View From HQ - 2009/09
Byline
Jim Cherry Executive Director [email protected]
Joe Nall Fly-In
The 27th Joe Nall Fly-In is in the books. This Giant Scale fly-in is one of the largest modeling events in the nation. A record number of pilots attended, and this year’s expanded flightline was so large that shuttle-bus service was provided so attendees could move between venues.
Your AMA was present with what has become a traditional AMA merchandise tent, housed in a new “home” provided by Bliss Teague, District IV vice president. The expanded tent allowed members more room to shop and provided a secure area after hours, eliminating the need to pack the merchandise each night.
Membership Meeting
Another tradition of Joe Nall is the Academy’s annual Membership Meeting. Led by President Dave Mathewson, AMA officers gave updates on current projects within the organization. Rich Hanson, former District X vice president and now serving as the AMA government and regulatory affairs officer, gave a detailed overview of the Aviation Rulemaking Committee’s (ARC) recent release and AMA’s response. Rich’s presentation and other AMA/FAA information can be found at:
Maiden Flight and New Forums
We all know that “maiden flight” means the first flight of any aircraft. Those who have stood at the flightline, in a park area, or in a backyard with an untested airplane know the feeling just before that first launch: Did I check everything? How far out of trim is it going to be? Depending on the sweat equity and investment, many knees have been known to knock during this adventure.
The Academy did just such a launch this June in the form of a new program to allow members to communicate with each other. AMA’s new forums can be found at:
Do you have a question and are looking for an answer? Check out our new membership service and stay in the loop.
Hosts at the International Aeromodeling Center
In June we had the first hosts and hostess for the season at the International Aeromodeling Center (IAC) in Muncie, Indiana. Tommy and Lilly Patterson from Foley, Alabama, donated 30 days of service to the Academy by staying on site and welcoming members and guests. A special thank-you goes to the Pattersons for helping many visitors experience a positive stay.
Membership Drive
The AMA Membership Drive is still in progress. For details and standings, see:
- Rules: www.modelaircraft.org/membershipdrive.aspx
- Current standings: www.modelaircraft.org/membershipdrive/leaders.aspx
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
