Competition Newsletter
ACADEMY OF MODEL AERONAUTICS 1810 Samuel Morse Drive Reston, VA 22090
Technical Director: Bob Underwood CompuServe: 76117167
A Note From the Technical Director
CHANGES, changes, changes! Twenty-nine new events have been added to the Sanction Card and the rule book. There is a new membership form packaged with the sanction materials to accommodate a new membership classification, a new Form 10 for CDs, a new Contest Director (CD) application and test, and more. Please watch carefully as clubs begin to sanction events for the coming year — some significant changes have been made in the sanctioning process. The October issue (beginning on page 126) of Model Aviation will amplify the discussion of these changes.
If your club has sanctioned regular rule-book contests over the years, very little has changed for your events. The one important exception is the former catchall classification. Class A used to be used for a wide variety of activities; that is no longer the case.
Sanction Classifications
Rule Book Competition Events (check one)
- Class A
- Class AA
- Class AAA
- Class AAAA
(Executive Council approval may be required)
Non-Rule-Book Flying Events (check one)
- Class C
(Examples: fly-in, fun fly)
Other Events
- Class D (demonstration, static display, etc.)
(Send directly to Headquarters)
A Class A event must include at least one event governed by the AMA rule book. The AA, AAA, and AAAA specifications remain as detailed in the rule book. If an event involves flying models but will not include rule-book events, it should be listed as Class C.
Please use the event numbers on the sanction card only if you intend to run the event under the rule-book rules listed for that event. There is an area on the back of the sanction card to list non-rule-book flying events.
In the future there will be closer monitoring of the sanctioning program. If a sanction request arrives at Headquarters with an incorrect classification, it will be changed and the CD and Contest Coordinator will be notified by mail.
Contest Director Program
A new streamlined CD application and test form is available. Obtain it from your AMA district vice-president, associate vice-president, or Headquarters. Forms are now returned directly to Headquarters for processing rather than undergoing the previous stages of transfer.
The first year after a new CD uses the form is considered a probationary year. This refers to the year in which the person sanctions an event or would normally receive credit as a secondary CD for a AA, AAA, AAAA, or CC event. The probationary year will be monitored for adherence to the rules and promptness of reports and does not result in an earned (free) membership for the following year.
Rule Book Production
This year the rule book and membership manual are being produced entirely in-house. Text is being entered into AMA computers, layout will be done on Model Aviation typesetting equipment at Headquarters, and boards will be prepared to send to the printer.
Contest input is being done by Penny Hudson of the Competition Department, who has adapted quickly to new equipment. Initial setup and training were provided by Bob Vojislavek (Administrative Services Director) and Carl Wheeler (Model Aviation publisher). Competition Director Michelene Madison and the Technical Director are also involved in production. Everyone is working hard to meet production deadlines.
Frequency and Safety Items
This is the December issue. If your radio still uses the old frequencies (72.080, 72.160, 72.240, 72.320, 72.400, 72.960, or 75.640 MHz), operating on them will be contrary to Federal law as of December 20, 1987. Continued operation on these frequencies will also violate the AMA Safety Code after January 1, 1988.
Operating on six-meter (amateur/ham band) frequencies without the proper FCC licensing is also a violation of the Safety Code.
National Records (processed/approved during September 1987)
RC Soaring — Declared Distance
- Class Junior — 182 miles — Robin Olsen — 7/22/87
- Class Senior (A/B/C) — 182 miles — Dieter Rozek — 7/25/87
RC Soaring — Open Distance
- Class Junior — 172 miles — Robin Olsen — 7/22/87
1988 US FAI Indoor Team
The following modelers were selected to the 1988 US FAI Indoor team as a result of recent team-selection finals:
- Cezar Banks, La Mesa, CA
- Bud Romak, Moraga, CA
- Steve Brown, Glendora, CA
Team manager: Robert Randolph, Loma Linda, CA
Defending World Champion (also expected to compete in the World Championships): Jim Richmond, Carmel, IN
Indoor Contest Board — Rule Interpretation
The Indoor Contest Board addressed the question of using extended prop shafts on Novice Pennyplane models. The Board resolved that prop-shaft extensions/gadgets are allowed under the rules-enforcement interpretation, effective immediately upon publication of the Board's action.
Guideline for Contest Directors: because friction-reducing washers may push the prop forward, no .006 washers or other materials may be used to extend the prop ahead of the thrust bearing.
Board procedures call for the Board action to be followed by another vote within four to six weeks. Modelers wishing to express views should contact their AMA district Indoor Contest Board member.
FAI Free Flight Juniors
Juniors may be chosen to represent the USA at the first Free Flight World Championships for youngsters under age 18 to be held in Poland in August 1988. The method of selection has yet to be determined. NOW is the time to register interest and supply information concerning FAI Free Flight activity.
Free Flight World Championships — Team Report and Thanks
The U.S. Free Flight teams assembled for test flying and contest days. For the 63 official flights at the World Championships, the nine U.S. fliers failed to max on only six flights, a strong performance given the thermal conditions, and the team placed fifth for the overall Team Challenge (France) trophy. The Peoples' Republic of China won the trophy.
Recommendations and observations:
- For future World Championships, a three-day stateside practice is recommended so team members can work together before traveling.
- Team equipment and support (streamer poles, bubble machine, thermal recorder, and walkie-talkies) were very helpful.
Special congratulations to Bob White, World Champion (after five tries: 1971/73/75/79/85), and thanks to the French hosts for an excellent contest organization.
Thanks to the chase and support teams and others who assisted:
- George Batuk
- Bud Elder
- Steve Geraghty
- Harry Gron? (name unclear)
- Bob Isaacson
- Bob Pischior
- Ed Turner (team-support coordinator)
- Martyn Cowley (team-support T-shirt design)
- Dave Busch (graphic artist)
- Doug Galbreath (provided FAI model stickers, calling cards, decals, trading pins, and Rossi engines)
- Ken Phair (streamer poles)
- Dale Mateer (bubble machine)
- George Xenakis (thermal recorder)
- Michelene Madison (support at AMA Headquarters)
Gary Baumann designed the team decal (Statue of Liberty design). Ed Dolby and George Schroeder provided Wakefield rubber. George Batuk supplied model boxes.
Support for the team came from the following clubs, companies, and individuals:
Clubs
- Brooklyn Skyscrapers
- Magnificent Mountain Men
- SCAT
- Chicago Aeronuts
- Illinois Model Aero Club
- Thunderbugs MAC
- Oakland Cloud Busters
- Detroit Balsa Bugs
- Stockton Gas Model Association
- Strat-O-Bats
- The Bath Modelaires
- Minneapolis MAC
Companies
- Carl Goldberg Models, Inc.
- San Joaquin Title Co.
Individuals
- Chris Matsumeno
- Mr. and Mrs. John G.
- Harold Nelson
- Tom Cashman
- Guntis Steins
- Dick Swenson
- Marvin Mace
- Larry Parsons
- Floyd Miller
- Andrew Bauer
- Robert Klipp
- John Zeisloff
Thanks also to everyone who purchased a team-supporter T-shirt; proceeds helped pay for equipment such as the walkie-talkies.
(End of Competition Newsletter)
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
