AMA News
Reach Out — Touch Someone
PR — Geoffrey Styles, Director, Public Relations
Recognition is due several clubs and individuals who are putting the model aviation message out to the general public in a very positive way. Here are a few prime examples of projects currently engaging AMA clubs and volunteers.
Westminster Aero Modelers, Westminster, MD
- The club works with schools in the county, bringing models, flight-instruction information, and experienced modelers into classrooms. Their goal is to visit every school in the county. Ray Miles and other volunteers spearheading the effort sent a videotape of a local broadcast of one of their classroom sessions. This is great outreach work and a project a small club (including one with several retired members) could undertake.
Lakewood Community College — White Bear Lake, MN
- John Hall prepared and presented a course titled "Model Aviation — An Introduction." The course was accepted and listed in the college brochure. He presented three sessions (April 4, 11 and 18, 1989). Cost was $21 per adult and $12 for youth accompanied by a participating adult, encouraging family enrollment. The course description noted that model aviation is "an ideal hobby and sport for all ages."
St. Bernard Aerospace Club, St. Bernard, LA
- The club concentrates on teaching beginners. Club members teach new R/C pilots; as newcomers become proficient, the best are trained to be instructors. The club has five experienced pilots who train newcomers, and teaching sessions have sometimes drawn more than 15 learners at the flight line. The program is strengthening the club; the club recently gained access to a second parcel of land and hopes to develop a first-class flying field.
Virginia Science Museum, Richmond, VA
- The museum celebrated aviation and aerospace in 1989. Through AMA's PR firm, Lawler Ballard, AMA was invited to consult on the exhibit. Models from the AMA Museum are on display in Richmond as part of the event. Other highlights include a cutaway Piper Cub, a Learjet, a hang glider, and a working wind tunnel. Opening night drew large, multi-generational crowds, and AMA is getting recognition as a contributor.
Richmond-area Aviation Museum (near Byrd Airport)
- Local clubs have staffed the museum, presented classes to visitors, and staged control-flying demonstrations for both entertainment and instruction.
These activities are within reach of any club. Consider running a mall show, giving demonstrations, or teaming up with other aviation groups to make a positive impression in your community. Outreach is fun and produces long-term benefits.
1989 Toledo Expo Raffle
Proceeds from the annual Toledo Expo raffle are split between the AMA Scholarship Fund and the Glen Sigafoose Fund. This year's winners:
- Frank Broach, St. Louis, MO
- Ken Cavender, Aliquippa, PA
- Ron Cieslewicz, Toledo, OH
AerOlympics Patron Kits
If you cannot attend the RC World Championships (AerOlympics II) in Virginia this summer, you can still support the event by purchasing a commemorative Patron Kit. The kits contain limited-edition mementos and will be provided at the event or mailed afterward.
Included in each kit:
- Official pin (multicolored enameled)
- Official cloth emblem (patch)
- Official bumper sticker/emblem sheet
- Official program
- Official poster
Cost: $15 per kit. Only one production run will be made. Proceeds will help defray event costs and reduce the need to subsidize the event with AMA dues.
Help Needed for AerOlympics Teams
Numerous teams will arrive from around the world for the combined FAI World Championships at Chesapeake, VA (August). While many teams are self-sufficient, some will need help transporting model boxes from arrival airports (for example, JFK, Dulles, Reagan/Washington, D.C.) to hotels or the contest site.
Volunteers with vans who plan to attend the AerOlympics as spectators or workers are asked to consider meeting arriving teams and transporting model boxes (and, when possible, people) to the teams' hotels. Model boxes generally need transport only on arrival and departure; during the contest they will be stored at the hotel or contest field.
If you or your club can help, contact the AMA Competition Department:
- Phone: 703-435-0750
- Mail: Competition Department, 1810 Samuel Morse Drive, Reston, VA 22090
Helpers are also desired to act as team guides during the contest week. Ideally, each foreign team would have an AMA member or couple to assist and coordinate. Helpers would receive favored status and official credentials.
Note: Many teams will arrive early for practice flying, roughly Saturday, August 19 through Saturday, August 26. Opening ceremonies are Sunday, August 27.
The Great Race (R/C Helium Balloons)
Radio-control helium balloons were prominent at the 1989 Toledo Weak Signals R/C show. Six balloons flew regularly during the weekend, culminating in a Sunday race in which the balloons completed a lap around the arena. The colorful balloons cruised above spectator seats and aisles for an entertaining display.
Key points:
- The balloon concept has been used at the 1988 International Modelers Show in Atlanta and is expected again at the May 1989 IMS show in Atlanta.
- George Steiner (Sacramento), a member of AMA's Frequency Committee, built many of the balloons from travel balloons and promoted the activity. Typical balloons are about four feet in diameter with a weather balloon inner bladder and a nylon envelope. They are filled from standard helium tanks (commonly available from party-supply stores).
- George Steiner donated the AMA balloon. Balloons have been shown at events including the Electric Power World Championships (1988) and the 1988 Nationals indoor event in Norfolk, VA. Indoor balloon flying generated interest in a new type of indoor competition.
The activity is fun, safe, and slow — ideal for pilots whose reflexes may not be what they once were.
District Events and Club News
Cape Cod Radio Control Club (CCRCC)
- The CCRCC banquet at Christine's on January 21, 1989, was a well-planned event. Awards recognized the year's volunteer efforts and encouraged continued club progress. Norm McKinstry received an AMA jacket in recognition of longtime support. Harvey Thomason was the guest speaker; he spoke about early radio equipment.
Guest speakers available:
- Harvey Thomason: Competition flier with experience in radio development and engine knowledge. Contact: 509-393-8317.
- Ernie Huber: Known nationally for flying talent and speaking ability; one of the speakers at the Maine Model Expo (March). He plans to develop a helicopter training school in Florida.
Hobby shop listing request:
- Please send a postcard with your shop’s location, hours, specialties, and contact information to the PR office to help compile a district hobby-shop list.
Ohio Cup Soaring Award and DARTS
- The Ohio Cup trophy was created by DARTS member Jack Beanly as a state award for soaring competition. The first winner was Don Harris (Columbus, OH). For 1989, DARTS will hold three weekend contests: June 17–18, July 15–16, and August 19–20. The flier with the highest scores over the three weekends will win the Ohio Cup.
Cleveland Hopkins Model Airport — CL contests
- North Coast Controlliners contests: June 24–25 and August 26–27. Contact D. McIlvaine, 13428 Wainstead Ave., Cleveland, OH 44111 for details.
42nd Annual Eastern States Championships — Free Flight
- Hosted by the Delaware Federation of Model Airplane Clubs at the Naval Air Development Center. Date: August 27. Contact W. Eggert at (215) 947-4387.
Valley R/C Club (Sayre, PA)
- Feature club for July. The club hosts a notable fun-fly; this year's dates are July 15–16. Contact Dan Lucchard at (717) 888-1856 for information.
District trade shows and booths
- The MARC Show (Timonium, MD) on June 3–4 will include an AMA booth and a new booth by the Maryland Modelers Association (11 clubs working to acquire flying sites). The unified approach aims to be effective when dealing with state and local agencies.
Patches, Awards, and Contest Winners
Patches available from the AMA Supply and Service Catalog include the Safe Flyer Patch (for members with consistent safe flights) and the All-Season Flyer Patch (for year-round flyers).
Reported contest winners (as submitted by Chuck Aimantour and Arvada Associated Modelers):
Scale
- 1st: P-51 Mustang, Mike Brink
- 2nd: Taube, Larry Greene
Sport
- 1st: Chipmunk, Blaise Recca
Old-Timer
- 1st: Buzzard, G. Thompson
- 2nd: v/a Dallaire, Gene Ward
- 3rd: Dallaire, George Spero
Biplane
- 1st: Liberty Sport, Rich Engel
- 2nd: Liberty Sport, Hall Johnson
Pattern
- 1st: Kobra, Tom Powers
- 2nd: Escape, Mike Greenawalt
- 3rd: Kaos, Blaise Recca
Best of Show
- Travel Aire, Buzz Butler
Good work by the Arvada Associated Modelers.
Radio Systems Certified (20 kHz spacing)
The following radio systems have been independently certified by a registered professional test laboratory as meeting or exceeding the radio-control equipment specifications in AMA Guidelines for operation on 20 kHz frequency spacing. Listing is informational and not an AMA endorsement. Future issues of Model Aviation will include expanded listings.
- Airtronics Spectra PCM 7P/7H Receiver — Part No. 92985
- Airtronics Quantum PCM 8P/8H Receiver — Part No. 92985
- Airtronics Module Series FM MD7P/75P Receiver — Part No. 92785
- Airtronics Vanguard FM/PCM 4/6 Receiver — Part No. 92965
- Airtronics Vanguard FM 4/6 Ch Receiver — Part No. 92765
- Airtronics Vision PCM 8/5P/8P Receiver — Part No. 92985
- JR RC Max PCM-NET W125 VZ Receiver — Part No. NER-627X
- JR RC Max FM-NET W125 V/H & W124 FM Receiver — Part No. NER-327X
- JR RC Vegas FM-NET B125 V/H Receiver — Part No. NER-327X
- JR RC PCM 10-NET All10 FZ/HZ Receiver — Part No. NER-910XZ
- JR RC Max Computer-NET W126 FL/HZ Receiver — Part No. NER-627X
- JR RC Vegas Computer-NET W126 FC/HG Receiver — Part No. NER-627X
AMA Headquarters Services Staff
- Executive Director: John Wonh
- Vice Executive Director: Vince Mankowski
- Executive Coordinator: Joyce Hager
- Administrative Services Director: Robert Ioslavek
- Technical Director: Bob Underwood
- Comptroller: Lynne Cotlins
- Competition Services Director: Micheline Madison
- Special Services Director: Carl Maroney
- Membership Director: Mike Woodstock
- Public Relations Director: Geoffrey Styles
- Special Projects Director: Doug Pratt
- Publications Director: (not listed)
That covers the district news, outreach examples, contest results, event support needs, and administrative notices for this edition.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
