Flying Site Assistance - 2004/04

April 2004 175
AMA News
Academy of Model Aeronautics 5161 E. Memorial Dr., Muncie IN 47302
View from HQ
See page 208
FREQUENTLY I get requests for
information pertaining to “real-world”
flying sites. Modelers with actual or
potential site problems want something
more than anecdotal accounts of historical
successes or failures. They want to see
examples of “who’s doing what and how’s
it working today?”
I have one such example this month. A
site within 25 miles of my home in
Arizona is located in what is known as
Usery Mountain Park. The flying site is a
small portion of the park, which also hosts
equine activity, off-road activity, biking,
and hiking—a truly multiuse facility.
During my infrequent visits to the
flying site, I have seen the usual
assortment of senior modelers as well as
some up-and-coming younger people—
men, women, boys, and girls. Some are in
family groups and some are by themselves.
The precise mix of people would gladden
the heart of a county recreation director!
Usually, I visit the flying site as the
result of some publicity in the local
newspaper or on the local television
station. I typically see quite a few
nonmodelers at the site—people who are
there because they saw the same publicity
piece that I saw.
The Usery Mountain flying site itself is
maintained by the AMA—not the AMA
you know, but by the Arizona Model
Aviators, one of our chartered clubs.
Signage at the site is beneficial to the
public as well as to the modelers, and
attests to the fact that the club and the
county had a good dialogue during the
development of the field.
The first sign you see when entering the
property lets you know you’re entering a
Radio Control (RC) flying site. The next
sign reminds modelers to be sure their
transmitters are off before proceeding to
the field.
Once at the flying site, one finds the
club flying rules as well as a park
department sign listing the fees for park
use.
When you’re done for the day, read the
first sign you see when you leave the
parking lot and go back and get your
transmitter!
At a recent .25-size Pylon event I
discovered part of the reason Maricopa
County is prone to support this flying site.
Two of the club members, Tom Curtiss
and Larry Peterson, had come to the event
from Payson, Arizona, anticipating some
tough competition.
They brought with them a young man,
Evan Morton, to whom they had been
teaching the fine art of RC in general—
Pylon Racing in particular. Evan’s mother
and father were also in attendance. With
less than a year of RC experience, Evan
was about to become a Pylon Racing
veteran.
After watching a few heats and getting
some instruction on calling turns, Evan
flew his first round. As I recall, he came in
third. That’s not bad for a start and Evan
got the attention of the other competitors.
After two more well-flown heats,
Evan’s airplane was involved in an
unplanned, high-velocity meeting with
terra firma. The crash totaled the aircraft.
So that Evan could continue in his firstever
competition, Larry offered to let him
use his model, thus pulling himself out of
the competition.
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
176
AMA/Charles H. Grant Scholarships
Each year, the Academy of Model Aeronautics awards Charles Hampson Grant
Scholarships to deserving high-school seniors who will be pursuing a continuing
academic program at an accredited college or university.
In 2003, 47 applications were received and processed by the four-person selection
committee. Each applicant is screened and ranked using various criteria. These include
such things as grade-point average, test results, school and community activities, and
aeromodeling activities.
In addition to the Grant scholarship program, there are specialized funds available.
These include a yearly donation provided by the Weak Signals club. The funds for this
scholarship are the result of activities which occur at the club’s annual model expo
held each spring in Toledo, Ohio. In 2003, at the club’s direction, the sum of $4,000
was awarded to the top winner in addition to the amount provided by C.H. Grant
funds.
A third scholarship is awarded from funds provided by Sig Manufacturing, Inc. of
Montezuma, Iowa. This award is based upon need and modeling activity. The 2003
sum awarded was $2,500.
Currently, the amount awarded through the C.H. Grant Scholarship fund is
approximately $20,000, generated through funds based on Academy memberships and
donations or memorials designated for that specific purpose. The other awards
represent specific donations by individuals or organizations.
To be eligible for a scholarship, the applicant must:
1) have been an AMA member for the last full 36 consecutive months prior to the
April 30 application deadline,
2) graduate from high school in the year in which the award is to be granted, and
3) have been accepted by a college or university offering a certificate or degree
program. Applicants are eligible to receive a grant only once.
Applications and information for scholarships or information regarding donations
to the programs may be obtained by contacting AMA Headquarters, extension 516, or
by E-mailing [email protected]. Applications and detailed information are
available on the AMA Web site, www.modelaircraft.org, and the Education Web site,
www.buildandfly.com.
The deadline for applications for the 2004 awards is April 30, 2004.
A few minutes of frantic radio
swapping and Evan was back in the race!
While the races were being completed, a
hat was passed through the crowd.
At the end of the day there was one
young competitor with a “middle-of-thepack”
performance under his belt, a grin
from ear to ear, and the funds necessary to
replace his lost airplane.
Of course, mom and dad could not have
been more proud!
Tom Curtiss flying a heat, Larry Peterson
calling, and Evan Morton learning.
Evan flying his first heat and Tom
calling.
Evan with his “pre-terra firma” airplane,
mom Gayle and and dad Kenny Morton,
Tom Curtiss in the rear.
Great people being great to other
people are common at this particular flying
site, and part of the recipe for an
outstanding relationship with the site
owner. When good stuff happens at your
field, get some publicity!
Got a good story? Get it to me!
Nominations
Due for AMA
Hall of Fame
Established in 1969, the AMA Hall
of Fame honors those men and women
who have made significant
contributions to the hobby/sport of
model aviation. The list of members is
long and distinguished, and there are
others not yet in the Hall who are
worthy of induction.
Any AMA member can submit a
Hall of Fame nomination. Consider
nominating a person who has had a
positive impact on some facet of
aeromodeling.
For a nomination form, call or
write Michael Smith at AMA
Headquarters or see the AMA Web
page at www.modelaircraft.org.
Deadline for nominations is March 31,
2004.
Build and Fly.com
The Academy of Model Aeronautics
Education Web site,
www.buildandfly.com, is the work of the
Education Committee. Our mission is to
promote model aviation as an educational
tool, in formal classroom and nonformal,
after-school settings.
We seek to assist classroom teachers
to integrate aerospace education concepts
into math, science, social studies,
language arts, and technology education
programs.
Curriculum support and materials for
science classroom programs may be
found in the Inventing Flight Schools
curriculum, written to celebrate the
centennial of flight of the Wright
brothers.
Support for non-formal after-school
programs such as Science Olympiad or
Technology Student Association
competitions may be found in program
search.
If you are seeking mentor assistance
with any of these initiatives, you may
find the details about how to locate one
in your area in the modeling educator
listing.