THROUGHOUT MY YEARS as vice
president of District X, I have had the
pleasure of awarding many prestigious
awards. All have been well deserved;
certainly the AMA Fellow Award marks
AMA’s highest recognition for lifetime
modeling achievement and contribution to
aeromodeling and the Academy of Model
Aeronautics.
However, perhaps the most prestigious
award is the Model Aviation Hall of Fame
(HOF) award as it represents a lifetime
contribution to the hobby and it is bestowed
by the members of the HOF. It represents
recognition of the inductee’s contribution by
fellow modelers who share the joy of the
hobby and cherish model aviation.
On March 14, 2004, at the California
United Free Flight Model Airplane Club
(CUFFMAC) annual banquet, I had the
distinct pleasure and honor of presenting the
Model Aviation Hall of Fame award to 76-
year-old Addie Naccarato of Burbank,
California.
Addie is a three-time world record holder,
has competed in numerous Nats, is an AMA
CD, and cofounder of the Black Sheep
Exhibition Squadron (1979). She has
designed and kitted numerous hand-launched
and electric models and assisted in the
acquisition of indoor and outdoor flying sites
throughout the San Fernando Valley.
Perhaps Addie’s greatest contribution
resides in her daily involvement in the hobby
through her local hobby shop, Tony &
Addie’s Hobby Lobby, a landmark in
Southern California for 56 years.
Mitch Poling of Port Townsend,
Washington, describes the hobby shop as “the
hobby store you think of as your childhood
dream.” When Mitch visited the store he saw
“models everywhere, and there was Addie,
building models on a little workbench while
serving customers. I always go to T&A when
I am in Southern California. Her (Addie’s)
designs have always been cutting edge, and
there are probably a hundred of them!”
Mitch describes Addie as “a real
pioneer—her ideas, airplanes, and designs
have led the way for model fliers. She has
been very active in model education programs
and she has been personally responsible for
hundreds of kids getting started in modeling.
Addie has been a pillar of support for our
hobby.”
Congratulations Addie, for all your
achievements! On behalf of all the members
of AMA District X, thank you for helping
make model aviation the hobby and sport we
enjoy to day.
Till next time ... Keep ’em safe and Keep
’em fly’n.
Ron Boots presided over the 2004
CUFFMAC annual banquet held at the
Castaways resort in Burbank, California.
CUFFMAC is a statewide association of FF
clubs in California with member clubs from
as far south as San Diego and north to
Sacramento and the San Francisco Bay
area. Club members gather each year to
renew old friendships, reminisce, and
share their enthusiasm for FF and model
aviation. The annual banquet also provides
an opportunity to show off their individual
creations. This year’s static display
included Don Buttman’s CO2-powered
Zombie (above left) and Roy Hanson’s G-
24-T-powered PA-17 (above right).
Black Sheep Exhibition Squadron member
George Crabtree displayed his magnificent
1:300-scale model of the historical Grand
Central Air Terminal in Glendale, California,
circa 1929-1935. Though only portions of
the facility exist today, many of the
modelers remember the aerodrome as it
existed in 1935 and some even flew from
the airfield.
Tony Naccarato of Tony & Addie’s Hobby
Lobby in Burbank presented his new
programmable electric speed controller. It
allows for event sequences of up to five
preprogrammed flight profiles, bringing
Electric FF to a whole new level.
This year’s CUFFMAC banquet marked a
very special occasion and provided the
opportunity for fellow modelers to honor
Addie Naccarato as a 2003 inductee into the
Model Aviation Hall of Fame.
Addie’s induction into the Hall of Fame
places her in the company of other worldrenowned
modelers such as FF great Sal
Taibi from Lakewood, California.
Honorees at the 2004 CUFFMAC banquet
included president Ron Boots (L), past
president Kevin Keller, Sal Taibi, Addie
Naccarato, Mike Keller, Larry Clark, and
junior award recipients Chuck and Brianna
Keller.
170
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
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]
Web site : www.ama10.org
District X Report
04july.qxd 4/22/04 1:53 pm Page 170
Edition: Model Aviation - 2004/07
Page Numbers: 170