HI, FOLKS! This month I’d like to spend
some time writing about one of my favorite
pastimes: float flying! Let me begin with a
report by flying buddy Darrell Watts, here in
the Kansas City area.
“The third annual Heart of America Float
Fly, June 6-7, 2009: ‘Blow Ye Winds in the
Morning, Blow Ye Winds Hi Ho ...’ and
blow it did! Except for about a 20-minute
respite after a brief morning shower, the
winds were 20-plus mph all day with gusts
up to approximately 30. On Sunday the
winds were ‘only’ 15 mph and numerous
flights took place.
“We had front page coverage in the local
paper’s weekend edition and numerous
people showed up to watch. We had a nice
static display on Saturday and spent
significant time visiting with them.
“On Sunday the spectators enjoyed the
flying as we pilots tried to keep at least one
model in the air at all times. We also got
over a half page follow-up article. This kind
of coverage is very good for our hobby.
“We were able to expose our hobby to a
lot of spectators both in person and in our
news coverage. The park management is
still pleased with our operation and is
looking forward to our return next year.
“So-o-o-o, all in all I think we can call
the Heart of America Float Fly another
successful event.”
As I was getting ready to attend this float
fly, I pulled down my trusty old Frankenmaster,
which is composed of three wrecked
Seamasters, hence the name! At any rate, the
wing was donated by another good friend,
Don Arth, which he had stored in his barn.
As I removed the wing from the
basement, I noticed something big rattling
around inside my wing! It was the size of a
golf ball, and low and behold, after I cut
open a wing bay, I found an old mud dauber
nest! The nest must have come loose over
the winter months, and luckily I was able to
patch it up at home. I flew it successfully at
the Heart of America event.
My Frankenmaster.
Look at the surprise I found inside my wing.
As part of my responsibilities as your
executive vice president, I am our primary
conduit with the modeling industry.
Recently, Mark Cleveland visited his
property which is the property used by
Hobby Lobby International located in
Brentwood, Tennessee. After looking over
the property, Mark decided to purchase the
business.
Mark is not a modeler, but he has the
innovative spirit to bring new, fresh, and
creative ideas to our hobby. At Mark’s
invitation, I flew down to Nashville to spend
a couple of days with him and subsequently
invited him to join our Marketing
Committee. Our committee recently met and
Mark has already made significant
contributions to AMA.
New CEO and owner of Hobby Lobby, Mark
Cleveland.
The Marketing Committee usually meets
in Champaign, Illinois, and by chance, the
JR Aero Tow event was in full swing that
weekend and I had to take it all in. Wow,
what an event. This is the Joe Nall of aero
towing and the folks at Horizon know how
to put on a first-class event!
National champion Jim Frickey from the
Kansas City area was there and stopped long
enough for a picture.
That’s it for this month. Please remember to
slather yourself with sunscreen and enjoy
the fall!
Three young spectators display Darrell Watts' Northstar. Top glider guider, Jim Frickey.
Executive Vice President
Mark Smith; [email protected]
170 MODEL AVIATION
Mark Smith
Executive Vice
President
14632 W. 50th St.,
Shawnee KS 66216
Tel.: (913) 568-4347
Edition: Model Aviation - 2009/10
Page Numbers: 170