A-6 Intruders return to OLF Coupeville. The A-6 was retired in 1997 from the Navy. Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey was one of last stations to fly the Intruder. VA-165 and VA-196 from NAS Whidbey had film footage in the movie Flight of the Intruder.
Now, 17 years later, two Intruders are back flying at the Outlying Field at Coupeville, Washington. This is the club flying site for the Whidbey Island Radio Control Society (WIRCS) that has had an agreement with the Navy since before the Intruders were retired.
Two of the WIRCS members have Freewing electric ducted-fan (EDF) Intruders and they are flying in the same airspace the full-scale aircraft used for carrier landing practice.
The Red Baron RC Modelers of Shelley, Idaho, is the newest AMA Gold Level Leader Club! For their hard work and efforts, the members have received a nice plaque for the club’s field to display, and all current members will receive lapel/hat pins. They will also be recognized in Model Aviation.
Please help me congratulate our fellow Idahoans for their hard work and dedication to making our hobby better, safer, and promoting to the next generation of fliers. If you get a chance, I recommend bringing an airplane and flying with the club the next time you find yourselves in eastern Idaho. You won’t be disappointed.
—Bryan Wood
District XI Associate Vice President
Many of us in the Northwest look for reasons to spend a little time in Southern California during this time of year. Here’s a good one. The AMA Expo will be held January 9-11, 2015 in Ontario, California. When it’s cold at home, chances are it’ll be nice weather in Ontario!
There are vendors and more to see and the huge swap meet has lots of hot deals. Don’t miss out on the ice cream bars. You’ll also get the chance to meet most of the AMA Executive Council (EC) members and get to chat with Bob Brown, the AMA president. Many members of the AMA staff will be there so you will get your chance to put a face to the names of some of the workers in Muncie, Indiana, who keep this organization running!
There will be an EC meeting on Sunday that is open to the members. It’s a look into the nuts and bolts of how the AMA works.
Another meeting may be of interest to you. Lawrence Tougas, District X vice president, will host a District X meeting on Saturday. Lawrence has been a great mentor for me and we have similar issues out here on the West Coast.
You will find at least three District XI associate vice presidents at the Expo. Bryan Wood, Mike Mosbrooker, and Del Herring plan to attend. You might see us anywhere at the Expo, but there is a AMA area where we all have time to sit and talk. I hope you’ll take the time to say hello.
It’s been a great year for me and thanks for your support. We’re all in this together.[dingbat]
Caps:
The A-6s belong to Bill Oaks and John Brooks.
Bill Oaks taxies out for another mission with his Intruder. The 12-blade EDF makes a nice sound flying by, and moves out nicely on the 6S battery. It has nice scale detail for a 46-inch wingspan airplane.
