Mark S. Johnston
[email protected]
6608 Beck Dr NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109
Tel.: (505) 823-0158; www.ama-district-viii.org
By the time you read this, the FAA comment period will likely be over. I hope we did a good job with comments so that some of the rule will be changed. Depending on what you read and who wrote it, the rules may not change at all. The FAA is a government entity controlled by Congress. It acts in the interests of the National Air Space and public safety.
As a community-based organization, we as members should and need to follow our safety code and rules to the letter. We need to be safe at all times, so doing anything that might be risky such as high-speed maneuvers directly toward the pit area or crowd, whether it is during an event or simply another weekend at the field, is not a good plan. Having fun in our hobby and being able to fly what we want and when we want is important. If you are out flying and something looks out of place, bring it to your club officers’ attention.
Being hasty in making comments or changing rules is not in the best interests of the club and those involved. Please be mindful of everyone’s opinions concerning how a club moves forward in these trying times. Please remember that as an AMA member, we agreed to follow the safety code no matter where you fly.
On the weekend of September 27-28, the Tri City Flyers will host the District VIII Celebration of Flight and Memorial at the Kingsbury AeroDrome outside of Seguin, Texas. Most of the District VIII associate vice presidents as well as some of the AMA staff will be on hand to answer questions.
On Saturday night we will have a general membership meeting and the famous Red Ritch and the Ritch’s Raiders barbecue dinner for all AMA members in attendance. We should have lots of good flying weather for the weekend. The club will have shirts and lunch available as well as a few pilot prizes to give away.
I also attended the Albuquerque Soaring Association’s Discus-Launch Glider contest that was held at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta Park. It is amazing to see the airplanes launched 200 feet in the air. There was a good turnout and nice weather for the event.
On July 26, I attended the Albuquerque Radio Control Club Competition Fun-Fly and helped run the event. While I was there got a couple of pictures I want to share.
Brian Regan displays a Sig Kadet that he painted himself. I’m not sure if we should have Brian checked, but it was different.
I had a chance to see three generations of the Guthrie family fly as well (Jim, Sean, and James). The fourth generation has a few years before he gets in the air.
On August 2, I attended a memorial event for the late Jim Wallen in Denver. Jim was the District IX vice president for two terms and made a huge impact on the AMA Executive Council. AMA Executive Vice President Gary Fitch and I were there and Jim’s wife, Susan, was presented with the President’s Award to honor Jim.
Susan Wallen, Gary Fitch, and Mark Johnston.
I hope to see you all at the field!
