District X Report - 2003/07

156
AMA STAFF members tour Southern
California flying sites: AMA Programs
Director Jay Mealy and Special Services
Director Carl Maroney took the opportunity
following the AMA Convention to get a
firsthand look at some of the critical issues
facing District X flying sites.
During a two-day period, the AMA
administrators toured Lilly Shapell Park in
Laguna Niguel, the closed El Toro Marine
base in Orange County, and the Torrey Pines
Gliderport in San Diego. All of these
facilities are sites that have recently
benefited from AMA’s Flying Site
Assistance Program and are open for
aeromodeling activities today because of the
dedicated efforts of the local modelers and
assistance from AMA.
Lilly Shapell Park in Laguna Niguel, home
to the Laguna Niguel Slope Soaring Guild,
is a gorgeous and quaint city park. The
park amenities and the view of the rolling
hills in south Orange County makes this a
spectacular slope-soaring facility.
AMA administrators met with the
Laguna Niguel Slope Soaring Guild and the
City of Laguna Niguel to view the park and
discuss the aeromodeling use of the facility.
Pictured are Wade Kloos of the Lilly
Shapell Model Glider Committee (L), Carl
Maroney, Park and Recreation Director
Pam Lawrence, Jay Mealy, City Manager
Tim Casey, City Attorney Terry Dixon, and
AMA Attorney Ron Halpern.
Torrey Pines Gulls president Ron Brown
showed Jay and Carl around the
magnificent and historic Torrey Pines
Gliderport overlooking the San Diego
seashore. Pictured are Ron Brown (L),
Carl Maroney, Larry Fogel, and Jay Mealy.
How better
to end the
day? Ron
and Jay took
some time
to enjoy the
view and the
spectacular
Torrey Pines
s o a r i n g
conditions.
February 15, Bob White of Monrovia,
California, was presented with the Andrei
Tupolev Diploma (Award) at the 2003
Americas Cup Banquet held in conjunction
with the annual Max Men 14 Rounder Free
Flight Contest at Lost Hills, California.
Bob was nominated by the Fédération
Aéronautique Internationale (FAI)
Aeromodeling Commission and the Andrei
Tupolev Diploma was conferred by a vote of
the delegates attending the 2002 FAI Council
meeting held in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Pictured are Tom Coussens (L), Pierre
Brun, Bob White, and Southern California
Aero Team (SCAT) president Jim Parker.
Established in 1989, the Andrei Tupolev
Medal is donated by the NAC of Russia in
honor of the Russian aircraft designer often
referred to as the father of Russian aviation.
The Tupolev Diploma may be awarded
annually to a single aeromodeler who in the
same year wins the World and National
Aeromodeling Championships in the same
class of models.
March 5, club president John Pomroy
(above) briefed the East Valley Aviators on
current events as club members gathered for
their monthly meeting at the Valle Del Oro
RV Resort in east Mesa, Arizona.
The East Valley Aviators are a vibrant
and growing club consisting of local
residents and many winter visitors who
travel to the Valley of the Sun to enjoy
Arizona’s year-round flying conditions. The
club has an excellent flying site and the club
members focus their efforts on providing a
safe and friendly aeromodeling
environment.
This deBolt Speedster, powered by a .061
Norvel, was built from the 1949 kit plans by
Alan Knox of Reno, Nevada. Having never
flown, the aircraft was stolen from Alan’s
home before its initial test flight.
This exceptional model has not yet been
recovered, and we are requesting any
information modelers may have regarding
its whereabouts. If anyone has any
information that may help in the recovery of
the Speedster, please contact Alan Knox,
Box 11692, Reno NV 89510.
Photo and information provided by Fran
Ptaszkiewicz of Tonawanda, New York.
’Till next time ... Keep ’em safe and Keep
’em fly’n.
Associate Vice Presidents
Glenn Carter Walnut Creek CA (925) 933-2086
Jim Giffin Sacramento CA (916) 296-6165
Wayne Hamada Honolulu HI (808) 521-7733
Kai Jensen Reno NV (775) 329-6430
Bill Malvey Ladera Ranch CA (949) 481-8621
Jerry Neuberger Santee CA (619) 258-4477
Bob Reynolds Tucson AZ (520) 296-8183
Frequency Coordinators
George Steiner Sacramento CA (916) 362-1962
(See last month’s column for additional AVPs and
Coordinators)
Arizona / California / Hawaii /
Guam / Nevada / Utah
Richard Hanson
Vice President
PO Box 3312
Scottsdale AZ 85271
Voice/Fax: (888) 899-3548
E-mail: [email protected]
www.ama-10.com/ama
District X Report