Edition: Model Aviation - 1992/10
Page Numbers: 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111
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AMA News

PR Roundup

Geoffrey Styles Director of Marketing

SUNSET AEROMODELERS — Saint Cloud Facility

  • Lovely site shown in the photo; Jim Squires provided an aerial shot.
  • The site was a landfill prior to becoming an R/C field. The SASC plans to develop it into a picture‑perfect flying site. Jim noted that AMA's support was instrumental in making the case with local government.
  • Reminder: AMA offers far more than insurance — advocacy, site support and community services are important parts of membership.

EAA Calendars for 1993

  • An advance copy of EAA’s new calendar was received. High-quality photos make it a good item for the workshop or office.
  • Information: Sharon Ramey and Associates, P.O. Box 2045, Petoskey, MI 49770. Early offers include a free 30-minute videotape, "Fascination with Flight."

Chesapeake Bay R/C Club

  • Club printed a full‑page notice after careless flight patterns threatened the field. Neighbors complained to the Department of Natural Resources and the landlord.
  • Executive actions: relocate the pit area, tighten flight‑pattern restrictions, install and enforce new signs, and require all users to sign a pledge to obey the new rules.

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Industry Associate Program

  • AMA has launched an Industry Associate Program for product manufacturers, retailers/wholesalers, hobby merchandise publishers, and aeromodeling book and magazine publishers.
  • Fee: $250 annual. Benefits include subscriptions to Model Aviation and AMA newsletters, a special Associate logo for packaging/advertising, listing on National Flying Sites pages and in the National Newsletter, and an annual half‑page ad in the National Newsletter.
  • Optional support package: reduced Model Aviation ad rates, sponsorship opportunities at the National Aeromodeling Championships, inclusion in AMA program books for world and national events, and access to cooperative mailing arrangements. A third‑party mailing house will be used to protect customer lists; AMA membership mailings will be checked against the Direct Marketing Association mail preference list. Conditions assure a company’s mailing list remains private.

Hobby shop benefits:

  • Cooperative mailing programs to reach local areas (e.g., zip code).
  • Faxed membership applications and local renewals.
  • Retailing AMA supply items (pins, patches) with quick turnaround and counter display support.

Participating/supporting companies (examples listed):

  • Ace R/C, Inc.
  • Air Age Publishing
  • Brodak Distributing
  • Carl Goldberg Models, Inc.
  • Carstens Publications
  • Dave Brown Products
  • Fox Manufacturing Co.
  • Hobbico
  • Launcher Company
  • Micro-Mark
  • Midwest Products Co., Inc.
  • Miniature Products, Inc.
  • U.S. Air Corps
  • Yellow Aircraft and Hobby Supplies, Ltd.

For information: AMA, 1810 Samuel Morse Drive, Reston, VA 22090.

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Muncie National Aeromodeling Center — Grand Opening

  • Official opening held June 11–15 in Muncie, Indiana. Guests praised the site design, runway and buildings. The Lt. Governor attended the dedication.
  • Current flying facilities: L-shaped blacktopped runway; primary runway 600 ft x 50 ft to accommodate most R/C and Control Line activity; acreage available for Free Flight and RC Soaring. Additional paved areas and future development planned to support multi-event happenings (e.g., the Nats). Scheduling is being organized in blocks to ease staging and cost.
  • Amenities: dry campsites now; more elaborate camping to be added as funds permit. Reese Airport (full‑scale) is just south of the property, roughly one mile from the entrance.
  • If you want to host an event, contact AMA Headquarters in Reston. At present there is only a skeleton staff in Muncie.

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1992 National Aeromodeling Championships (Westover AFB)

  • Held at Westover Air Force Base in Chicopee, Massachusetts, about a week after the Muncie opening. Nearly 1,000 registered competitors and mechanics. All events (including indoor and outdoor Free Flight) were flown on the main site. Weather was cool and appreciated.
  • Questions raised: Should the Championships continue in the same extensive format? Some suggest trimming events or letting special interest groups manage their own events. The editor’s view: the Nats are unique and worth continuing so long as they remain high quality and financially sound (break-even budget). They bring many facets of modeling together and foster community among modelers.

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Insurance, Chartered Fields, and the Sport Flyers Association

  • AMA’s insurance and chartered-club program depend on a large membership base and adherence to AMA safety requirements. Club chartering generally requires 100% AMA membership; flight operations by non‑AMA members typically void AMA insurance coverage.
  • The Sport Flyers Association (SFA) has emerged and attempted to recruit from AMA’s base. Some SFA positions conflict with AMA policy (for example, SFA has stated no limit to model size/weight). AMA insurance generally limits model weight to 55 pounds (with up-to-100-pound allowance under special inspection).
  • AMA’s size/weight limits and other standards were negotiated with special interest groups and the FAA. AMA works with the FAA and military to assure safe operation; irresponsible positions on size and weight could threaten the Academy’s self-governing status.
  • Compliance with AMA safety rules is necessary to maintain insurance protections.

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Membership Initiatives and Fundraising

  • New youth family membership planned for 1993: reduced-rate membership for Junior and Senior members who share the same name/address in a family. Details to appear on 1993 renewal forms.
  • Alphanumeric AMA numbers: available to 1993 members for a nominal per-year cost; eight-character format similar to custom license plates. Restrictions: AMA will not issue custom numbers where the series begins with P or L (reserved prefixes). Information will be sent with 1993 membership cards after renewal.
  • Fundraising: AMA plans a fund-raising effort to accelerate development of the Muncie site, acquire/develop additional sites, and complete the new AMA museum in Reston (target opening summer 1993, depending on success). When the Frank V. Ehling Complex opens, all AMA members current at that time will be listed on a large display; members may optionally donate $10 on their 1993 renewal to have their names shown in bold as donors.

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District 3 Report

Bob Brown District 3 Vice President 1255 High St., Bradford, PA 16701 Phone: (814) 362-7702

Associate Vice Presidents:

  • Mike Barbee, 6561 Calgary Ct., Columbus, OH 43229-2008
  • David H. Ellis, 5261 DeWitt Rd., Cross Lanes, WV 25313-1209
  • Nelson Gould, 1944 S. Idaho St., Allentown, PA 18103
  • John Hathaway, 102 Woodmere Dr., New Stanton, PA 15672
  • Jay Mealy, 208 Witmer St., Clearfield, PA 16830
  • Joseph S. Vislay, 1381 Cranbrook Dr., Maumee, OH 43537
  • Lawrence R. Weimer, 15613 Greendale Ave., Maple Heights, OH 44137
  • Gil Weiss, 3004 Hallowell Ct., Bensalem, PA 19020
  • Mark Wilson, 4913 Marcy, Dayton, OH 45449

Frequency Coordinator:

  • John Cottle, 1012 Wyoming Ave., Forty Fort, PA 18704

Phone: (717) 287-8970

District 3 highlights:

  • The Muncie Grand Opening drew modelers from across District 3. Over 1,000 flights were logged during two days; district AVPs helped maintain the flight line. The site will host an IMAA rally, a NAA Free Flight meet, and the Scale World Championship. Members are encouraged to visit and fly; recommendations for site improvements are welcome.
  • The Flying Aces Nats and the Pittsburgh Area Rotor Runners / IRCHA helicopter Jamboree were notable events. The helicopter Jamboree featured top rotary-wing pilots and exhibitors; fixed-wing pilots are encouraged to observe the capabilities of rotary-wing aircraft.
  • Reminder: AMA elections are approaching — members are urged to vote.

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Loss of a Friend — Gene Hartmangruber

  • Gene Hartmangruber passed away on May 25, 1992. A Brainbuster since the club’s inception in 1942, Gene was deeply involved with youth programs (known to many boys as "Mr. Greenjeans") and introduced many young people to model building through Boys Club programs. He attended the Brainbusters’ reunion in April and the spring contest in May. His passing was sudden and deeply felt by many.
  • From Diane Sceare (in loving memory): poem "His Love to Fly" (excerpted) reflects Gene’s gentle mentorship of young modelers.

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Flying Sites — Ongoing Challenges

  • Flying sites remain a critical issue for growth and safety. Lack of club sites can encourage lone flying and informal groups, increasing risk and community friction. Clubs provide safer, more controlled operations and are better positioned to respond to legal or noise complaints.
  • Site developments: one major Virginia acquisition has apparently soured despite substantial effort; two North Carolina sites are under county review for land-use and noise issues (one adjacent to a capped-but-not-yet-usable landfill). AMA continues to gather and share information to help clubs facing similar issues.

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Congratulations

  • Maynard Hill of Silver Spring, Maryland — record setter, designer, model builder and former Academy president — set a new R/C endurance record: 24 hours, 4 minutes, and 15 seconds. The time has been submitted to the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) for certification. Well done.

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Club News and Local Highlights

Pine Barren Modelers

  • Donated $100 toward Muncie construction. Clubs are encouraged to consider supplementary donations.

Richmond Model Flying Club (Staten Island, NY) — John Baranello

  • Founded 1936; over 150 members and a waiting list. The club hosts mall shows and static shows at schools and an annual flying show to open the Gateway National Recreation Area summer season.

Thunderbolts RC Club & Adirondack Giant Sport Flyers

  • Hosted a Giant Scale fly-in on June 7, 1992, at Schenectady airport with 56 models and more than 80 Giants. The event raised funds; Thunderbolts VP Dan Whiteman presented the Empire State Aeroscience Museum with a $4,000 check.

Ocean County Modelers (NJ) — Float Fly

  • Hosted a float-fly fun session at A. Paul King Park’s Lake Manahawkin on May 3. Strong winds made flying difficult, but 19 modelers attended. Jim Meraldo manned the chase boat; CD was Chris Loupas.

Aero‑Guidance Society (AGS)

  • Formed in 1954 by IBM engineers and managers to promote R/C building and flying. Club bylaws require hosting an AMA‑sanctioned contest and an intraclub contest each year. AGS received AMA’s Award of Excellence on its 25th anniversary. Recent additions include a float-fly, Scale fly-in, an Electric fly, and plans for a sanctioned fun-fly.

Sunset Aeromodelers (Saint Cloud) — repeat of earlier coverage

District anecdotes and club snapshots:

  • Moccasin Gap Modelers (Tallahassee): Sonny Branch chartered a new AMA club with 17 members. Newsletter: Cotton Mouth Monthly.
  • DeKalb RC Flyers (Sylvania, AL): Barry Strickland quipped about frequency problems only when a train passes.
  • Wire Grass RC Club (Dothan, AL): Harvey Yoder helps keep the club active; third annual Fun/Sport Scale contest was a success.
  • Richard Jackson (SC): flying a Bill Evans Simitar tailless model powered by an Enya .46.
  • Erich Dern: four-engine Constellation powered by four Webra .80s — an impressive show at Greenville IMAA and the Muncie Grand Opening.
  • Roger Young (Summerville, SC): painstaking rivet work on a C-47 (30,000 rivets).
  • Karl Scott (Mississippi): hosts Scott’s Flying Circus Fun Fly; helicopters and electric models on display.
  • Tom McLaughlan: Free Flight contest in Pensacola running for 34 years.

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News from Kansas — "Doc" Scraper

  • Prop Busters’ fun-fly: free to pilots and public; site includes hangar (concession), trailer (club house and transmitter impound), and announcer’s tower. Money from concessions funded the tower. Encouraged for modelers in eastern Kansas/Nebraska to attend.
  • Muncie Grand Opening recap: successful with excellent weather and plenty of flying. Many thanks to volunteers and helpers.
  • Reminder: fall brings AMA elections — vote.

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Northwest & Pacific Updates

  • Prop Spinners (Eugene area): active club across from Mahlon Sweet Airport; new members are flying regularly.
  • CAMS (Coeur d'Alene Aero-Modeling Society): reprinted memorial to Bob Petro; new field, new logo, and new NL title "Downwind and Deadstick." New field layout includes two runways (450' x 65' and 300' x 65'), with Control Line and Helicopter sites separated from main runways.
  • Flathead Barnstormers (Kalispell, MT): strong field and club activity; new Glacier R/C Club forming near Flathead County airport.
  • Moses Lake RC Modelers: field on city property adjacent to the airport taxiway; example of coexistence with full-scale aircraft.
  • Columbia Basin Balsa Bashers (Richland): contest drew participants from Oregon; growing Control Line activity in the Tri-Cities area.
  • Willamette Modelers Club: "Silents, Please" and Old Timers Championships at Parker's Field near Tangent, OR, September 19–20. Includes Coupe Cup Finals and Women’s HLG Championship. Route: I‑5 exit 228 to Hwy 34E.
  • Big Bird Fly-in (Treasure Valley/Gooding Prop Nuts): scheduled October 2–3 and AMA sanctioned.
  • Snake River Valley Modelers: model-building seminars for youngsters at Model A School; outreach continues to be rewarding.

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Promotions and Partnerships

  • U.S. Aircore: offering a "Success Guaranteed" or free replacement airplane on the AirCore 40 Family Trainer for kits purchased after July 1, 1992. Conditions: instruction under an AMA‑chartered club instructor at an AMA club field; pieces and signed warranty card required for replacement. Contact U.S. Aircore for full details.
  • AMA is a member of the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO) to maintain contact with state aviation officials.
  • Project Air Bear: national aviation mascot program to visit schools and teach aviation basics. Contact: Ms. Jan Draper, Illinois Department of Transportation, Division of Aeronautics, Capital Airport, One Langhorne Bond Drive, Springfield, IL 62701‑8415. Phone: (217) 785‑8516. Supported by the Ninety‑Nines and the FAA. Good community outreach helps clubs secure better flying sites.

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Late News Flash

  • Congratulations to the U.S. Indoor team for second place in the F1D World Championships: Cezar Banks 3rd, Richard Doig 4th, Larry Loucka 15th.

Safe flying is no accident!

Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.