144 MODEL AVIATION
Executive Vice President
Mark Smith; [email protected]
HI FOLKS! It’s been a busy month since I
last wrote, so let me catch you up on some
exciting things I’ve been working on.
2009 Annual Weak Signals R/C Expo in
Toledo: Yes, it’s something many of us
must do each year! I asked several attendees
why they travel hundreds of miles (good
friend and modeling icon Reeves Lippincott
came from Alaska!) and universally the
answer is, “to visit with my friends.”
In addition to seeing all the latest and
greatest innovations from the manufacturers,
you have the opportunity to meet many of
your AMA Executive Council (EC) and key
AMA staff members. Our president and
several EC members, all of whom are
volunteers, spend countless hours in front of
our booth answering questions and giving
advice.
Next year, please be sure to drop by and
let us personally thank you for supporting
this great hobby of ours.
Between meetings, President Mathewson
takes time to address concerns of AMA
members.
AMA District II Vice President Gary Fitch
(R) spreads the good news and answering
questions at the AMA booth in Toledo.
AMA District III Vice President Bob Brown
(center) chats with Toledo attendees.
The Southeast Electric Flight Festival
(SEFF) and the National Competition Fun
Fly Association (NCFFA) Championships:
May is an extremely busy month for
President Dave Mathewson and me, so we
decided to divide and conquer the many
events of the month.
Dave and I agreed that he would attend
Top Gun while I had the great pleasure in
attending SEFF in Americus, Georgia. Event
Director Jeff Meyers extended warm
southern hospitality to AMA Executive
Director Jim Cherry and me.
Here’s an oxymoron for you: the event
was action-packed and laid back! Let me
explain. There were four flightlines with
continuous flying going on, but as a
participant, all you needed to do was check
in with the people running each flightline,
step up to the pilot’s station, and have fun!
I want to recognize some outstanding
folks who make this event successful.
AMA recognized the hard work by the
Fayetteville Flyers and team members at
SEFF.
Jim Cherry (L), SEFF host Mac Hodges
(center), and me at this year’s SEFF.
Jim drove from Muncie, Indiana, with a
couple of flying buddies, pulling his trailer.
He brought several items to give away
including AMA applications. I was blown
away by how many youth we signed up
during the weekend and many of our
members stopped by to express their
appreciation that we had a presence at SEFF.
As many of you know, I was deeply
involved as an officer and competitor with
the NCFFA, an AMA Special Interest Group.
While munching on a burger, two
competitors and friends Joe “Trey” Hooton
and David Grantham sat down on the picnic
bench to chat. I asked Trey to drop me a line
about the upcoming NCFFA event.
“The NCFFA will be holding its
Championships in historic Andersonville,
Georgia, at the Hodges Hobbies flying site
August 8-9, 2009. This flying site is a
premier location with a full hobby shop on
site and the most hospitable host and CD in
Mac Hodges you could ask for.
“Continuing the traditions of years past,
we will have four classes of fun-fly events.
These include Masters Unlimited, Masters
Fun-Fly, Sportsman Unlimited, and
Sportsman Fun-Fly. The Unlimited Class
performs timed rolling and looping
combinations with spot touch-and-gos.
“The Fun-Fly Class will be doing some
similar tasks along with events requiring a
little luck included. The Sportsman events are
the same in each class but with a lesser
degree of difficulty to encourage new pilots
to join in.
“Also included in this year’s event is a
Magic Class. Airplanes must be limited to
any Model Tech Magic aircraft, including the
original Magic, Magic v2.0, Simply Magic,
and Magic Extra. This class is for laid-back
fun, and will not include trophies, but will
still have access to merchandise prizes.
“I have found in past events, if you do not
own a Magic, fellow pilots are willing to let
you fly theirs, which promotes further
fellowship at events such as this.
“Visit the NCFFA Web site at www.
ncffafunfly.org for event listings and rules
information. Come join in and try your
thumbs out!”
NCFFA Nats event organizer Trey with his
weapon.
That’s it for this month. Have fun and keep
in touch!
Mark Smith
Executive Vice
President
14632 W. 50th St.,
Shawnee KS 66216
Tel.: (913) 568-4347
07amanews.ar:11amanews.qxd 5/22/2009 10:08 AM Page 144
Edition: Model Aviation - 2009/07
Page Numbers: 144