Free Flight: Indoor
A TRIBUTE! There recently was a joint meeting of the AMA Executive Council and the Chairmen of the Contest Boards. This meeting has been fully reported elsewhere, but I want to remind all AMA members of what a fine group of leaders AMA has. The Contest Board meetings ran from 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., with two meal breaks and two other short breaks, and the Executive Council meeting continued until far past midnight. This kind of concentrated effort is difficult to maintain, but it produces excellent results. I can't imagine any other organization or business being able to assemble this kind of talent for pay, let alone for free!
Free Flight: Indoor
DID I DO THAT? The previous column (September 1984) talked a lot about the current state of Indoor and the rules proposals that had not been made! Well, they have been made, now, and the first impression is that someone could have gotten the ideas for them from that column. Alas, the realities of magazine publishing prove "there ain't no way!" it could happen. I'm a few days late in starting this column, and have only now gotten the first feedback from the last one. The rules proposals in hand were already "in the mill" before my column was written, and others are coming that were written a month ago.
Free Flight: Indoor
CONTEST ANNOUNCEMENTS. Is it too late for your club activities to be included here? (In recent columns, I have requested advance information on your club's flying sessions and contests for listing here.) You will be reading this about December 1, so if you haven't sent it, it may be too late. If you send me information now and I use it in my next column (which I have to mail into the MA editorial offices on December 1, 1984), then it won't be seen by readers until February 1, 1985. So, better timing next year! Meanwhile, John Martin, mentor of the MIAMA club made it with time to spare. The MIAMA club is based in Miami, FL and has announced its 1984-85 season. Contests will be held at Miami Dade South College from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on December 9, 1984 and February 10, 1985.
Free Flight: Indoor
A WARNING! A number of times in the past, I have reported how Stan Chilton and others keep special records on rubber motors. Part of the whole scheme was to store motors in paper envelopes as soon as they were made up. Batch identifications, motor length and weight, test results and flight performance were all recorded on the envelope. It turns out that using paper envelopes is an oops! Stan noticed that older motors had changed characteristics drastically-all bad changes. He has decided that treatment chemicals left in the paper are responsible. Art museums have a similar problem and specify acid-free material to use for framing mats. Stan has now changed from paper envelopes to plastic ziplock bags, which have the added advantage of providing airtight storage.
Free Flight: Indoor
SAD NEWS! Just before I started this column, I received word that Dennis Jeacks had suffered a fatal heart attack. I personally will miss Dennis' friendly and helpful spirit. Not only did he help me personally with my own modeling, but he willingly shared ideas and information for publication. Unlike some of us who range from uptight to preoccupied during competition, Dennis remained on an even keel. He flew almost nothing except Pennyplane and showed the rest of us how. As a near-beginner, he advanced the state-of-the-art of monoplane Pennyplanes as far as anyone, then turned to biplanes. His category III 16:00 Pennyplane flight (West Baden, June 18, 1983) remains unsurpassed.
