District V - 2011/05

144 MODEL AVIATION
District V
Jose Soto, District V Vice President; [email protected]
Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, US Virgin Islands
WOW! This has become a good year for our
district. I have been to a few events and they
have all been well attended and also very
well represented, modeling is as strong as it
has always been, but I am seeing very few
juniors in our activities.
My challenge to every one of you is to
introduce one young person to model
aircraft activities this month, and send me a
report of the success you had in process of
getting this person to fly. It is not very hard;
it just takes a little effort and determination,
but the rewards will be excellent.
The Georgia Aircraft Modelers
Association (GAMA) sponsors the largest
swap meet I have ever attended. We know it
as Perry and this year it did not disappoint!
Norm Deputy and his crew sold more
than a thousand tables and there was
something for everyone. Your AMA had a
booth at the event and Joyce Hager and
Wendy Neal staffed it all weekend long.
Dave Mathewson and Tony Stillman
were also present and served as featured
guests at the District V associate vice
presidents meeting we had on Friday
evening. In all, the swap meet went great
and the meeting was educational and
informative.
The FAA issue is the forefront of many
discussions on the Internet, at the field, and
even in restaurants where RC pilots gather
for some good times and eats. Please, make
sure that you visit the AMA Web site for the
official word about what is going on.
I have heard many erroneous versions of
what really is going on. This needs to be
addressed. Again, for the facts of the FAA
issues, visit the AMA Web site.
Chris Scoggins sent in this report. Thanks,
Chris!
“On September 24-25, 2010, Hodges
Hobbies and Castle Creations hosted the
fifth annual Hodges Hobbies All Electric
Fly-In (HHAEFI) in Andersonville, Georgia.
The event was attended by 97 pilots and
about 200 spectators, some from as far away
as Kentucky.
“I’m sure I speak for everyone when I
say that this year’s event was filled with
plenty of food, fun, fellowship, and of
course, flying! A big attraction at this year’s
event was the noon show headlined by Mac
Hodges and his 20-foot B-29.
“A wide variety of models was
represented in the noon show, including
scale helicopters, 3-D aerobatics, and an RC
kite. There was something for every kind of
modeler. The event also offered several
rounds of foamy Combat.
“The fast-paced excitement was enjoyed
by spectators and pilots alike. It also seems
that a friendly rivalry has developed
between the Georgia and Florida Combat
pilots. Next year we hope to see some other
states join in the fun!
Chris DeGraff flew his scratch-built E-29
many times at the event. The airplane has an
eight-foot span and launches two smaller
flying wings.
Several sessions of Combat offered fun for
pilots and spectators alike. Richard
Scarborough (far right) was the winner of
this round.
Matt Botos put on a wonderful noon
demonstration. Matt was awarded the title
of best demo flight for obvious reasons.
Hunter Mercer put on a great demo flight
with his T-28 Trojan. At 9 years old, he is
already an accomplished pilot. We expect
great things from him in the future!
“We also had a lot of night flying,
including everything from one-ounce Night
Vapors to an 8-foot flying wing. This
wonderful event would not have been
possible without Mac Hodges and Hodges
Hobbies providing us with a beautiful,
1,600-foot grass field. The field is also the
home of SEFF [Southeast Electric Flight
Festival] and is by far one of the best flying
sites in the US.
“Many thanks to all the wonderful people
who came and made HHAEFI V5 the best
one yet! And, of course, a special thanks to
event coordinator Bill Davenport for his
hard work. Planning has already begun for
next year’s event, and we would like to go
ahead and invite all of District V to join us
next year for what is quickly becoming the
biggest and best fall electric event in the
southeast!”
Jose Soto
Vice President
1930 Deanna Drive,
Apopka FL 32703; (407)
409-4795; www.ama
district-v.org
Safety Coordinator: Red
Scholefield, Newberry
FL; (352) 331-8410;
[email protected]
Associate Vice Presidents
Alabama:
Rick Grim, Harvest AL; (256)
503-5847; (rickgrim@ama
district-v.org)
Florida:
Tony Fandino, Hialeah FL (305)
216-8580; fandino@amadistrictv.
org
Jim Perdue, Coral Springs FL;
(954) 683-2660;
[email protected]
Georgia:
Bob Dixon, Macon GA;
[email protected]
Mississippi:
Hank Cooper, Terry MS;
(601) 857-3111; hacooper@
bellsouth.com
South Carolina:
Richard Whitely, Summerville
SC; (843) 408-3509;
[email protected]
Tennessee:
Frank Ponteri, Maryville TN ;
(865) 233-0308
[email protected]
Dick Tonan, La Vergne TN;
[email protected]
Webmaster: Bill Davison
[email protected]
For additional district officers and
volunteers, please see a previous
issue of MA or visit the District V
Web site.
District V Volunteers
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