Author: Tim Jesky
Edition: Model Aviation - 2013/07
Page Numbers: 142

District VII—Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin

Tim Jesky — Vice President

I recently returned from the spring Executive Council (EC) meeting in Muncie, Indiana. For those who aren’t familiar, the EC is composed of:

  • the AMA president
  • the executive vice president
  • the district vice presidents
  • the executive director
  • the National Aeronautic Association president

We meet quarterly to conduct the business of the Academy and our members. The meeting agenda is a busy one—filled with business and committee reports from publications, safety, and education, to name a few. Proposed changes or additions to how the AMA and its programs operate are presented and then voted on by the EC. The meetings are open to all AMA members and we encourage anyone to attend.

Muncie is an easy driving distance for most in our district, and you can also visit AMA’s world-class National Model Aviation Museum and arguably the best flying facilities anywhere.

Information on EC meeting dates and times can be found on AMA’s website at www.modelaircraft.org. If you’re able to make the trip, I believe you’ll find the experience informative and rewarding.

Event report — Noel Hunt

This month’s event report comes from Michigan District VII Associate Vice President Noel Hunt. Noel is a fan of scale and warbird aircraft and reports on some great meets held in southeast Michigan.

Judging by the number of dedicated events, there is significant warbird interest in southeast Michigan. I had the good fortune to attend four of them last flying season:

  • Detroit Aero Modelers (DAM)
  • Held its inaugural event and recognized active and veteran military members.
  • Attending were active Marine Lance Cpl. Tarek Aljida and Lt. Col. Alex Jefferson, a Tuskegee Airman; both addressed the pilots and spectators.
  • Pontiac Miniature Aircraft Club (PMAC)
  • Has a large contingent of warbird enthusiasts.
  • PMAC events have been held annually for several years.
  • Radio Control Club of Detroit (RCCD)
  • Annual event that was graced with flybys of a rare, full-scale Navy N3N belonging to Jim and Nancy McDaniel.
  • Flying Pilgrims R/C Club
  • At 29 years running, the most established of the four events is the club’s annual Fall Phase Out for Fun.
  • All International Miniature Aircraft Association–size airplanes are welcome, but a significant number of the aircraft are warbirds.
  • All four events were well attended.

It’s great to see the wide variety of models, ranging from frame-and-cloth World War I string bags to World War II heavy metal and more modern military aircraft. Equally important is getting together with friends—longtime and new—who share a common passion for aviation’s military history.

There is also the satisfaction of presenting our interpretation of these historically important machines to spectators, who are always drawn by the action. There’s nothing like big warbirds thundering down the airfield in simultaneous, low flybys, then inviting spectators to view the aircraft parked midfield and chatting with them about our hobby.

Thanks to the respective clubs and their contest directors for the good times. How about joining us in 2013?

Let’s make the Flying Pilgrims' 30th annual Fall Phase Out for Fun on September 14 and 15 even bigger than usual. This one is worth the drive.

Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.