Sound & Model Aeronautics
Howard Crispin, Jr.
There was an interesting item in the newspaper today. The subject was pollution — a type of pollution we have been involved in addressing for quite some years. The general public, on the other hand, apparently is not very aware of the hazards of this pollutant. Perhaps many have become immune to its effects, or perhaps they have become so overwhelmed that it no longer has a lasting effect on them (or so they think). On the other hand, we encounter altogether too many individuals more affected by this pollutant than the average aeromodeler. What is this dreadful pollutant?
The article said, "It has been linked to health disorders, yet in a hyper-health-conscious society, it receives scant attention." It has changed the American experience to a degree that would astound a modern-day Rip Van Winkle waking from a trans-generational doze, yet in an environmentally conscious country it is barely on the public agenda. The pollutant is noise. (Boston Sunday Globe, 2 June.)
If the Globe's statements are true, we in the aeromodeling field may be victims of very selective attention. It is also possible, of course, that those complaining about our activities are not as complacent about noise as others in more metropolitan areas. Perhaps there are other reasons for the attention we receive on these occasions. In any event, we probably all complain about some noise aspects of our surroundings without a comparative understanding of the pollutants we ourselves spread. The major thrust of all this is that the time may come when we will be under much more scrutiny than we are now.
There have been proposals and recommendations for sound levels from model aircraft engines in federal documents dating back to the 1970s. There were even statements requiring compliance within a given number of years. There was never any follow-up, to the best of available evidence. That was fortunate for us because there was not a single engine capable of meeting those requirements at that point. There are very few that would meet the requirements even at this late date. The requirements were, to say the least, very stringent.
The problem is not just with model aircraft engines. The application of the rules affected almost everything utilizing internal combustion engines. The burden of compliance, as always, was placed upon the shoulders of the user. Some of this thinking is certainly still around. We can see this when we hear that Fred Erickson is making MCC engines for federal government testing on lawn mowers. Other state agencies are studying improved engine silencers and, in some cases, catalytic converters for lawn mower engines and other devices. Some localities have established cut-off dates for complying with noise ordinances regarding weed whackers, chain saws, leaf blowers, and similar home or commercial equipment.
All of this increased activity cannot necessarily bode well for us. While we have a fair number of individuals hard at work looking at solutions, the fact remains that many engine manufacturers do not provide adequate silencers to even meet the recommended levels of the Academy (and much of Europe). Much of the blame for this rests with the user — us. We do not demand adequate equipment from manufacturers. We then expect some after-market supplier to provide something usable; there are certainly some doing this. Giant models are a special and growing problem because of the growth of that group of fliers.
One major difficulty is that we demand something that will serve the purpose, and then we want the unit to fit completely in an F-51 nose cowling along with a G-62 engine or even larger units. That requires a particular shape and design to fit and truly lower sound levels. What small manufacturer can possibly meet these needs with relatively small sales? On the off chance one does come up with something useful, we then complain about the cost.
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AMA News
Executive Council Meeting Highlights
The following action items took place at the July 8, 1996 Executive Council meeting:
The motions below are part of the unofficial minutes of the meeting. Minutes from a given meeting are not official until they are approved at the next quarterly Council meeting.
- MOTION I: E. McCollough (XI) moved and J. Grigg (II) seconded that the title of Assistant Vice President be eliminated.
- Motion passed: 11 yes — 2 no (V, X)
- MOTION II: D. Krafft (I) moved and C. Bauer (VI) seconded that:
- Fence off the pond near the By-pass as soon as possible.
- Have PADCOM meet with Greg to determine final plans for the front pond, then enclose it with split-rail fencing. This whole project should be done as soon as possible. An alternative would be to enclose it with temporary fencing.
- Motion passed: 9 yes — 4 no (III, IV, VII, X)
- MOTION III: D. Krafft (I) moved and R. Miller (IX) seconded that we drop the theft and vandalism portion of the policy and increase the fire portion as much as possible for a premium not to exceed $6,000.
- Motion failed: 2 yes (EVP I) — 11 no
- MOTION IV: B. Brown (III) moved and C. Bauer (VI) seconded that we allocate $4,000 to have no more than six additional pylon-barrier tests completed in the next three months.
- Motion passed: 12 yes — 1 no (VI)
- MOTION V: E. McCollough (XI) moved and G. Aldrich (VIII) seconded that the recommendations of the Scholarship Committee be accepted.
- Motion passed: unanimous
- MOTION VI: J. Grigg (II) moved and B. Brown (III) seconded that the policy on mail votes submitted be accepted as amended.
- Motion passed: 12 yes — 1 absent (IX)
- MOTION VII: C. Bauer (VII) moved and G. Aldrich (VIII) seconded that all adult membership dues be increased by $6 for 1997 with a $3 discount if received by the election cut-off date.
- Motion passed: 10 yes — 3 no (V, X, XI)
- MOTION VIII: J. McNeill (IV) moved and J. Grigg (II) seconded that AMA-chartered clubs now be referred to by club number with the club name as secondary reference.
- Motion passed: 12 yes — 1 absent (NAA)
- MOTION IX: G. Aldrich (VIII) moved and C. Bauer (VI) seconded that the minutes of the Nominating Committee be accepted as amended.
- Motion passed: 11 yes — 1 absent (V)
- MOTION X: E. McCollough (XI) moved and G. Aldrich (VIII) seconded that the next Executive Council meeting be held on November 16 and 17, 1996 in Muncie.
- Motion passed: 11 yes — 1 no (I) — 1 absent (V)
Next Executive Council Meeting: November 16 and 17, Muncie, IN.
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A recent gathering celebrating the history of model aviation was blessed with beautiful weather. All day Saturday every conceivable kind of model airplane was flown — some vintage, some modern — and many were flown by "vintage" pilots. Saturday night, the AMA Museum hosted a reception featuring not only the artifacts of aeromodelling history but also many of the people who created them. I overheard someone refer to the crowd as "walking artifacts," and he wasn't far wrong.
In the middle of the reception an AMA member told me the showers in the back of the building would only drip water. There was some embarrassment in the moment — while greeting many of the icons of our past I had to promise that maintenance would look into it. My wife couldn't keep a straight face and was laughing in a corner. The shower head turned out to have good pressure but was clogged with calcium from hard water.
Sunday brought more flying, stories, greetings of old friends, and meeting icons of our past. Sunday night's banquet was one of the best ever, with 418 people in attendance. I introduced about 40 Hall of Fame members who were present. Four new Hall of Fame inductees were Art Laneau, Joe Bridi, Bill Cannon, and Dave Platt. I also presented AMA Fellowships to Rae Underwood and Bev Wisniewski.
As the night ended there was a feeling few wanted to let go — it was an extremely historic gathering that perhaps could never happen again due to the age and health of many participants. Monday brought reality and an Executive Council meeting where the difficult decision was announced: dues would be raised slightly. Inflation, though slight, has increased the cost of providing services. It has been three years since the last increase. The Executive Council voted to raise adult dues by $6, but renewals processed before the voting deadline will be charged half the increase ($3). The choice was either to create a deficit budget or raise the dues. I still hope AMA can become less dependent on dues income in the future.
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Executive VP's Report
Doug Holland AMA Executive VP
3517 Fernwood Dr. Raleigh, NC 27612 Home: (919) 787-5163 Office: (919) 787-7454
In a couple of previous columns I said I would start sharing some of the audit numbers. I realize this will be dull for many, but some will be interested. When you look at the increase in net assets, we are beginning to show essentially no increase — meaning no excess of revenues over expenses.
Inflation affects AMA the same as it affects households. We will have to adjust dues, and we hope you will understand the necessity and pay the small increase to continue to have the right to fly, insurance coverage, a magazine, and all the other services AMA provides to foster our hobby/sport.
Please read this column through; at the end there is a bit of comic relief.
Revenues: the vast majority of our money comes from memberships. This is expected given the nature of the organization. Club charter fees, event sanctions, insurance, and a large amount of supplies and souvenir sales also come from memberships. Operating expenditures required $4,101,634. In the next column I will break down operating expenses so you can see the many things AMA does. One interesting point is that operating expenses for Headquarters actually dropped from $4,126,352 in 1994 to $4,101,634 in 1995.
For those with questions, drop me a note and I'll get you an answer.
Comic relief: Several guys were talking and one asked, "How do you hire an accountant?" Another said, "You go to an accountant and ask, 'What is 2 + 2?' If he says 'Four,' you leave immediately. If he gets his calculator and tables and works the answer to 3.999999, you say, 'Thank you very much,' and leave. If he asks, 'Before I begin, what do you want it to be?' then that's the one you hire."
Until later.
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AMA News
The Nationals are only in the first week. Contestants started to arrive on Sunday to start flying Monday — so far, so good. More than 900 members are registered for the 1996 Nationals. Between these events we had a Nominating Committee meeting and an Executive Council meeting; results are located elsewhere in this issue.
I would like to describe the dedication of a new flying field in Kentucky. Sunday, June 23, 1996, will be remembered by many AMA members in Kentucky and beyond. On that date a new flying site was dedicated at E.P. "Tom" Sawyer State Park in Louisville — the culmination of three years of hard work by the River City Radio Controllers and their president, Lewis Patton. Their reward is a lease with the Park allowing development of a new flying facility and provisions for the club to continue activities which Park Manager Rita Stosberg described as "...truly recreational and beneficial to all in the community."
Many state dignitaries attended. Their participation sent a message that Kentucky will work with local clubs to provide flying facilities accessible to many residents because of the positive impact model aviation has on participants.
Representing the state were Sen. Julie Rose; Rep. Jim Zimmerman; Rep. Dave Stengel; Mary Rae Oaken, Commissioner, Kentucky Department of Parks; Russ Maple, Commissioner; Rep. Bob DeWeese; Larry Hecht, President, Sawyer State Park Board of Trustees; and Lt. Governor Stephen L. Henry. The field was dedicated in Lt. Governor Henry's name in recognition of his support.
AMA was involved with this project from the beginning, providing information, guidance, and input. Representing AMA were Jay Mealy, Julie Evans, Jim Sears, and Charlie Bauer. The project was a cooperative effort with the River City Radio Controllers; the local modelers did the legwork and AMA helped fill the gaps when needed.
Lessons learned: securing new flying sites requires teamwork, ongoing time and effort, and is not something that happens overnight. The image a local club projects in its community is increasingly important; to maintain a flying site, a club must have the support of its members and neighbors. Clubs must be valuable parts of their communities.
This project and related topics will be included in a proposed series of articles on flying sites that will appear in Model Aviation. Congratulations to the River City Radio Controllers for their accomplishment and example.
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DISTRICT I REPORT
Connecticut / Maine / Massachusetts / New Hampshire / Rhode Island / Vermont
Don Krafft, Vice President PO Box 1828 Duxbury, MA 02331-1828 (617) 934-6248
Associate Vice Presidents:
- James M. Semonian, 166 Allen Road, Billerica, MA 01821-5240
- Bob Landry, 80 Main Street, Essex Junction, VT 05452-3146
- M.C. McGuffin, 8 Robinson Street, Houlton, ME 04730-2312
- Harry S. Newman, 36 Sherwood Drive, Hooksett, NH 03106-1077
- Richard Sherman, 28 High Street, Plymouth, NH 03264-1223
- Ed Thompson, 27 E. Greenwich Ave., West Warwick, RI 02893-5405
- Bob Wallace, 91 Sylvan Street, Avon, CT 06001-2230
Frequency Coordinator:
- George Wilson, 82 Frazier Way, Marstons Mills, MA 02648-1866
495th SQUADRON: Each spring this club hosts a static show of scale aircraft at their meeting place. It gives modelers a chance to show their winter's work and to socialize. This year the weather was horrible, however 16 builders brought their models for display. Submitted by Art Alfono, the show organizer:
- Bill Salter — Fokker D-VIII
- Paul Ranville — P-61 Black Widow
- Ruanne Crommet — Travel Air
- Charlie "Mr. Waco" Nelson — Waco YMF
- Ron Gagner — Mitsubishi Zero
- Jack Buckley — Hawker Sea Fury
- Irv Searle — Nieuport 28
- Vern Naulk — Roland C-2
- Lindsey Smith — Howard DGA
- Ed Domiccoli — Fw 190 D-9
- Bill Dimpfl — Tiger Moth
- Dick Carlson — Douglas SBD-1 Dauntless
- Ralph Dionne — Catalina MK IVA
- Bill Washburn — Ryan Navion
- Jim Mahoney — B-25
- Art Alfono — Pitts Special
Thanks to all who braved the weather to bring your aircraft so others could enjoy them.
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Kenneth Koeppel
Many years ago I had the pleasure of meeting a gentleman from Olean, NY: Mr. Kenneth Koeppel. Kenny, at age 87, died on May 8, 1996.
He had a long career in free flight and RC modeling. A founding member of the Olean (NY) Model Airplane Club in 1938 and a member of WNYFFS from 1969, he also served as Assistant Vice President of District II of AMA for several years. In the mid-1940s he opened a hobby shop in his Rock City home, moved it to Olean, and operated it there into the 1980s.
"Ken was certainly our oldest member and amazed us with his ability to fly formidable airplanes as late as four years ago. In recent years he needed help to hold his larger models while he started the engines and his weak eyesight mandated chasers. Every couple of years he would place at a contest (including a fifth in 1/2 A at the Westover Nationals). He liked to play the 'irascible old man,' but his face told a different story when he accepted a trophy. He was a generous and very decent man. We will miss him but all of us have benefited by being his friends." — Bill Prensky, WNYFFS.
"Those of us among the Skyscrapers who knew the 'irascible old man' will also miss him deeply. My personal memory of Ken that particularly epitomized his character was an event a couple of years ago: The Friday night before a WNYFFS annual meet, Ken checked into the Starlight Motel in Seneca Falls and joined me and Jack Nix for dinner. Ken mentioned he'd had a lens implant on Tuesday to correct a cataract and expected timing and retrieving would be easier. Ken had driven to Seneca Falls alone — and his motorcycle was strapped on the station wagon. Motorcycle retrieving over rough terrain is no way to treat an eyeball recuperating from implant surgery, and I strongly questioned the idea. Ken's instantaneous response — and remember he was 83 or 84 at the time — was: 'The doctor didn't say not to ride a motorcycle!'" — Bob Hatschke, editor FLYOFF, the Skyscrapers' Quarterly.
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DISTRICT III REPORT
Ohio / Pennsylvania / West Virginia
Bob Brown, Vice President 35 Sanford Street Bradford, PA 16701 (814) 368-7655
Associate Vice Presidents:
- Mike Barbee, 6561 Calgary Court, Columbus, OH 43192-2008 — (614) 891-1643
- David H. Ellis, 5261 DeWitt Road, Cross Lanes, WV 25313-1209 — (304) 776-1408
- Nelson Gould, 1944 S. Idaho Street, Allentown, PA 18103-8519 — (215) 797-6597
- John Hathaway, 102 Woodmere Drive, New Stanton, PA 15672-9449 — (412) 925-3269
- Donald Klopp, 637 Hamilton Court, Trappe, PA 19426 — (610) 409-0129
- Frank Noll, 4573 Lamme Road, Dayton, OH 45449 — (513) 435-9232
- Joseph S. Vislay, 1381 Cranbrook Drive, P.O. Box 851, Maumee, OH 43537-3062
Frequency Coordinator:
- John Cottle, 1012 Wyoming Avenue, Forty Fort, PA 18704 — Phone: (717) 287-8970
Indoor Free Flight Nats: District III modelers can be proud of Ron Ganser for his effort at the '96 Indoor Nats. He won first place in rubber scale and first in autogiro; also a second in peanut and ROG. Sixty years of modeling experience helped him establish several national records. Congratulations, Ron!
Fun Fly: I visited the Fun Fly at the Susquehanna Valley Radio Control Club's field in Selinsgrove. The enjoyment displayed by participants brought back memories of the "good old days." The events were simple and accessible to anyone. Bob Rachau, contest director, explained the event was a test of rules, scoring, and events to be used by the National Competition Run Fly Association's National Championship in Carlisle. If so, that championship should be very enjoyable.
Findlay Flying Circuits: The Findlay Flying Circuits can be proud that their first Big Bird Fly-In was a huge success. AVP Joe Vislay reports, "Everything was run as if they were an old hand at it."
Celebration of Eagles: Much AMA history resides within our district. The Celebration of Eagles in Muncie reunited many District III Eagles. The potential for overflight and resulting complaints increases with the size of aircraft. A large number of giant models lacking adequate sound-lowering devices has led to a change: the annual IMAA Fly-In has been changed to a Fun Fly/Tailgate Swap event to be held this September.
The RVRCC has sponsored a Swap Shop/Auction for eighteen years, making it one of the district's longest-running events. Attendance has been consistently good. The auction used to be a large part of the event but has become smaller. The Swap Shop includes a static display competition. The big winner this year was Bob Phillips with his model of the U.S. Navy N2S-3, powered by a seven-cylinder engine; he took a category award and the People's Choice Award.
Danville: The Danville IMAA Fly-In was very successful, with excellent night flying. The 1998 Rally of the Giants will once again be held at this site.
Harrisonburg: The Valley Radio Control Club (Shenandoah) hosted an event this year formatted as an IMAA event. The event included a banquet with TOC flier and designer Dave Patrick as guest speaker. Dave also demonstrated flying skills for visiting fliers and spectators.
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CELEBRATION OF EAGLES — 1936–1996
The Celebration of Eagles took place on July 7–8 and turned out to be a remarkable event. For attendees it was a reunion after 40 or 50 years for many, and for some it included pioneers active long before the AMA was formed. District IV was well represented. Three past Presidents — Maynard Hill, John Patton, and John Worth — attended, as did many Hall of Fame members. Over 400 people attended the Sunday banquet.
The Saturday evening reception at the AMA Museum was well attended, with many attendees who were the designers of aircraft on display. Among those who changed model aviation forever were engine pioneers: Bill Brown (the first practical gas engine), Frank Tsolich (who, with his brother Charles, ended Bill's monopoly in competition), and John Brodbeck (a primary engine choice for many events and a U.S. manufacturer still producing some of the best engines).
There were founders of the Academy and many famous names in Free Flight and Early Radio Control. Maxwell Bassett flew and talked with the old timers; Maxwell flew the first gasoline-engine-powered aircraft. Joe Kovel led the way in Radio Control and was seen flying a copy of the original over the weekend; the original hangs in the Museum. Designers such as Sal Taibi of Powerhouse fame were present and active. Sal still competes and drives his 1956 Chevy with over 700,000 miles — an honest companion for hauling planes and gear.
Other notable attendees included Neil Armstrong — AMA member, model builder, astronaut, and the first man to step on the moon. The weekend was warm, full of outstanding conversation, and a joy for many meeting old friends.
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AMA News — DISTRICT V REPORT
We have just had another AMA Council meeting; here is how I voted:
- Motion: Eliminate the appointed office of "Assistant Vice President." Passed. (My vote: no.)
- Motion: 1) Fence off the rear pond with chain-link fencing as soon as possible. 2) Have PADCOM meet with Greg to determine final plans for the front pond, then enclose it with suitable fencing. Alternative: temporary fencing. (My vote: yes.) Passed.
- Insurance Committee recommended dropping the theft and vandalism portion of the members' insurance policy and increasing the fire portion for a premium not to exceed $6,000. Motion failed. (My vote: no.)
- Motion: Spend $4,000 more on cage tests to further determine the safety of the judo cages for RC racing. (My vote: yes.) Passed.
- Motion: Accept Scholarship Committee recommendations for $17,000 in scholarships. (My vote: yes.) Passed. Scholarships are important to encourage further and higher education for deserving young modelers. AMA funds are sent to schools, not directly to recipients.
- Mail Voting System: Intended to expedite AMA business not expected to be controversial. I voted no. Motion passed.
- Motion: Beginning immediately with all 1997 Chartered Club renewals, the wording used to identify each club will include "Club Number." After chartering or re-chartering, clubs will be referred to as "AMA Chapter Club Number so-and-so." (My vote: yes.) Passed.
If your club is desperate for a new flying field, AMA produced a 19-minute videotape called "PARTNERSHIPS." It visits four flying fields and shows how individuals and local clubs cooperated with park officials to acquire and maintain flying fields on government property. The speakers are park directors and managers: Gil Kingsbury (Frederick County, MD), Harvey Brink (Corps of Engineers, Milford Dam, KS), Gary Buffington (Chatfield State Recreation Area, CO), and Gene Andal (Sacramento County, CA). These people are listed in the National Recreation and Parks Association directory. AMA is a member of the NRPA.
If you need a "PARTNERSHIP" tape, the booklet "HOW TO GET AND KEEP FLYING SITES," or the AMA Rule Book, write to me and I will mail you a copy FREE and pay the shipping. I have already mailed nearly 100 flying-sites books.
A note from Bill Bell: "Like most of us in South Florida, we are losing our fields... Dave Williams said the booklet you sent him was most helpful in obtaining use of an area. Please send me a copy of 'GETTING AND KEEPING FLYING SITES.'"
We have very dedicated and hardworking Associate Vice Presidents in District V.
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DISTRICT VI REPORT
Batavia, IL: One highlight of the year for the Fermilab Barnstormers (Club #616) is Delta Dart night. Their goal is to introduce model building to friends, neighbors, co-workers, and children. They distributed 58 Delta Dart kits this year, the largest crowd yet. After building and trimming, a flight-duration contest was held for guests and club members. Prizes were awarded to every participant under 18. Success was due to planning and hard work: fixtures to pre-cut sticks, color coding, kit assembly, prize solicitation, and supply gathering. Photos and information courtesy of Dave Slimmer.
Mooseheart, IL: May 11 saw the 4th Annual Mooseheart Invitational sponsored by the Lisle Aero Club (Club #397) and The Hobbyworks. Discussions focused on exposing more families to hobbies. Besides R/C and CL, there were R/C boats, float flying, rocketry, and an R/C car track with hands-on opportunities. Photos and information from Jim Durow.
Falls of Rough, KY: The Mint Julep Scale meet saw a large turnout of scale flyers. Photos featured H. Parenti with a Fireball, R. Wischer with a Piper Pacer, W. Kleinhans with an Aeronca C-3, and R. Underwood.
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AMA News
Can Anyone Help Me?
The first flying airplane I built was a Veco Tomahawk. I am looking for the vintage kit with the old aircraft design in the black-and-white checkerboard box. Call or write if you know of one.
Flying Times
A unique publication has started in Michigan called Flying Times, dedicated to RC flying in Michigan. In newspaper format, it's well written with great pictures and a convenient calendar of events. Maybe regional publications are the wave of the future.
TRAMPS Fun Fly
The TRAMPS of Traverse City, MI invited me to their two-day event. I spent Saturday at the field and missed a fantastic Saturday dinner. There were great aircraft and demo flights including two B-25s each with two G-62 engines and a B-36.
Kids Days
Many clubs schedule events to introduce the public, especially young people, to model aviation. Events include demo flights, buddy-box flying, Delta Dart building, free picnics for visitors, and voluntary child registration through a national tracking system for missing children. These are great ways to meet the public and contribute to the community.
Executive Council Meeting at the Nationals
I was impressed with the Nationals' preparation. The site and process will continue to grow and become more professional. The EC meeting had a busy agenda with increasingly complex issues.
The Next Three Months
I hope to see many modelers over the coming months, enjoying great flying weather and busy weekends full of events. See you at the field!
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DISTRICT VIII REPORT
Arkansas / Louisiana / New Mexico / Oklahoma / Texas
George M. Aldrich, Vice President 12822 Tarrytown San Antonio, TX 78233 A.M.A. Line: (210) 650-4707 FAX answers in 6th ring if away
Associate Vice Presidents:
- Max Bilose, 1001 N. Betsy, Waco, TX 76706 — (817) 662-5587
- Sandy Frank, 1005 N. Brazos St., Weatherford, TX 76086 — (817) 599-7131
- Ervin "Chick" Frierson, Box 188, Haskell, TX 79521 — (817) 864-3086
- Marlin McGee, 4433 NW 20th St., Oklahoma City, OK 73107 — (405) 947-4516
- Randy Randolph, 4873 Fallon Pl., Dallas, TX 75227 — (214) 381-7624
- Jim Simpson, 600 San Juan Del Rio, Rio Rancho, NM 87124 — (505) 891-1336
- Steve Staples, 1300 Pine Valley, Little Rock, AR 72207 — (501) 664-1226
- Charles Stevens, 2246 Delta St., Pasadena, TX 77506 — (713) 473-4996
- John Valls, 2502 Montgomery, Box 2241, Laredo, TX 78041 — (512) 723-9018
- Ward Watts, 13415 Joe Rd., Baton Rouge, LA 70818 — (504) 261-5974
Frequency Coordinators:
- North: Joe DuMond, 1830 Chevy Chase, Carrollton, TX 75006 — (214) 578-1533
- South: Jim Reynolds, 123 Madrid, Universal City, TX 78148 — (210) 658-6646
AMA Display Coordinator:
- Karen Hopkins, 5515 Bridgeton Avenue, Arlington, TX 76018 — (817) 467-9211
As I write in late June, the winds have subsided after scattered showers. The drought remains in south Texas; in San Antonio we are reduced to watering yards one day a week. The bright side has been great flying days: cool mornings for early flying and retreating around 11:00 a.m. as temperatures climb into the 90s and even 100s. We hope it stops raining on Muncie so the Nationals have good weather. Early entries indicate this first Nationals at our International Flying Site will be the largest in years.
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AMA News — District X Report (excerpt)
District X is fortunate to have a capable staff of Associate Vice Presidents, Coordinators, and Contest Board members. One AVP who has contributed greatly is Brian Nelson of Morgan Hill, CA, founder of the Santa Clara County Sky Park near San Jose. Brian is an accomplished business professional who has shared modeling and professional experiences to help others understand aeromodeling issues. The following is the first of three articles Brian prepared for District X:
I just finished the second Jewel of the Giant Scale Racing Triple Crown put together by Ron Eisner and Rob Wood of RMG. The first was at Marina, CA; this one at King City; the third may be set for Castle AFB in the Central Valley. The Giant Scale World Championship is scheduled at Rio Vista on Labor Day; Madera Races are at the end of September; Castle Field near Merced in November will wind up the year.
Looking back at six years as an Associate Vice President in the San Francisco Bay area, there have been numerous challenges similar to those facing the national hobby. It comes down to people, attitudes, and a willingness to embrace diversity as our strength.
I surveyed my club asking, "What is your expectation of the AMA?" Insurance and keeping our flying site were top concerns. Many members are not interested in extra frills like magazines, eye care, travel rebates, and other programs if they don't see a clear cost benefit. At the local level, flying site turnover is costly and many meeting agendas focus on being a good neighbor or maintaining the current site or finding a new one.
Last year I surveyed first-year members who left the hobby. At the local level, 63% of them left within a year. This may correspond to the national membership decline of 1–3% per year over the past four years. Reasons for leaving: shortage of help in learning to build and fly, expense, distance to flying site, and loss of interest. The following year we addressed these issues and increased retention by 10–15%. It may be beneficial to survey all AMA members who leave the hobby.
By addressing shortcomings and working on solutions we can make meaningful changes. In this article I addressed flight training, cost vs. benefits, and flying sites. If you have comments or ideas, email me at nelson71@aol.com.
Till next time — Keep 'em safe and Keep 'em flyin'.
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AMA News (address)
Academy of Model Aeronautics 5151 East Memorial Drive Muncie, IN 47302
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Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
