Flying Site Assistance - 2003/12

December 2003 171
I HAVE three interesting events to discuss
this month. Each represents a template for
success in dealing with the public as you try
to secure or to save your flying site. Each of
the events has enormous potential in terms
of an impact on the opinions of people who
might not be inclined to “bless” any form of
model aviation in their locale.
The Torrey Pines Gliderport in California
has been recognized as the first Academy of
Model Aeronautics’ Landmark Site. AMA
Executive Director Joyce Hager was on
hand August 30 to unveil the AMA
Landmark Site plaque recognizing the
historic significance of the Torrey Pines
Gliderport in the evolution of both model
and full-scale aviation. After Joyce unveiled
the plaque, she was presented with a
declaration of appreciation by Sherri
Lightner, Chairperson of the La Jolla Town
Council.
Torrey Pines Gliderport’s new plaque.
An event such as this serves to enhance
the public perception and understanding of
model aviation through radio, television, and
print media. Having influential political
persons in attendance is always a plus—
particularly in view of the fact that we may
have face-to-face meetings with those same
people as we make our cases for new flying
sites.
The Academy is in the process of
considering other historically significant
locations for Landmark Site status.
While I was visiting San Diego for the
Torrey Pines presentation, I stopped by
Dymond Modelsports, a local hobby shop,
to see if there was anything going on at the
local flying fields. As luck would have it,
Helmut Goestl, the owner, was just on his
way to the local Electric flying site to
demonstrate an electric system using the
cutting-edge Lithium Polymer (Li-Poly)
batteries.
Wow! Using the new batteries, which are
significantly lighter than any equivalent Ni-
Cd, Nickel Metal Hydride, or Lithium Ion
batteries, Helmut is getting flight times
between charging of as much as 90 minutes!
That’s comparable to flying all day and
charging when you get home.
With flying site loss as the most serious
problem facing our membership and noise as
the top reason for flying site losses, it stands
to reason that significant advances in the use
of electric (nearly noiseless) power in model
aviation will represent a boon to the sport
flier. These new batteries seem to answer the
two most frequently mentioned “problems”
with electric flight: weight and duration.
While I was watching the demonstration
(along with many passers-by who were
similarly awed), Helmut and some fellow
pilots attached a LastDown XL to a harness
on top of a Rearwin Speedster. The
Rearwin, powered by an Actro 40-5, was
flown to roughly 300 feet in altitude and
then the XL was released.
Helmut prepares the Rearwin/LastDown
XL combination for a test flight.
Both airplanes were then flown to normal
landings and then the process was repeated.
It appeared that the flights could have been
repeated many more times before recharging
would have been necessary.
If you have a noise complaint at your
field, consider Electric. Weight and duration
are quickly disappearing as arguments
against such a change.
A close-up of motor/battery configuration.
The lightweight batteries are in back of
the motor and underneath.
The last event I’ll mention this month is
KidVenture 2003. In my column a few
months back, I mentioned the KidVenture
Control Line (CL) activity conducted each
year in conjunction with the AirVenture
show in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
This event represents a grand opportunity
for AMA members to showcase one facet of
our hobby in front of many thousands of
people.
This year the volunteer crew was able to
get 2,496 kids and some parents into the sky
above Oshkosh. Smiles were everywhere!
The action was continuous from 9 a.m.
until 3:30 p.m. every day of the show.
Eighty-nine volunteers helped visitors from
48 states, 13 foreign countries, and the US
Virgin Islands experience CL flight.
Another first flight on the flightline at
KidVenture.
The public-relations potential of this type
of activity, done on a smaller scale at your
AMA News
Academy of Model Aeronautics 5161 E. Memorial Dr., Muncie IN 47302
Flying Site Assistance
Wes De Cou
Coordinator,
Western Region
Districts VII-XI
Voice: (480) 460-9466
Cell: (480) 296 9515
Fax: (480) 460-9434
202 W. Desert Flower Ln.
Phoenix AZ 85045
E-mail: [email protected]
Joe Beshar, Coordinator,
Eastern Region, Districts I-VI
198 Merritt Dr., Oradell NJ 07649
Tel.: (201) 261-1281; Fax: (201) 261-0223
E-mail: [email protected]
Finding—Preserving—Maintaining