AMA and Camp Jeep 2000
By Bliss Teague
In conjunction with Daimler-Chrysler’s sixth Camp Jeep™ event, nearly 50 AMA members gathered at Oak Ridge Estates—the largest private property in the state of Virginia (30 miles south of Charlottesville)—to form one of the largest flying schools to date. The estate in Nelson County is five times the size of AMA’s International Aeromodeling Center.
Nearly 10,000 people attended the event, held August 10–12; they represented 44 states and five countries. Attendees arrived in nearly 3,000 Jeeps; the event is mainly for vehicle owners and their families. Festivities lasted from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. each day.
Activities
- Jeep 101 Village
- Jeep 101 Courses
- Jeep Performance Arena
- Jeep Agility Challenge
- Other Jeep-related demonstrations
- Adventure Village
- Virginia Village
- Workshops
- General-interest areas featuring various outdoor activities
Camp Jeep™ 2000 was certainly a giant step for AMA and for model aviation.
Flight school and RC introduction
During the three days, approximately 1,020 people were introduced to radio control (RC) flying via the “buddy box” system—the quickest and most economical way to learn RC. The buddy box gives the newcomer a control box identical to the instructor’s; the novice can control the airplane when the instructor flips a switch on his transmitter. If the novice gets into trouble, the instructor releases the switch and retrieves control.
Before new pilots went to the flightlines, they visited a display in a 40 x 60-foot tent that showed various stages of a model airplane’s assembly. Each student had his or her picture taken with an airplane similar to the one they would fly. Students were introduced to the Academy of Model Aeronautics, and Carl Maroney, AMA Special Services Director, explained phases of modeling. They received a short course in aeronautics and were shown how the control sticks worked on the buddy box and which control surfaces they moved.
After a five- to seven-minute flight-instruction period, each student sat at one of a dozen flight simulators to gain additional skill. Attendees were given a small wing pin that read “Camp Jeep™ Flight School” and were placed in a holding group where the air boss assigned them to a flightline.
There were four flightlines, with several aircraft on each. Three AMA members tended each line and provided flight training. Darrell Watts had the flightlines set up so that four aircraft were in the air at all times for maximum flight time. Before each aircraft landed, the next was fueled and waiting for takeoff. Students didn’t typically get a full tank of fuel, but they did get several minutes of air time—a good RC flight experience. After the flight, the new pilots picked up their flight certificates and wings.
Air shows and demonstrations
Half-hour model air shows were held each day at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. They featured biplanes with smoke, World War II aircraft, helicopters, trainers, aerobatic aircraft, and a Piper Cub. Models were flown by:
- Don Koonce
- Brian Shipp
- Ken Rudd
- Kevin Seeber
- Rod Jaeger
- Daniel Honzu
- Tim Bell
- Jerry Neel
- Others
Richard “Dick” Smith did an excellent job of announcing. The crowd was especially thrilled by Jerry Neel’s 42% Staudacher, which had a 16-horsepower engine and a 10-foot wingspan. Jerry put it through inverted spins, knife-edge loops, lomcevaks, axial rolls, and torque rolls—often only a few feet above the ground.
Camp Jeep™ 2000 concluded with the “Jeep Jubilee”—an outdoor picnic and a concert featuring music, dancing, and singing. The finale was a 15-minute fireworks display.
Participating clubs and teams
AMA’s involvement in the event was carried out by eight chartered clubs that blended into one great team. Many members had never met until Camp Jeep™. Groups involved were:
- Northern Virginia RC Club
- District of Columbia Air Show Team
- Mid VA RC Club
- Roanoke Valley RC Club
- Richmond Area Radio Control
- Hanover Radio Control Flying Club
- Expoland RC Club
- Rivanna RC Club
The Gretna Aeromodelers (VA) taught, spotted, and pitted models in the hot sun. They kept the models in the air and the students interested. The Skymasters from Michigan built the airplanes from kits furnished by Chrysler and test-flew them.
I was the Contest Director and was assisted by District IV Associate Vice Presidents Dick Smith and Randy Elliott. We could not have accomplished this feat without the help of all who participated—thanks for a job very well done.
Thanks to District IV Vice President Chuck Foreman and AMA member Darrell Watts of Daimler-Chrysler Corporation, who started it all.
(Editor's note: Some information in this report was provided by Carl Maroney.)
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
