AMA News - Flying Site Assistance
Coordinators
- Joe Beshar
Coordinator, Eastern Region, Districts I–VI 198 Merritt Dr., Oradell, NJ 07649 Tel: (201) 261-1281 Fax: (201) 261-0223 E-mail: joebeshar@juno.com
- Wes De Cou
Coordinator, Western Region, Districts VII–XI Voice: (480) 460-9466 Cell: (480) 540-3368 Fax: (480) 460-9434 E-mail: wesdecou@cox.net
Finding — Preserving — Maintaining
I want to request that when e-mailing me, please be sure to include your name, telephone number, and AMA number. Please include a mailing address when requesting materials. It seems the simpler communications become, the more likely the basics tend to be overlooked. In some cases, I have had problems responding when federal and government office e-mail addresses are used. Please use your personal e-mail address.
We have always encouraged community events demonstrating appreciation to property owners for use of their land for model flying sites. This enlightens them as to the value of model aviation. I would like to share these activities from some of our members.
East Coast Indoor Modelers (ECIM) — Hangar #1, Lakehurst Naval Station
On April 27 the East Coast Indoor Modelers (ECIM) celebrated 75 years of model aircraft flying in Hangar #1 at the Lakehurst Naval Station. (Actually 2001 was our anniversary, but events postponed the fall gathering.) Captain Mark Bathrick, commanding officer of the base, attended along with more than 60 ECIM members. To commemorate the event, a plaque was presented as well as a $500 donation to Navy Relief. World Indoor champion John Kagan presented the gifts.
As a club, we fly two types of aircraft in the hangar:
- Slow-fly radio control (RC) aircraft. Recent advances in RC technology have allowed these airplanes to weigh less than 10 ounces and fly about as fast as a slow walk. With quiet electric power, the aircraft is under total control by the pilot. We even practice carrier landings on a card table.
- Rubber-powered free-flight models with a history dating back to 1926. The rubber-powered aircraft are far lighter—some weigh less than one gram (a dollar bill weighs about one gram). Models such as these must be transported in special boxes and handled carefully due to the delicacy of the balsa and Mylar construction. These aircraft can fly as long as an hour in the calm indoor conditions in Hangar #1. The rubber-powered airplanes are flown as a sport, the goal being to see which can stay up the longest.
Hangar #1 hosts sanctioned modeling contests Memorial Day weekend, Independence Day weekend, and Labor Day weekend.
Captain Bathrick got a little stick time on one of the lightweight RC slow flyers as well as a few launches of the rubber-powered aircraft. Hangar #1 is a mecca for this rather obscure sport, with members of the U.S. and Canadian national teams using it for practice. The hangar has also seen a host of national records set throughout the years; four in the past year alone. All base personnel are welcome to come see and enjoy our hobby. The best time to come is on Saturdays: slow-fly RC happens every Saturday morning and free flight every other Saturday afternoon.
For more information, contact club president Bob Romash at romash5@yahoo.com or (856) 985-6849.
Mercer County Radio Control Society — Warren Kruse Flying Field
The Mercer County Radio Control Society held a fly-in at the Assunpink Management Area in Imlaystown, NJ. This is their club's flying site, known as the Warren Kruse Flying Field. On May 25 and 26 they held the 13th annual Jumbo Jamboree. This Giant Scale fly-in is strictly for the benefit of the Sunshine Foundation, an organization that benefits physically and mentally challenged children. The club has raised roughly $3,000 or more each year. It is a great way to show appreciation and recognition for the value of model aviation to the community and to donate to a worthy cause.
Palm Beach Skyhawks — Project Helping Hands
The Palm Beach Skyhawks RC Club gains local recognition by sponsoring Project Helping Hands, a gathering for youth that provides Delta Darts as a start and graduates participants to RC flying. It's another way to enhance community relations.
Project Helping Hands was started by Arty Mundell to give the young people of Palm Beach County the opportunity to experience the RC model airplane hobby. Working with Fred Wein, volunteer coordinator for the Department of Children and Families, and Palm Beach Skyhawks club members, the program so far has been a success.
Project Helping Hands format:
- The youngsters first build Delta Darts (paper airplanes).
- They have a mass airplane launch; pilots of the airplanes that remain airborne the longest win first-, second-, and third-place ribbons. All children receive a certificate of achievement for their building and flying skills.
- Club members present a program on how airplanes fly.
- Children fly RC models using the buddy-box training system.
- After refreshments, club members perform a flying demonstration.
Project Helping Hands is a monthly program that usually lasts three or four hours. Any group that is interested can contact Arty Mundell at (561) 968-0165 (days) or leave a message.
Flying Site Field Rating System — Feedback
In the January 2002 issue of Model Aviation, my column included a field rating system developed by FSA volunteer Raymond Lefrancois. I am pleased with the positive reception received for the release of the system.
Roger George of the Miniature AeroSportsters in Thornton, CO reported his results:
"I just completed your flying site rating. I'm proud to say we scored 78%.
"I think we have a great site. The elevation is 5,300 feet. We have a 400 x 40-foot paved runway. We do need about 20 more feet on each end to really make it great, but we have dirt overruns that work well.
"We have ducted fans that use all of the runway, and do overshoot at times, but there are no obstacles. We are far away from the airport and from people and property. We lease from the state, and are on the county road with locked gates and fences.
"There are roughly 60 members but rarely are there more than 15 fliers out at a time. You can almost always get a frequency pin. We even listed all the frequencies that the members have so when getting a new radio, you can get one that is less used.
"Our only drawback is that we have no water or electricity, but we do have two porta-johns. We have 50 picnic tables and bleachers. We have a large covered area with tables. We have a water well and propane cookstove with an oven for the ham-and-beans and chili. We have barbecue grills and smokers, mowers, weed eaters, etc.
"Because we are kind of far out, most flyers come out for the whole day. We fly, lie about flying, enjoy our fellowship, and eat all day. We are a very close-knit group and when a member dies, it gets to us all.
"All our members are very unselfish. We have a kids' day each spring and have dozens of trainers for use. We usually lose one or two, but the kids' smiles are worth it to see.
"We have a few things that need a little improvement. I am going to pass out copies of your site evaluation, then we can see where and if we can correct the defects."
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
