Focus on Competition - 2003/08

F o c u s o n C o m p e t i t i o n
168 MODEL AVIATION
Technical
Director
Steve
Kaluf
[email protected]
IT DOES NOT seem possible that I’m
writing an August column right now; it is
still early May here in Muncie. We have
had quite a bit of warm weather, but now
we are in our rainy season. This is slowing
some of the major projects we have
underway for the International
Aeromodeling Center.
We are currently installing 35 more RV
electric hookups. These are being placed in
the main parking lot of Site 3 (more
commonly known as “Stage Center”). The
wiring for 18 of the sites has been laid;
however, rain has filled the trenches of the
other areas, making the project difficult to
complete. I’m sure by the time you read this
it will be done and in use.
We are also repaving Site 1
(commonly known as the “L” pad). This
area is used mostly for Control Line and
was originally paved with very smooth but
soft asphalt. The new pavement will be
much harder while still being smooth.
The big project is the construction of a
new Control Line pad; this pad will be 460 x
180 feet and will be used primarily for
Key Dates
(Events attended by AMA HQ staff and/or officers)
June 27 - August 1
Outdoor National
Aeromodeling Championships
Muncie IN
August 13 - 17
IRCHA World Helicopter
Jamboree
Muncie IN
Control Line Racing during the Nationals and
the 2004 World Championships. Control
Line Scale will also fly from this area during
the Nationals. Obviously the pad is also large
enough to serve as an RC runway if needed
for certain events. The placement of this pad
is 50 feet to the north and east of Site 5 (600
x 600-foot grass pad).
All of our roads and most of the flying
areas are being repainted with stripes,
lines, or circles as needed. This should
give a nice fresh look overall to the site.
We hope that if you joined us for
Homecoming this June you had a good
time and got to see the improvements
firsthand.
On a different topic, contest directors please
read this. We are still getting many Sanction
Applications sent in where the information is
not complete. The biggest omission seems to
be part seven. This is the page where you are
to provide the information to us to use in
making up your magazine listing. When this
information is missing, your listing will be
incomplete. We cannot take the time to call
each of you to request this information.
Also, please no longer use the old
Sanction Application forms. These are out of
date. If the form you have does not have the
current sanction fee ($20) on it, it is out of
date. New forms are available by calling the
Competitions Department or downloading
them from the AMA Web site.
After a long hiatus (almost 10 years) I’m
finally going to start competing again.
Instead of my normal RC Soaring, I’ll be
flying Class I RC Helicopter for the first
time. I always found Soaring very
relaxing, even when flying in competition.
Helicopters are great fun, but I’d not call
it relaxing.
In Soaring, I never really worried
about how I did, as long as the flights
were pretty good. For some reason I find
myself wanting to win in helicopters.
Maybe it’s because I feel I have a chance
to win (the events, unlike Soaring, are
skill classed).
In Soaring I flew with many folks who
were the absolute top in the events. I
learned a lot from them, especially when
they would time for me. Did I ever beat
them? Nope, not a chance! But I sure had
a good time losing and learning.
I’ve also found out over the years that
to be good at flying helicopters you have
to practice (true for any sport). I don’t
mean an hour or two here or there each
week; I mean a gallon or two (more
probably) each week! Those competing at
the top levels will fly much more than
that.
So, what are you competing with this
year? Please try something. Don’t worry
about losing; practice and get better.
Competition will force you to fly better,
and the better you are, the more you will
enjoy the sport.
Till next time ... MA
Planned Giving to AMA
You may make gifts to AMA of:
or with a Charitable Remainder
Trust (CRT)
• Immediate income tax deduction
• Lifetime Income for you and your
spouse (or other beneficiary)
• Reduction in estate taxes
• Money for your favorite charities
Interested? Contact AMA Executive Director
Joyce Hager at (765) 287-1256, extension 200.
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Etc.
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