As I’m writing this, January was a busy month. Before to attending the AMA Expo and Executive Council meeting that both took place in Ontario, California, I attended a club meeting in Kansas City. While there, I presented a plaque to Dusty Riley, for obtaining the Missouri state proclamation for National Model Aviation Day. Additionally, I presented Associate Vice President Gary Himes with a pin for supporting the AMA Foundation.
The most significant event I got to witness at the AMA Expo was the long-awaited signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the AMA and the FAA. This was signed by AMA President Bob Brown and Jim Williams, the FAA’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems Executive.
Additionally, the AMA Foundation had its official kickoff. During that presentation there were demonstrations of how to text a donation. Great job, Mandee Mikulski. She worked hard to obtain donations during the Expo.
During the council meeting I was appointed to several committees, including Advanced Flight Systems committee, Chairman to the Special Interest Group committee, and liaison between the Flying Site Grant committee and the Executive Council.
I was lucky enough to get to fly indoors to avoid the cold and wind in Jefferson City, Missouri, this month as well. I had the opportunity to meet and talk with members whom I hadn’t met before, including Jack Slaughter, president of the Mid Missouri Radio Control Association.
One thing we discussed was the AMA Flying Site Development/Improvement Grant his club received last year, and how they had put the money they received to good use. Jack expressed the club’s appreciation for the funds they had received.
When I delivered the check to the club last year, I got to see the new field and the improvements they had already made, and what was still planned or in the works. It is a premier flying site, and should be available to use for a long time because of its location. I look forward to attending an event there this coming flying season.
David Evans submitted the following:
“Every year, the kind people of Innsbrook, Missouri, a community west of St. Louis, grant the use of one of their lakes for an RC model airplane event. In past years, and hopefully subsequent years, events were held in the spring and in the fall. These events are jointly sponsored by the Wright Flyers and the Phantom Flyers clubs.
“For the second year in a row, rain shortened the spring event, but a couple of hours of good flying were available before the rains came. Eleven pilots brought 17 planes, almost all of which were flown. These events draw quite a crowd of spectators from the local residents and everyone enjoyed the show. We hand out little balsa gliders, donated by Mark Twain Hobby in St. Charles, Missouri, to the kids.
“The first annual (we hope) Fall Float Fly was held at Innsbrook on Saturday, September 21, under a beautiful, sunny sky, but with brisk winds from the north (mostly parallel to the shore). Ten pilots brought 17 planes to the event, but most of the smaller planes were not flown because of the strong winds. There were no mishaps, however, two flights ended with the airplanes dunked after good landings. The wind was strong enough to flip the airplanes as they made turns to try to taxi back to shore.
“These are great events enjoyed by many St. Louis-area fliers. We’re looking forward to continued support from the Innsbrook community for our club events.”
