District XI 2014/03

Early this year, Bob Benjamin generously donated his nine-foot Aeronca K to the National Model Aviation Museum in Muncie, Indiana. Bob is a longtime Scale modeler, author, and member of the AMA Model Aviation Hall of Fame. This model was designed in 1999 and built during 1999-2001.
While beautifully detailed, this airplane is traditional in design and construction keeping with established standards and practices for Radio Control Scale model airplanes—except for one thing. Power is developed by a geared Astro Cobalt 60 brushed, electric motor driven by a 28-cell NiMH battery pack with each cell having a 3,000 mAh capacity.
We take such things for granted today except that the NiMH batteries are pretty much a thing of the past. I still have several NiCad and MiMH packs—they make good weights in the shop. But of greatest significance, this airplane was the first ever electric-powered model to compete in class F4C (RC Scale) at the world championship in Canada in 2002.
This was not a special class for electric. It was flown by Robert A. Benjamin of Team USA to a third-place finish. Prior to competing in the 2002 World Championship, the model competed at the AMA Nationals (Expert, Master, and FAI RC Scale), the US Scale Masters Championships, the US International Scale Team Elimination Trials, and Top Gun, always placing in the top ten. The model has been featured in magazine articles in several different countries and on the covers of both French and US aeromodeling magazines.
I admit that I am attracted to this project because I have been flying electric planes since 1977 and have watched them progress to what we enjoy today. My first was a motor glider spanning more than two meters. Duration, even in a sailplane, was limited and the thought of flying an electric-powered, 18-pound aircraft was only a vague dream.
If you have not had the opportunity to visit the National Model Aviation Museum, you owe it to yourself to make such a visit priority. What they have on display is awesome and, when you think of the effort required to establish and maintain such a collection, you will quickly realize what a treasure is included as part of your AMA Membership.
Gene LaFond reports that the 2013 US Scale Masters was held at the Woodland/Davis Aeromodelers flying site near Sacramento, California, September 10-13. Eight members of the Wenatchee Red Apple Flyers participated (see photo). The Wenatchee crew wore red shirts made by local hobby shop, Go-Bent Bikes & RC Hobbies owned by my good friend Jim Baxter. They called themselves Team Red.
Our hobby/sport would suffer greatly were it not for people like Jim. Give him a call at (509) 667-7777, or find him online because he has a lot of RC stuff. Jeff Lovett did an excellent job as CD for the event. Jeff eliminated the figure-eight because of midair concerns and time constrains and gave all entrants a 10 on the maneuver without having to fly it. It was a bit different, but it worked for all. They had more than 60 contestants so, to get in two flights, Friday and Saturday made for long days.
Special Awards and top 10 finishers in various categories included Randy Smithhisler, Mike Brewer, Ward Emigh, Duane Kaasa, Mike Ingram, T. Doug Stewart, Del Herring, Chester Moore, and Virgil Johnson from District XI. There were several others from the district and anyone who even made it to the event is top notch in my book!
And finally, please join me in welcoming our newest associate vice president, Del Herring from Wenatchee, Washington. Stay warm—spring is coming?!