THE EAGLES LEGACY
AMA's History—Past, Present, Future
by John Worth
Oops! In this column in the July 1998 issue of Model Aviation, I noted that selection for the Hall of Fame was tough this year because there was a total of 72 candidates. That count was wrong; there were actually 86 candidates—14 more than I said.
From this incredible total, 12 were voted in this year, which means that 74 names may be carried over until 1999. In addition, we can expect many new names to be submitted between now and the deadline for next year. The chances are good, therefore, that we may have close to 100 to choose from next time around.
If we again select only a dozen or so next year, we will be even further behind in recognizing and honoring deserving candidates. Sadly, this could mean that many of them may not be around to receive the honor in person. This suggests that if ever the selection process needs to be changed, now may be the best time—before the situation gets any worse.
That's enough on the Hall of Fame for now. We've been harping on the subject for many months; deservedly so, but too much on the same subject can be self-defeating. People may get tired of it and turn a deaf ear to the need. Let's hope that doesn't happen so that we can improve the situation before it gets completely out of hand.
So, what else is happening? The next Celebration of Eagles event is getting close. It's scheduled for September 11–12 this year at Muncie. We're calling it "Eagles II," relating it to the fabulous 1996 event which also took place in Muncie. People are still talking about that great reunion, and it looks like we've got another great one coming.
If you missed the 1996 event, you ought to consider going to this one in 1998. Besides many of the same famous modeling personalities who were there in 1996 and are coming back again, others who were not able to be at Eagles I may be attending, so it's not simply a matter of repeating the '96 event.
There will be many new people this year and many more honors will be bestowed. As part of this Year of the Pioneer, we are recognizing people who, as yet, have not made it into the Hall of Fame but are particularly deserving of special recognition anyway.
You may be one of them, or you may know one or more who will be honored at the Pioneers Banquet on Saturday evening, September 12. The list of those who will be recognized with special Pioneer awards that night is impressive:
- Art Adamisin
- Betty Adamisin
- Ed Beshar
- Bob Bienenstein
- George Brown
- Edward Calkin
- Sal Cannizzo
- Art Christensen
- Roy Clough
- Robert Dailey
- Robert Dodgson
- James Duckworth
- Joe Eberhardt
- Joe Elgin
- Bill Evans
- Burnis Fields
- Jeremy Fitch
- John Frisoli
- Vito Garofalo
- Leo Garringer
- Don Godfrey
- Conrad Hanson
- Les Hard
- William Harding
- Raymond Heit
- Ed Henry
- Charles Hollinger
- Carl Hopkins
- Robin Hunt
- Luther Hux
- Jay Jackson
- Lawrence Jenno
- Matt Kania
- Kenneth Koeppel
- Harris Lee
- Robert Leishman
- Alfred Lehmberg
- Sid Miller
- Harry Moyer Sr.
- Robert Randall
- Randy Randolph
- Robert Randolph
- Charles Reed III
- Fred Reese
- George Reich
- Frank Rende
- Francis Reynolds
- Robert Rich
- Stuart Richmond
- Erv Rodemsky
- Ed Southwick
- Oba Saintclair
- Larry Scarinzi
- Carl Schwab
- Jack Sheeks
- Dick Sherman
- Ed Shipe
- Charles Spencer
- Al Strickland
- Richard Tanis
- Dick Tichenor
- Windy Urtnowski
- Lou Vargo
- Joe Wagner
- Mickey Walker
- Bill Warner
- LeRoy Weber
- Lee Webster
- Robert White
- Dale Willoughby
- George Wilson
- Wayne Yeager
- John Zaic
- Joe Zingali
I hope that as many of the new Hall of Famers for 1998 as possible will be present to receive their honors, along with those getting the Pioneer awards.
Furthermore, there will be many other famous modelers on hand because Eagles II will be followed the next day by the start of the annual National Championships of the Society of Antique Modelers (SAM). Many SAM members will be coming to Muncie a day or two early to participate in the Eagles II events.
Some of them will be receiving either Pioneer or Hall of Fame awards. Others will simply be coming to share the extra nostalgia the weekend will provide. Many of these people are famous modelers also, having previously been inducted into either or both of the other Halls of Fame: SAM's or that of the National Free Flight Society.
Obviously, then, on this weekend and for the week following, Muncie will be swarming with modelers who have contributed mightily to the history of model aviation. This could be the greatest modern-day gathering of aeromodeling names. You can be part of it all. If you haven't done so already, start your planning to be there by requesting the special Pioneers information package from AMA Headquarters.
The middle of May found me in Greenville, South Carolina at Pat Hartness' Joe Nall Memorial. This annual happening has to be attended at least once to fully appreciate what has taken place in model aviation. The list of attendees would read as a "Who's Who" of Giant Scale R/C today.
This year the AMA was invited to set up in one end of Pat's hangar and conduct a "make-and-take" Delta Dart program for youngsters who were attending with their parents. With the invaluable assistance of Bob McKay (AVP District II) and his wife Alice, we conducted Delta Dart classes on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. All in all, more than 150 models were built and flown during this time. We limited our sessions to the morning hours between 9 a.m. and noon. I can't remember how many times I went up on the roof of either the hangar or storage shed retrieving an errant Delta Dart.
What I found particularly intriguing were the parents' responses. Several parents assisted in the building, trimming, and flying of the models. What continues to make this program so successful is that all who build one of the models fly it successfully. We even had Pat Hartness build his first Delta Dart and successfully fly it!
The first Science Olympiad featuring "Propeller Propulsion Models" is now history. From all reports, the event was a surprising success to the organizers; so much so that they are now reviewing the requirements and correcting any ambiguous rules. As I understand it, this is the first event within the Science Olympiad context that did not have an official protest filed.
A special salute and thank you are in order to Tom Sanders and Midwest Products under the direction of Frank Garcher for the initiative and support they provided to the Science Olympiad Committee. Without their efforts, the Propeller Propulsion Model event probably would not have taken place.
As I have indicated previously in this column, the schools that scored the best flights and provided students with very capable models were coached by AMA members, primarily from the National Free Flight Society (NFFS). For those interested in aiding their local schools in next year's planned competition, there are some proposed rule changes. Be sure to contact the Science Olympiad Committee, Tom Sanders at Midwest, or, as a last resort, I will do what I can from AMA Headquarters to provide the information.
We often wonder where this hobby will lead us, and what the benefits of model aviation really are. I recently received a letter from an individual I think an awful lot of. With the letter was a clipping from a company newspaper about one of the company's employees. The company is Alaska Airlines; the article concerned 737-400 Captain Brian Richmond. The individual who sent me the material was Stu Richmond, proud papa.
The article details the early youth of Brian and brother Bruce, whose names are familiar in the pylon arena to this day. Brian's first contest was at age eight, and today he is a captain flying full-scale jet airliners while still maintaining contact with model aviation through his 3-year-old son. Brian was recently interviewed for a video to be used by model airplane clubs across the country on cable TV and PBS. Additionally, Boeing has enlisted him to help test an $80,000 remote-controlled prototype of an airplane they put into production.
So, really, what are the benefits of model aviation, and where can it all lead? In one case, it has led to a walk on the moon!
Til next month...
Executive VP's Report
Doug Holland AMA Executive VP
3517 Fernwood Dr. Raleigh, NC 27612 (Home) (919) 787-5163 (Office) (919) 787-7454
Below is a letter from a friend regarding a problem of the first magnitude within our sport. If you read the letter carefully, you will see that we, the modelers, have an ongoing need to be careful about our flying habits. This site is in a rural area and careless flying caused trouble. We all need to be responsible citizens.
A friend of mine said he was so unlucky that if they invented a pill that would give you eternal life, he would have died the day before.
Until later.
Greensboro Radio Models Club Greensboro, N.C. Since 1960
April 10, 1998
In the latest issue of Model Aviation magazine our club has a Giant Scale fly-in listed for May 23–24, 1998. The Board of Directors of our club canceled this meet due to unfortunate circumstances, NOT beyond our control.
A formal noise complaint was filed with the Guilford County Zoning and Planning Board, the board that holds our Special Use Permit to fly at this site. Although several meetings with the County and the offended persons have cooled the problem for now, we felt that a fly-in so soon after the settlement might cause another complaint.
The GRAMS flying field is located in a quiet rural area near the small town of McLeansville. Under these circumstances, if we can come so close to losing this field as a result of one complaint, many other clubs may be in similar straits. It is a good idea to start now, monitor where your members are flying, and insist on approved expansion-type mufflers as required by AMA. Remember your neighbors own their land and the sky above it!
We have another Fly-In scheduled for September 23; please consider coming then.
Thanks,
Bob Johnson, Contest Director AMA 811 (336) 288-3521
P.S. Please pass the word in your club to those who may be planning to come.
AMA News
As I put together this month's column I am surrounded by a beehive of activity. AMA's Grand Event/Open House will be taking place in just a few weeks. The U.S. Nationals will kick off a four-week run of competition events.
Earlier in the month I met with Steve Brown, president of the National Aeronautics Association, in Arlington, Va., to discuss a strategy to increase awareness at the federal level of the inequities inherent in the statutes currently in place regarding the change of control of federal property. We developed a plan that uses the active participation of your AMA president and all of the vice-presidents to get our concerns on the table, offer proposed solutions, and seek follow-up face-to-face meetings to discuss implementation. This activity gets to the root cause of the Galeville problem. I will report more after presenting the concept to the Executive Council.
From the north country comes word, via AVP Marlene Nikodem, of a five-club mall show at the Boulevard Mall in Tonawanda, NY. A total of 75 models were on display. Ken Smith of the Niagara County Radio Control Model Flying Club took Best in Sport honors with his Cessna, while George Northen of the Flying Knights (Hamburg) took Best in Show with a Spitfire. Best Military was awarded to Lyman Baker of the Niagara Sunday Flyers for his Topflight P-47.
AVP Robert McKay and his wife Alice represented AMA and model aviation during a presentation to a 2nd grade class at Lynn Crest Elementary School in Colonia, NJ. Bob described the history of flight from pterodactyls to the present, using balsa gliders, rubber-powered, and R/C aircraft. From birds, to balloons, to the Wright brothers and the astronauts, Bob sparked the interest of the entire class. According to the teacher, Mrs. Kolb, questions continued long after the presentation was over. Thanks to Alice McKay for the photos.
Tad Manske, editor of the WASPS Happenin' (the newsletter of the Wellsville Area Small Plane Society), sent information about the local Allegany County Maple Festival in Andover, NY. Since Allegany County is very rural, the club isn't near any malls. To get their sport in the public eye, the club sets up a display at the Maple Festival, held in a local school. For the past 12 years the club has participated with static displays of aircraft and engines, video programs, answers to myriad questions, and a sign-up sheet for their annual "Prospective Members Fun-Fly" later in the summer.
This year, the hit of the show was an egg-carton glider building forum conducted by member Bob Sanders. Bob, a retired professor from Alfred State College, took the idea from the June 1997 issue of Model Aviation. Bob assisted over 200 youngsters in getting their gliders in the air, stopping only when his supply of egg cartons was depleted. This will be a big event next year! The Wellsville story shows that every club, no matter the size, can have a positive impact on its community, thus furthering the goals of our organization.
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, 6651 Calgary Court, Columbus, OH 43229-2008 — (614) 891-1643
- David H. Ellis, 5261 DeWitt Road, Cross Lanes, WV 25313-1269 — (304) 776-1408
- Nelson Gould, 1944 Idaho Street, Allentown, PA 18103-6519 — (610) 797-9597
- John Hathaway, 102 Woodmont Drive, New Stanton, PA 15672-0449 — (412) 925-2266
- Donald Kopp, 687 Hamilton Court, Trappe, PA 19426-2256 — (610) 409-0129
- Frank Noll, 6042 Norwell Drive, Dayton, OH 45449 — (937) 435-3223
- Matthew Trowbridge, R.R. 3 Box 294, Dogwood Drive, Drums, PA 18222 — (717) 629-5435
- Joseph S. Vaisy, 1381 Cranbrook Drive, P.O. Box 851, Maumee, OH 43537-0852 — (419) 893-9537, E-mail: jsvaisy@globalcity.net
Frequency Coordinator:
- John Coile, 1012 Wyoming Avenue, Forty Fort, PA 18704 — (717) 287-8870
DISTRICT III WEB PAGE: District III will soon have a web page. The exact address will be announced in the near future. Thanks go to Randy Charles, the man in charge (Sysop).
The basic format will allow links to your club’s page or activity, a listing of district charter clubs and their contacts, a picture page, and an update on AMA from your Vice President. Due to various ramifications, no guest page or commercial advertising will be allowed. We hope this type of communication will benefit all.
FREQUENCY SCANNER: This must be the year for frequency problems. The requests for scanner use are far above any previous year. The scanners have been in use since early spring and have proved a benefit. One factor they have pointed out is the lack of interference; two main causes of perceived interference seem to be pilot error and poor battery maintenance.
If you think you have a radio problem at your flying site, create a log of all problems. Include time, type of aircraft, radio frequency, condition of battery packs, etc. If a frequency problem exists it will become evident from the data collected. The AMA scanner can also be used.
Anyone using the scanner should remember that several other clubs may be waiting to use the same equipment. Please forward the scanner as quickly as possible to avoid hardship on others.
All fields should use some type of frequency control. Make sure you are the only person on a frequency when you turn on. Courtesy should be extended to all using your channel. Don’t become a frequency "hog."
SKYDIVER RALLY: The second annual Skydiver Rally is being sponsored by the CORKS of Columbus, Ohio on September 12–13. Wally Getchel is the catalyst for this new type of R/C event.
ASHLAND CLOUD CHASERS: Mansfield Electronic Flyers recently held their annual swap meet and static display of models. The Ashland Cloud Chasers, Ashland, Ohio, were well represented by three Ohio R/C Chipmunks. The Pepsi Chipmunk, built by Bob Ullman, won first prize; the DCH 1 De Havilland Chipmunk, built by Jim Miller, won second; and the British Army Chipmunk, built by Willie Daniels, won third place.
THE TRI COUNTY WINGSNAPPERS: Southeast Pennsylvania is a mecca for flea markets. One of the upcoming shows is hosted by the Tri County Wingsnappers. AVP Nelson Gould provided a clear picture of the occasion.
DISTRICT IV REPORT
In my District IV column last month I wrote about "Flight of the Raven." Bob Verhaeghe has sent me some pictures of the plane that will be used to fly across the Pamlico Sound. The airplane is a modified version of Bill Winter's Krackerjack, created in the 1960s. Bob has been doing testing with chase boats and various prop sizes to come up with a workable situation. The photo he sent shows Bob's wife Louise holding the Raven that will be used for the flight across Pamlico Sound. I believe this will happen within the next two or three weeks. I will report the results.
CLUB CONTACT PERSON: Some clubs in District IV have a club contact person listed who lives outside the state that the club is located in. In some cases this causes the club to be listed in another state and not appear on the AMA District IV Club list. Be sure your club contact person listed with AMA is in the same state as your club.
METROLINA CONTROL LINE SOCIETY: Metrolina Control Line Society was organized in 1981 and is a very active AMA club. Members participate in various control line events ranging from local fun-flying to southeast regional contests to national and world championship competitions. Their members have a wide range of building and flying skills and are always willing to help fellow modelers. Regular monthly meetings are held at the David B. Waymer Flying Field near Huntersville, North Carolina. Meetings are usually a flying day on the fourth Saturday of each month with a business meeting at 2:00 p.m. Their field is equipped with two paved circles and one grass circle during normal flying times; at contests there is a third paved circle as well as other grassed areas. The club acknowledges with gratitude the Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation Dept. who operates and maintains the facility. For more information contact club Vice President Gene Guffey, 1551 Probst Road, Morganton, NC 28655.
MID ATLANTIC RADIO KONTROL SOCIETY: A recent mall show that the MARKS club put on in Salisbury, Maryland featured club board president Keith Banks (right) and John Spaulding (left). John was District IV Vice President for many years and remains very active as a modeler.
DARE COUNTY RADIO CONTROL CLUB: Dare County Radio Control Club has been doing a lot of flying at their flying site. If you are on vacation in this area, give us a call and come fly with us.
KENT COUNTY AEROMODELERS INC.: On May 5, 1998 I received an e-mail from Jim Boatman informing me of the passing of one of their club members. George Durney passed away on April 21 from a heart attack. George was a respected member of our AMA community for many years—some 40–45 years or more. He joined the Dover Mosquitoes in 1968 or 1969 (now the Kent County Aeromodellers) and served several terms as club president. George was instrumental in the formation of the East Coast Soaring Society, a leader and competitor for many years. The East Coast Soaring Society later became the National Soaring Society and he served as the first president of the new organization. He was also contest director for the soaring portion of the 1974 Aeromodellers held at Lakehurst NAS, New Jersey.
George was known as the "Father of the Apollo Space Suit," as his tenure at ILC Dover included work there for 36 years. He was product manager of the Inflatable Products Division and later ILC's Chief Engineer. In 1993 he was awarded NASA's Silver Snoopy Award, and in 1994 he received the NASA Public Service Award for his contributions to the NASA mission. George Durney was my friend for some 30 years—a loving husband and father, a great modeler, and a true gentleman. He will be sorely missed.
INFORMATION: Lately I have received letters and e-mail asking why I do not mention specific areas of the district, club events, or activities other than R/C. The answer is simple: if you don't send me information or pictures, don't expect to see it in this column. I am not everywhere in the district and must rely on my AVPs and the newsletters I receive. I do a lot of traveling, but it is not possible to be everywhere and know everything that is going on. Now go flying and take a kid with you.
AMA Headquarters
Academy of Model Aeronautics 5151 East Memorial Drive Muncie, IN 47302
Mike Stokes, AMA Education Coordinator 5151 E. Memorial Dr. Muncie, IN 47302
(Notes from scanned pages)
- As I've put together this column over the months, I am surrounded by activity for the coming weekend. AMA's Grand Event/Open House will be taking place just a few weeks before the U.S. Nationals, which will kick off a four-week run of competition events.
- There are multiple scanned pages where no text from the primary article "AMA News" appears; those pages contain District VI, District VIII, and various club reports and photo captions, but no continuation of the main "AMA News" article.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
