet old friends and make new ones. If you have never had the pleasure of attending Joe Nall or any Triple Tree event, I urge you to put it on your list of things to do. Anyone bitten by the RC bug will enjoy it immensely. Check out www.tripletreeaerodrome.com for more information and click RC Fly-ins at the top of the page.
—Don Wise
District V AVP
