INtheAIR - 2011/03

March 2011 9
INtheAIR
AMA HEADQUARTERS AND MEMBER NEWS
Membership communication has been
essential to model aviation clubs for more
than a century. From large to small, these
organizations need ways to reach their
members, disseminate pertinent
information, distribute rules, report
meeting minutes, and even pass on a joke
or two. Newsletters eventually made this
happen.
In the early days of aeromodeling,
clubs used full-scale aviation magazines
to promote their activities and make
announcements. The Horace Mann Aero
Club (established in 1909) had its contest
rules published in the August 1910
Aircraft magazine. In a late 1911 issue,
the New York Model Aero Club
presented results of the “first endurance
contest for medals held in America.” And
Aeronautics magazine provided a “Club
News” section.
In its “Elementary Aeronautics and
Model Notes” section (1910s-1920s),
Aerial Age Weekly gave local branches of
the Aero Club of America a brief space
in which to relay details about contests
and meetings. Those branches spanned
the coasts, from the Pacific Northwest
Model Aero Club of Seattle, Washington,
to the Buffalo Aero Science Club of
Buffalo, New York.
As national model aviation magazines
such as Model Airplane News became
popular, clubs used their pages to relate
information to members, including
coverage of meetings, advertisements for
upcoming events, and pieces
celebrating members’
achievements. However, clubs
were at the mercy of
publishers and editors, who
determined what, if, and how
much of the groups’ news to
print. Therefore, clubs began
producing their own publications.
The earliest club newsletters in the
Archives and Library collections are from
the 1930s, and they comprise a mix of
handwritten and typed articles and handdrawn
mastheads. They have clever names
such as the Junior Aviation League’s Wing
Overs (also at times called Left Overs or
Hang Overs), the Boston Gas Model
Society’s Gaskets, and the Metropolitan
Model League’s Fly Paper.
As technology advanced and became
more affordable, clubs published more
sophisticated newsletters. Formats varied
from folded booklets to legal-size stapled
documents. Mastheads became more
stylized, and computer graphics replaced
the cut-and-paste typewritten text.
Photographs started to replace
drawings, sometimes appearing in color as
color-copying prices went down. However,
the playfulness and creativity remained.
Although this is the age of e-mail,
blogs, and digital forums, where you can
obtain information in an instant, club
newsletters still exist and are important.
Whether mimeographs or Photostats,
Xerox copies or digital downloads, club
History Preserved:
T h e C o l l e c t i o n o f t h e
National Model Aviation Museum
publications broadcast the past, present,
and future of model clubs.
Reading these newsletters elicits a
degree of nostalgia—a yearning for
the days when you had to wait by the
mailbox for the next issue, and
“forwarding” to a buddy meant handing
it over when you were finished reading it.
Within the Museum Archives and
the Lee Renaud Memorial Library
reside many club newsletters, ranging
from the early days of aeromodeling
through current issues. Please feel free
to stop in and view our collection; the
library is open to the public. Check the
museum Web site for hours at www.mod
elaircraft.org/museum.
The library is always looking to
expand its assortment of club
newsletters. For a list of those it has, go
to www.modelaircraft.org/museum/
whatshere/newslist.aspx. If you would
like to donate to the collection, please
contact the archivist with a list of
items you are offering at jackies@
modelaircraft.org. MA
—Jackie Shalberg
Museum Archivist
AMA Thanks Its Lifetime Supporters!
The Academy recently welcomed Life Members Karl Fischer (San Diego CA), Paul MacDougal (Raleigh NC), J. Nathan Spencer
(Corpus Christi TX), Kenneth Bridges (Port Saint Lucie FL), Dave Brown (Cottage Grove MN), and Andrew Hebb (Harvard MA),
Vance Howard (North Bend OR), Robert Glover (Huntsville AL), Todd Bryant (Shoreham NY), Rich Kruyer (Swartz Creek MI),
David Woynarowski (Fleetwood PA), Justin Stuart (Plano TX), Jordi Munoz (San Diego CA), Thomas Janzen (Decatur AL), Henry
Varon (Pittsburgh PA), Daniel Tapp (Tecumseh MI), Carlyle Harper (Ocilla GA), Timothy Belongia (Winter Park FL), and Mark
Johnston (Albuquerque NM).
For information about becoming a Life Member, contact AMA Headquarters at (800) 435-9262. MA
—AMA Membership Department
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INtheAIR
The Wings Across America 2008 (WAA-08) adventure had a great
2010, and I’m looking forward to an even better 2011.
We made excellent progress throughout last year and provided
excellent opportunities to promote model aviation in various
communities as the SQuiRT made its way through New Mexico, into
Utah, down through Arizona, into California, up the Pacific Coast into
Washington, and to the US/Canada border.
The airplane traveled through seven states, visited 47 AMA
chartered clubs, was flown by 153 pilots, and traversed more
than 5,000 miles during 2010. To see more about its journey, visit the
WAA-08 Web site at www.waa-08.org.
Our pilot order has been mixed up because of the holiday season,
but we are moving along—even though the Pacific Northwest weather
would prefer to keep the SQuiRT inside. We have two more pilots to
go in the Seattle area, and then the model will finally start heading back
east toward its home field.
There are 110 more registered pilots to fly and 13 more states to
visit before the adventure comes to an end in Eastern Virginia. With the
current schedule, I am hoping for a summer 2012 arrival date.
That would put WAA-08 on a four-year tour of the US, with more
than 400 pilots flying the SQuiRT. It’s a huge accomplishment, and I
appreciate everyone’s help and
enthusiasm for making this
happen.
We had our share of
equipment failures in 2010. It
started with all of the Li-Poly
batteries puffing. We think
that was because we left them
fully charged and they swelled
in the hot Arizona
temperatures.
The decision was made to
replace the batteries even
though they showed as if they
were working okay. I
contacted Jason at MaxAmps,
and he sent us four new
batteries for free. Now we
leave only two charged, and
the remaining batteries are at a
storage charge until needed.
Then we had several
receiver failures with the
Spektrum AR6200 we were
using. We hoped that we could
fix the problem by replacing
the pin connections in the
satellite transmitter, but it quit
wanting to bind when the
SQuiRT made it into Oregon.
So Matt Stagg of Al’s
Bicycles and Hobbies in
Medford donated an AR6100e
for the project.
Our last equipment issue
was with the Castle Creations
(CC) Pixie ESC that was installed in the model. Pilot 253, Bernard C.,
tried swapping it with the Pixie we had in the spare-parts box and
learned that it was unserviceable—odd since it was new. Bernard
checked with CC and learned that it no longer makes brushed ESCs.
The last ESC in the spare-parts box was installed and checked out
okay, so the SQuiRT is now flying with a Medusa Research brushed
unit (which is also the last of its kind). Then Bill Stevens came to our
rescue (again) and sent two new GWS ESCs to Bernard, for free. Now
we have two backup ESCs, in case the Medusa stops working.
We certainly appreciate the generosity of Jason, Matt, and Bill, who
unselfishly donated these needed items to keep the adventure alive.
WAA-08 had some good press coverage this year, with a number of
pilots getting articles about it into their local newspapers. (I think that
only two have been turned down.) It’s great to see fliers taking the time
to contact their local media and helping spread the word about this
wonderful sport.
I hope we can get many more newspapers to cover this feat and get
the word out about how fun and exciting this hobby can be, especially
to the younger generation. Many kids nowadays seem to be interested
only in TV and video games.
I think that making a spark with this adventure might lead to a
lifelong interest and activity in model aviation. Wouldn’t that be a
fantastic “gift” to pass along to any child?
Following are some WAA-08 statistics as of December 29, 2010.
• The SQuiRT has traveled 15,772 miles.
• 381 pilots have flown the WAA-08 model.
• The airplane has visited 152 AMA chartered clubs.
• The SQuiRT has visited 35 states.
• 363 pilots have registered for WAA-08.
• 248 AMA chartered clubs have been represented.
• The state with the most
registered pilots—29—was
California, followed by New
York with 22.
• There was one registered
pilot in Delaware and one in
Vermont.
• 17° was the coldest
temperature at which the
WAA-08 airplane was flown,
by Chuck W. (pilot 84) of
Gandeeville, West Virginia.
• 107° was the hottest
temperature at which the
WAA-08 model was flown,
by Mike H. (pilot 127) of
Valley Mills, Texas.
• 8,500 feet was the highest
altitude at which the SQuiRT
was flown, by Rod B. (pilot
180) and John C. (pilot 180a)
of Dillon, Colorado.
• More than 9,000 e-mail
messages have been sent in
support of the WAA-08
adventure.
• More than 3,700 thread posts
have been made on online RC
forums in support of the
WAA-08 adventure.
• There have been 87,867 hits
on the WAA-08 Google Maps
page.
• There have been 12,794 hits
on the WAA-08 Web site.
• 118 pages of notes have been
taken recording my experiences and important events during WAA-08.
Thank you all for participating and helping to make this adventure a
reality. Your time and effort keep the dream alive, and I deeply
appreciate all that you have done or will do. If you have any questions,
please call me or shoot me an e-mail. MA
—Frank Geisler
[email protected]
(804) 296-5686
District IV
10 MODEL AVIATION
Wings Across America Update
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High School Students Promote Aeromodeling
INtheAIR
(PTSA) and has received donations from
the Hobby Hangar in Chantilly, Virginia.
Even some individual attendees have
made wonderful donations including
models, kits, and parts. People coming
together to support the aerospace class
and the Engineering Club is fantastic.
Participants are charged $5 for six
hours of open flying in the gym and/or an
outdoor lot. Spectators are admitted for
free. The Fun Fly is open to the
community, to expose the public to
aeromodeling. In addition, students have
the opportunity to meet experienced
fliers and get help with their models.
The students run most of the event,
which includes a kids’ table for making
foam-plate gliders. There is also a
concession stand led by volunteer and
PTSA President Jane Quirk. It sells
drinks, doughnuts, hot dogs, pizza, and
other food items, along with custommade
mugs and T-shirts that have the
West Potomac Fun Fly logo on them.
We encourage fliers to bring airplanes
to display in the lobby, so that people
can see the full scope of aircraft sizes
and power plants and enjoy other
people’s models. The gathering is open
to RC as well as FF. It is nice to have
this mix so that both types of hobbyists
get to see each other’s aircraft.
The school is continually looking to
improve and add to the Fun Fly.
Possible additions to future events
include indoor pylon racing and an
“Introduction to RC Models” seminar
for spectators.
West Potomac High School students
are also the proud new owners of a laser
cutter, which will give them the ability
to make kits!
The Fun Flys have been so
successful that they are now held twice
a year, and we are looking at hosting a
spring fly-in using the school’s outdoor
facilities. The next Fun Fly will be held
February 19. Come join us! MA
—Joseph Franco
District IV
West Potomac High School
Technology Education offers students
nine courses, covering everything from
basic technical drawing to research and
development engineering and
aerospace science. The students also
meet twice a week after school for
various engineering-club events.
Two years ago the Engineering
Club and aerospace science class
began hosting model aircraft fun-flys
in the gym. The first was a huge
success, and these gatherings have
continued support from many local
clubs including the Prince William
County R/C Flyers, Northern Virginia
Radio Control, DC Maxecuters,
Fauquier Aero Recreation Modelers,
District of Columbia Radio Control;
numerous local fliers; and West
Potomac High School Principal Cliff
Hardison.
This endeavor has also been
supported by the West Potomac
Parent/Teacher/Student Association
Congratulations to Ken Czerwinski (Oxford MI), who
won that drawing. One year will be added to the 2011 dues
that he already paid, so his 2012 membership is on us!
Thanks to all who participated. If you have ideas for your
aeromodeling flagship publication, please contact MA Editor
Michael Ramsey. MA
—MA Staff
March 2011 11
Did you notice the ad on page 117 of the November 2010
MA? In an effort to better serve the membership, the
advertisement asked for opinions about that specific magazine in
the form of a survey, to help shape the content of issues to come.
We asked all participants to submit their e-mail addresses,
from which we randomly selected one person to win a one-year
paid AMA membership as a reward for taking the survey.
MA Sur vey Winner
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12 MODEL AVIATION
INtheAIR
The AMAA’s Educational Event
On October 3, 2010, our club, the
American Model Airport Association
(AMAA) in Chino, California, welcomed
a troop of Girl Scouts from the Yucaipa
and Calimesa area of Southern California
for a day of flight instruction and lunch.
Our flying site is located in a canyon that
provides a spectacular backdrop for RC
flying.
The kids arrived excited and ready for
fun on that bright and sunny day. Once
everyone had her name tag and received a
welcome from AMAA President Harry
Hill, club members put on a first-class air
show.
Club Vice President Terry
Talkington flew his huge Piper Cub to
wow the spectators with balsa overcast,
and Treasurer Rick Ogden performed
jaw-dropping stunts with his Wylie
Coyote-piloted model. Karn Krainarong,
one of the AMAA helicopter pros, put
on a show that left the kids and their
parents gasping for breath. All of our
club’s air show pilots did a splendid
job of getting the crowd’s attention.
The show was followed by a class in
basic aerodynamics, to give the Scouts a
sense of how an airplane works. Terry used
his big Cub to show how each flight control
surface works, what it does in flight, and
what the model’s reaction is to its
movement.
Tom Bright, the AMAA’s chief flight
instructor, once told me that he loves to do
flight training. That was evident by the
hours he spent with the students that day
while they took to the buddy box and got
their first taste of our sport.
Terry Talkington, Ralph Buscemi, Jim
Wilson, and Rick Ogden were on the
flightline helping Tom. At the end of the
Scouts’ flight training, their parents got the
opportunity to take a turn, to see what all
the fun was about.
The students moved on to the
construction tables and the famous FPG-9.
At the 2009 AMA Expo we learned about
this great little glider that costs next to
nothing, is rugged, and is simple to put
together. And best of all, the kids love it!
The girls got to construct, decorate,
and fly the heck out of their FPG-9s. The
air was thick with them, as most of us ran
for cover.
That was followed by a great barbecue
hot dog lunch for all who participated.
Thanks to our cook, John Ferranti, who
did an excellent job of keeping up with a
bunch of hungry junior pilots and
instructors. There is nothing like the sight
of a mustard-encrusted FPG-9 sailing past
your head, being chased by a munchkin
pilot.
At the end of the day there were
smiles all around and a pledge to conduct
another learning and communication
experience with young pilots. The future
of our sport depends on this concept.
Thanks to all member instructors—led
by George Read—who gave their time to
make this such a special event. MA
—Steve McGill, Education Director
[email protected]
District X
AMAA students and parents. Ralph Buscemi
photo.
Instructors Jim Wilson (L) and Rick Ogden with
thrilled student pilots. Buscemi photo.
I started flying RC 21 years ago with a Great Planes PT-40. I kept this
airplane in my hangar, because I knew that my son, Evan, would someday want to
fly and he, too, would need “the perfect trainer.”
He soloed after a few hours on an RC simulator and two trips to my club field using the
trainer cable between us during flight. Seeing him takeoff and fly the PT-40 around the field
and then land was amazing to me and a few of my club buddies. He even performed a few loops and
rolls prior to his perfect landing on that great day. And he achieved all of that a few weeks prior to his
9th birthday!
I cannot tell you how happy I am that he likes to fly RC with me. I think we will have a lot more fun
at the field in years to come. MA
—Kristofer Kartsotis
[email protected]
District III
The Perfect Trainer
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