200 MODEL AVIATION
Executive Director Jim Cherry
ne of the most rewarding aspects of
being the Executive Director of
AMA is the opportunity to meet and
mix it up with fellow modelers. This past
Memorial Day it was my pleasure and honor
to attend the 2008 International Miniature
Aircraft Association (IMAA) West Coast
Festival at the Chowchilla Municipal Airport.
Before you start dragging out the maps or
MapQuesting, the airport is roughly 35 miles
from Fresno, California.
Some time back I was extended an
invitation by District X Vice President Rich
Hanson to attend some of the events in his
district. The festival, hosted by the Central
California Model Flyers (IMAA Chapter 679)
fit the bill to get together with a large number
of members on the West Coast.
Jim Giffin, IMAA president, and event
directors Scott Malta and Ken Shapiro were
more than gracious hosts during the event.
Mike Brown helped coordinate my visit and
made my stay a pleasure.
While attending the festival it was my
privilege to participate in the recognition of
two longtime modelers who have given so
much to the AMA. George Steiner has served
as the Frequency Coordinator for District X
for 38 years. Ellis Hall has served as the
Sanctions Coordinator for 31 years. Between
the two that is 69 years of service!
In talking with George, I learned he has
also served on the AMA Frequency
Committee (now called the Technology
O
Committee) and participated in testing the
sound-level programs of the past at AMA HQ
in Muncie, Indiana. George and Ellis received
the AMA Superior Service Awards for their
dedication to the Academy.
IMAA President Jim Giffin speaks into the
microphone as Jim Cherry presents
George Steiner with a Superior Service
Award for his numerous contributions to
aeromodeling.
Scott Malta is president of the Central
California Model Flyers and in “real life” is
the director of the Castle Airport Aviation and
Development Center. He told me of a nearby
air museum.
Castle Airport is one of the many Air
Force bases that were closed as a part of the
Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC)
process. As with many communities that have
lost military bases, Atwater, California, was
given the Castle Air Force Base property to
develop in an effort to recoup the lost
employment base. A part of the base was the
Castle Air Museum (www.elite.net/castleair/
index.html), which has more than 50
airplanes on display.
A break in the flying because of rain
prompted a quick trip to Atwater and a
museum tour. Joe Pruzzo, the Castle Air
Museum executive director, gave us a
personal tour of the facility that is nothing
short of spectacular. You would be remiss if
you ever traveled in the Fresno/Chowchilla/
Atwater area and did not take time to visit the
museum.
Scott also had one of the best crews I have
ever seen running the flightline. Ken Shapiro
was akin to a football coach calling the plays
as he coordinated the takeoffs and landings
during the event.
I noticed that the radio impound was not
staffed by members of the club as you would
expect, but three young ladies. When I
commented on this to Scott he informed me
that the impound was being run by his
daughter, Brittany, age 18, and some of her
friends.
I later met Scott’s wife, Barbara, who was
selling raffle tickets at the pilot registration
desk, and his son, Joseph, age 14, who was
helping dad with all the last-minute needs of
staging the event.
Truly an aviation family and a great
example of the whole family involvement we
see across the nation. I want to thank
everyone who helped make my visit most
enjoyable.
Here at AMA HQ the staff is in full swing,
getting ready for the Nats and a summer full
of activities. Other items of interest are:
• Rich Hanson, former District X Vice
President, is representing AMA in
Washington DC with the FAA Aviation Rule
Making Committee (ARC) on Unmanned
Aerial Systems.
• Elections for the Executive Vice President,
Vice Presidents in Districts III, VII, and XI,
and the Vice President from District II
(Special Election) are in the preparation
stages. The Nominating Committee will be
meeting on July 26.
• Preparations for the July 27 Executive
Council meeting are underway.
• Preparations for the International Radio
Controlled Helicopter Association (IRCHA)
Jamboree, to be held August 14-18, are
underway. You may recall that last year 712
pilots were registered from around the world.
• Various AMA committees (Technical,
Insurance, and Safety) are working on
proposals that will be presented to the EC at
the July meeting.
The summer is screaming past by this time
and I can only hope that you are getting all the
flying in that you can.
I have been doing some instructing with a
student pilot this summer and have relived the
joys, thrills, and sometimes frights of
instructing. Why does it come so easy to
some and so hard to others?
I have mentioned in the past a
“psychological paycheck” (the witnessing of
or having a part in a rewarding experience)
and the great feeling one gets when that
psychological paycheck gets cashed. You
usually don’t know when one is coming and
sometimes they are spontaneous. If you’re not
sharing the thrill and joys of model aviation
with others, then you’re missing out on a
great aspect of the sport/hobby.
Next time that opportunity comes, take
time to share. Who knows? You could be
banking some goodwill and cashing some
of those psychological paychecks in the
future. MA
In the spirit of flight.
Jim Cherry
Executive Director
[email protected]
Next time that opportunity
comes, take time to share.
View From HQ
AMA Executive Director Jim Cherry (L)
gives Ellis Hall an AMA Superior Service
Award.
Edition: Model Aviation - 2008/08
Page Numbers: 200