Author: Jim Rice
Edition: Model Aviation - 2012/06
Page Numbers: 150

District X — Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii, Nevada, Utah

Model and full-scale aviation: Las Vegas open house

One proven way to protect a flying field that is on public land is through community involvement. This month, Associate Vice President Greg Clemmensen discusses a day of model and full-scale aviation in Las Vegas.

General aviation joined with model aviation at the Fifth Annual Clark County Aviation Association open house. The event attracted more than 1,000 people to the North Las Vegas Airport on March 31, 2012.

Members of several Las Vegas–area AMA clubs participated. Retired American Airlines pilot and Las Vegas Radio Control Club member Gil Terzo displayed his 40% Extra. Gil said, "It is easier for a radio control pilot to learn to fly full-scale aircraft than the other way around." He added that many people develop an interest in general aviation after being involved in model aviation.

Richard Ranney of the Vegas Aces showed off his 2.5-gram indoor free-flight (FF) model. Las Vegas Circle Burners club members displayed and explained their control-line (CL) airplanes, including Skip Horstman's beautifully finished Ares.

More than 100 kids enjoyed receiving a free blue foam glider. Rebel Squadron's Bill Allen, John Stockwell, and Bob Connell did final assembly on-site, demonstrating for the kids the essence of aeromodeling. Two flight simulators were constantly in use by adults and children.

Many other organizations were involved in the open house, including:

  • Representatives of the FAA and flight school instructors, who informed the public on aviation safety and flight instruction.
  • Commercial sightseeing carriers promoting tours.
  • Members of the EAA displaying and explaining an aircraft under construction.
  • Angel Flight, discussing its mission of providing air transportation for medical needs.
  • Representatives of the United States Air Force and the Civil Air Patrol, answering questions.

I observed this open house as a perfect illustration of the convergence of full-scale and model aviation, and was honored to be a part of it.

My job as a structural engineer at United Airlines frequently has some crossover with modeling. I recently completed a project to add blended winglets to the 767 fleet. This involved strengthening the wing with new stringers and ribs from the pylons out to the end of the wing. I then joined 11.5-foot-tall winglets to the wing. The wing work had to be done with minimal weight addition, or the benefits of better fuel economy would be lost. I have included some pictures from the project; I hope you enjoy them.

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