View from HQ
Writing this monthly column and the topics I cover are a matter of timing. If I had written this two days earlier it would have been on a different topic.
As I write, AMA Headquarters has been closed for the past two days because of the blizzard that hit Indiana along with most of the Midwest and Eastern United States. The local paper reported that this was the third largest snowfall since World War II. (This is supposed to make me feel better?)
When I started working here in December 2006, the staff had questioned—sometimes in an unspoken manner—why a Florida boy would want to move to Muncie, Indiana, and its non-Florida-type winters. One must question a person’s sanity in moving north in time for winter! As you would expect, in Florida we would fly year-round. Building season was when you got a new airplane or tore up everything flyable and had to stop to fix something to fly. It generally wasn’t dictated by the weather. Having done 90% of my RC flying on the south side of the Mason-Dixon Line, there was a blurry line between the “building season” and the “flying season.”
I now truly understand the aspect of weather-driven “building season” and the pent-up energy looking forward to spring and the flying season. With 14 inches of snow and 5-foot-high drifts, I have begun to question my own sanity. By the time you read this, the snow should be gone and spring flying will have returned—along with the feeling in my nose and feet!
Upcoming events at AMA Headquarters
Even with the snow covering the National Flying Site in Muncie, Indiana, the staff has been looking forward to the summer season:
- XFC: The Extreme Flight Championships — June 15–17, 2007
- 2007 F3D Pylon World Championships — June 23–28, 2007
- National Aeromodeling Championships (Nats) — June 29–August 5, 2007
Pulling off such a coordinated feat will be no small job. As in the past, the AMA staff is supportive in staging the Nats events, but the real organization comes from the different Special Interest Groups (SIGs) that are planning the events. Volunteers who make things happen here at AMA are the lifeblood of any of these events.
The XFC offers an expanded venue featuring the world’s best fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft pilots. I always wanted to attend the Tournament of Champions (TOC) in Nevada but was never able to make the trip. Although the TOC is history, the XFC provides a great new opportunity.
I encourage you to plan a family trip to Indiana this summer. Visit your AMA Headquarters and enjoy the different competitions that are scheduled.
Get involved locally
If your travel plans cannot include a Muncie stop, I would encourage you to become more involved in your local club. We all know the 80/20 rule: 80% of the work gets done by 20% of the club. Imagine what else could be done if we could move participation up to 50% or better of all club members’ involvement.
- What new facilities could the field have?
- What new or additional programming could your club offer?
The new AMA Take Off And Grow (TAG) program is a great way to get others involved in the sport. You can learn about it at www.modelaircraft.org/tag.
Remember, someone took time to teach you how to fly. Most projects or efforts go wanting because of lack of volunteers and leadership. Those already involved in the activity would welcome the help, and you may just make a few new flying friends!
I wish to thank those members who emailed me about my first Executive Director’s column. My first encounter with glow .049 engines struck a lot of memories within the membership. It was gratifying to learn of others who have similar beginnings in modeling.
The most important thing we “seasoned pilots” can do is pass it on.
In the spirit of flight.
Jim Cherry Executive Director [email protected]
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
