Competition Newsletter

Competition Newsletter

A Note From the Technical Director

Bob Underwood

On page 136 of my July column, I had a reference that might lead to someone misunderstanding the AMA Safety Code. Because of the way the column utilized boldface type and the way the paragraphs were organized at that point, one portion of the text might be read as saying that the AMA Safety Code only applies to AMA‑sanctioned events. This, of course, is not true! The Safety Code governs all model flying.

Also, in that same column, I mentioned (on page 136) that a picture of the R/CMA‑AMA transmitter gold sticker (attesting to the fact that the transmitter is narrow‑band to the degree required by the AMA Guidelines for operation in 1991 and later) was included in the column. Guess what got put in! (Murphy's Law strikes again!) We make up for it now!

The old admonition, "time flies," seems appropriate. Granted, at times it appears that it is about the only thing I can tell fly! But this month the Underwoods celebrate an anniversary of the move from St. Louis to the wacky world of Washington. Five years have flitted, filtered through phone calls, letters, trips to exotic places, and meetings. Lots of water has flowed over the dam (or under the bridge, if you prefer). Knowing what I know now, would I do it again? The answer has to be, "Yes!"

From the Underwoods' viewpoint, the move provided a new stimulus and focus at a time in life when blahs sometimes set in. New sights, new routines, new everything worked to get the old blood pumping.

For me, the tasks at Headquarters were extra stimulating! To be involved in a number of different areas of the work I do have made it happen. When the phone rings you don't know whether it will be competition, frequencies, safety, whatever. That's neat, because it removes the assembly line part of work and makes the brain shift gears frequently.

So aside from the high cost of living, my comments are restricted to this aspect of our hobby.

Experimental RC Aircraft Inspectors

A joint AMA/IMAA program to qualify large models (55–100 lb.) for demonstration flights at AMA‑sanctioned events involves the use of inspectors to oversee the qualification flights of such aircraft and approve/certify them as complying with safe practices.

As of this date the following persons have applied for the position and have been selected by the Academy for the performance of the task of inspector:

District I

• Harvey A. Thomasian, 369 Brigham St., Northboro, MA 01532

District II

• Frank V. Ponteri, 4261 West Ave., Ocean City, NJ 08226

District III

• William Berchtold, 1570 Hollywood Parkway, York, PA 17403
• Richard C. Garmhausen, 2715 Maple Ave. NE, Canton, OH 44714
• Gene Miller, RD 5, Box 3301, Fleetwood, PA 19522

District IV

• Charles E. Buhl, 3924 Dawley Rd., Virginia Beach, VA 23457
• John Hunton, 3722 Spicewood Dr., Annandale, VA 22003

District V

• Billie Bell, P.O. Box 1375, Graceville, FL 32440
• Derry Edwards, 5711 7th Ave. N.W., Bradenton, FL 34209
• Burris R. Fields, Jr., Strickland Rd., P.O. Box 1063, Interlachen, FL 32148
• Rod Gier, 6082 Ajax Ct., Cocoa, FL 32927
• James M. Weems, 861 77th Way South, Birmingham, AL 35206

District VI

• John H. Frank, 2004 Welwyn, Des Plaines, IL 60018
• James W. Johnson, RR 1, Box 62, Gaston, IN 47342
• Scott Justice & Debra Justice, 156 S. Franzen, Bensenville, IL 60106
• Robert George Nielsen, 2500 Schell Ln., New Albany, IN 47150

District VII

• Mark A. Bonzer, Route 3, Box 170, Charles City, IA 50616
• Albert H. Doerr, 3571 Fourth St., Wayland, MI 49348
• Charles Ecklund, 4520 S. Camrose Ave., New Berlin, WI 53151
• John Hall, 824 Winnetka Ave. South, Golden Valley, MN 55426
• Roger D. Smith, 4525 Hillview Shores Dr., Clarkston, MI 48016

District VIII

• Thomas Solinski, 9720 S. Shartel, Oklahoma City, OK 73139

District IX

• James M. Carter, Jr., 102‑2 Sunset Loop, Minot AFB, ND 58704
• John J. Shumaker, 1120 Azure Ln., Wichita, KS 67235

District X

• Harry Apoloni, 27704 Saddle Rd., Rolling Hills, CA 90274
• David A. Buck, 1929 W. 14th St., #5, Gardena, CA 90249
• Bud Crane, 453 Maple St., Livermore, CA 94550 (Tel: 1‑415‑447‑2158)
• John C. Richetti, 109 Aegean Way, Vacaville, CA 95687 (Tel: 1‑707‑448‑4659)
• Bill Hempel, 7025 E. 21st St., Tucson, AZ 85710
• Joseph P. Lussier, 721 Remington Dr., Las Vegas, NV 89110
• Donald F. Mulligan, 9311 Cactus Wren, Sierra Vista, AZ 85635
• John E. Rapillo, 3603 S. Ocean Crest, Santa Ana, CA 92704

District XI

• Charles R. Gragede, 716 Hart Ln., Walla Walla, WA 99362
• John J. Haskin, 2131 Vernon Rd., Lake Stevens, WA 98258
• Jerry L. Holcomb, 1010 N.E. 122nd Ave., Vancouver, WA 98684

Additional information concerning this program may be obtained by contacting the Technical Director Bob Underwood at AMA HQ.

Attention CDs: A list of aircraft approved under this program can be obtained from Technical Director Bob Underwood at AMA HQ.

"Competition Newsletter" is edited by Ross B. McMullan, AMA 18181.

COMPETITION DIRECTORY

CONTEST COORDINATORS

• I: Robert Wilkie, 19 Everett St., Rockland, MA 02370
• II: R. Scibert, 97‑26 60th St., Woodhaven, Queens, NY 11421
• RC: Ernest Nicodem, 407 Willow St., Lockport, NY 14094
• NR: Bill Fulton, 28 Pinewood Dr., Commack, NY 11725
• RC: Nelson Gould, 194 S. Idaho St., Allentown, PA 18103 (ref: N. Weisenbach, 496B W. 48th St., Cheyenne, OH 41525)
• IV: C. F. Bock, N3638, 1211 Brookridge Dr., Cary, NC 27734
• WC: Rodney Eberly, 200 Commodore Ct., Shardlow, PA 22554
• RC: R. Ralph Bailey, P.O. Box 1287, Orangeburg, SC 29116‑1287
• V: W. Johnson, 4112 White Acres Rd., Montgomery, AL 36111
• CL: Joseph Mead, 1339 Rensselaer St., Jacksonville, FL 32205
• RC: C. G. Gray, 201 Hulman Salem Rd., Terre Haute, IN 47803
• RC Soaring: Dale Falkenberg, 1544 Darien Lake Dr., Darien, IL 60561
• CL: W. R. Bodisch, 1800 Trail Ridge St., Arlington Heights, IL 60004
• FF: Jim Bennett, 324 Hellenstein Ave., St. Louis, MO 63119 (All events, except RC; Eastern District except Michigan)
• RC: Greg Savel, 3625 E. Iduna Terrace, Cadillac, WI 53110
• F/S: Leon Conn, 94603 Highway 54, Chilton, WI 53014
• MI: Michael Crotty (NR)
• FF: Wayne Yeager, 32823 Scales, Romulus, MI 48174
• RC: Bill Siskind, 217 Crawford, Royal Oak, MI 48073
• CL: Mark Warrendahl, 43670 Candlewood, Canton, MI 48187

Note: Many other contest coordinator names and listings appear in the directory. (Directory continues with detailed listings of Indoor Contest Board, Control Line Contest Board, Free Flight Contest Board, Scale Contest Board, Electric Contest Board, Special Events Contest Board, Aerobatics, Helicopter, Soaring, Radio Control Contest Boards, Contest Board Coordinators, and FAI Team Selection Committee Chairmen. For full contact names, addresses, and telephone numbers, consult the printed directory.)

Clearing Things Up: CL Aerobatics Rule Correction

In our zeal to get the news out, we sometimes muddy the waters by being too cryptic! Such is the case with the "Control Line Precision Aerobatics Rule Correction" printed on page 145 of the May 1990 edition of the "Competition Newsletter."

There has been confusion about what that item meant. Here is what we were trying to tell you:

• A hand signal from the pilot is not required.
• References in the rule book to a hand signal found in Paragraphs 7 (page 42) and 11.1 (page 43) should be ignored. These sentences will be removed when we make the next printing of the Competition Regulations book.
• An official flight is now defined in Paragraph 12 (page 43) in the 1990–91 rule book.

Is AMA About to Cut Support of FAI Programs?

Harry Murphy Anderson, IN

National Free Flight Society (NFFS) President A. J. Italiano has been advised that the AMA Executive Council will vote in July on a proposal to cut funding and sponsorship of FAI activities by 50%. This would affect U.S. team travel expenses to world championship competitions and would mean fewer world championships being held in the United States. Expenses over and above metered AMA funding allotments would then become the responsibility of the respective special interest groups or from the individuals themselves.

This curtailment would affect U.S. participation in all facets of world FAI model competition in Indoor, FF, CL, and RC as well. Should you oppose such action, you should voice your opposition immediately to your appropriate AMA district vice president as well as to other voting members of the Executive Council (AMA President, AMA Executive VP, AMA Executive Director—Ed.).

Apparently this proposal comes about because of a recent unfortunate visit involving a U.S. world championships team which spent AMA funds considerably in excess of the estimated participation costs. Now, the "old Army game" is evidently to be brought into play where all U.S. teams are to be punished for the questionable actions of one.

As most special interest groups do not retain treasuries to finance such activities, international model competition would either become a poor sport for the "rich and famous," or the U.S. would often send no team at all.

Also, this proposal is somewhat in keeping with the stated nonsupport by a number of present members of the AMA Executive Council of many types of domestic as well as international model airplane competitions. It is apparently their collective opinion that the percentage of the AMA membership who support "formal model flying competition" is such a minority that it is time to cease—or at best offer only limited—support to this faction.

Just how these elected legislators have chosen to draw the lines between "formal model airplane competition" and the apparently acceptable "fun fly" has not been clearly defined. Since both usually present awards to winners, this line appears to be quite smudged and indiscernible to those of us who support "The Contest" with less camouflaged verbiage.

Sports enthusiasts of any following recognize those who do battle for the benefit of others. As many as 100,000 people have been present to watch only 18 combatants on a baseball field—then to go home and anticipate reading about it again in newspapers and magazines. Whereas only a few may have ever personally participated in the sport, it is unfortunate that history remembers only the feats and statistics of the players and not those who bought the tickets, perused the writings, or more recently watched the video replays.

Nonetheless, major league baseball would not be possible without these fans and supporters—nor would the supporters have any baseball to support without the majority of players who play the game as well as the fans expect.

The sport of flying model airplanes is little different in this respect than is baseball, football, auto racing, or whatever. The fans want to view, read about, and cherish the statistics whether they are capable of participating themselves or not. While the situation with our hobby is obviously of lesser magnitude, the parallel exists.

Competition lends a vibrant air to any sports category. A passive attitude to competition in any sport can only lead to eventual disinterest and a loss of following. The Executive Council should realize that competition should be supported until the last dollar is spent or the fans of competition will slip away along with the competitors.

Another aspect is that this proposal to reduce AMA's funding comes at a time when the Eastern Bloc of nations has suddenly opened its doors and is offering a friendly hand of renewed communication. It would seem to be a poor move on the part of the Academy to suddenly shut our windows in response to these gestures.

The next time an election is forthcoming for AMA District VP for your respective region, be sure to inquire of each candidate as to his views on "formal model flying competitions" before you cast your vote. This inquiring and the voting record of the incumbent should certainly affect your final choice.

Let's keep the hobby enthusiastic, refreshing, and goal‑oriented. Too many organizations have hit the skids by reverting to counting minuscule beans rather than looking at the future as a perpetual challenge. Do you wish your AMA to become passive or progressive? The decision is yours.

Support for Juniors

Kits that are well die‑cut and simple, and that are proofed by experienced builders, are within the novice's capabilities. An experienced builder must be on hand to help when the young modeler becomes confused, or he will stop. A good kit and a tube of glue must be accompanied by someone who shows the young person the joy of building.

The successful completion of any model must be followed by a successful flight. Reinforcement of the building effort must be followed by positive experience in flying. Nothing is more positive to a young person than to see a month's worth of effort (which to him is a lifetime) come to a quick and sad end. For this reason it is even more important for an experienced builder and flier to make sure that planes are structurally sound and stand a good chance of success.

It's also important to remember what we're trying to accomplish. Often, well‑meaning experienced builders, in looking over one of the young person's efforts, will comment on how to make it better without telling them how well they have done to get it this far. A 12‑year‑old boy has enough of a confidence problem without having to worry about the latest state‑of‑the‑art technology. That will come with experience, as will the motivation to become more competitive after enjoying the initial success.

As for competition, make sure there is an event they can compete in which is designated for their age group. My two boys have competed and won awards at the Open level, but they are much more excited about a contest which has events that they have a reasonable chance of winning. I doubt that many Open contestants hold a trophy for four hours on the way home from an event to show to their mother, but I have two 12‑year‑olds that do.

I suggest that the contest have two Junior events: one very simple, and one requiring a little more skill. Hand‑Launched Glider and P‑30 are a great combination, or Pee Wee 30 for Power.

Please, dads, don't give your kids your spare competition aircraft! Help them build it themselves so they see the rewards of their own efforts. The hobby will gain more experience and competitors this way. Don't think kids are not interested in competitions. Where is there any Junior competition to prepare for such a major event?

In Free Flight, our numbers will continue to dwindle unless the few young people that show interest are given the time and help to acquire the skills needed to allow them to grow on their own.

Fortunately, here in San Antonio the Tri‑City Free Flight Club members have donated the skills and patience needed to take a shy kid who shows interest and turn him into one of their own—a seven‑ or only twelve‑year‑old that became interested and has made the flying contest animal. Keep in mind my son and I both started with the same skill level in Free Flight, so only through a club were we able to achieve any success.

The recent letter from Jim Sears to Tony Italiano which was published in the National Free Flight Society newsletter was also devastating to my son and his friend. It was clear to the boys that an incredibly negative and unprofessional attitude is held by that AMA Vice President, leaving young people who choose Free Flight as their hobby feeling abandoned by the AMA.

This is very unfortunate and—I hope—an incorrect conclusion. I hope Mr. Sears will keep in mind in the future that when writing as an AMA Vice President he is affecting the membership he is elected to represent. We are not all hostile Free Flighters, but the sport's unique requirements for clear space must be kept in mind.

I truly hope a clear location that accommodates all the hobby's activities can be purchased (I also fly CL and RC) and made a permanent site for a national event. In the meantime we will continue to compete in whichever events support juniors. The NFFS Nationals was the most enjoyable experience my son and I had ever had in modeling, and to deny that the NFFS did a great job under trying circumstances would be unjust. Let's all keep flying together and support the Juniors.

P.S. Will there be any Junior or Senior events at the Nationals this year? I'm planning to bring the boys, school books and all.

Competition Newsletter

Academy of Model Aeronautics

Note from the Technical Director — W. Bob Underwood (continued)

National Records Monthly Update

No new National Records have been processed during the month of May 1990.

CL Aerobatics Team Finals

The US FAI CL Aerobatics Team Selection Committee requests site bids for the final team‑selection contest. Desired time frame for the finals is spring/summer 1991. Clubs willing to host the finals should submit bids to AMA Headquarters. (Note: a cutoff date for bids has been established; see "Tips Preparing Bids" below.)

RC Helicopter Team Finals

The US FAI RC Helicopter Team Selection Committee requests site bids for the final team‑selection contest. Clubs willing to host should communicate the contact person to AMA Headquarters.

CL Combat Team Finals

Combat Team Selection Committee chairman Gary Frost would like clubs interested in hosting the 1991 US FAI Combat team trials to submit bids. Send contact information to AMA Headquarters.

Tips Preparing Bids

Contact person at AMA Headquarters for bids is Micheline Madison, Competitions Department. No special forms are required; however, a sample bid can be obtained upon request. Basically, a bid should include dates, place, name of host club, and name of the Contest Director. Other information typically found on contest flyers is also helpful. A theme for the bid may promote its acceptance and is a good way to address questions about a particular site. Also, since team trials entry fees do not provide full funding for the team or the contest itself, self‑funding will require additional funds to generate participant support.

US FAI RC Pylon Racing Team Finals Set — Toledo

Weak Signals Club will host the team‑finals selection meet September 1–2, 1990. The contest site will be the club field, LaSalle, MI (six miles north of Toledo, OH). Wayne Yeager will be Contest Director.

• Practice flying will be held at the club field Friday, August 31. Model processing will occur after close of practice.
• Model fuel will be provided by the organizers (brand TBD).
• The host club will charge an entry fee; however, proof will be required that contestants have paid the program entry fee.
• Entrants must also have a current FAI competition stamp available through AMA Headquarters.
• A letter bearing the program entry fee ($50) must be postmarked no later than August 2, 1990. Send to: Competitions Department, AMA Headquarters.
• An on‑site late entry fee of $100 may be paid to the Contest Director up to one hour before the advertised starting time of the contest.

Contestants intending to fly should plan their schedule and arrival. Detroit offers a wider selection of flights available; travel time to the contest site is similar from Toledo Express Airport. For further details contact Contest Director Wayne Yeager, 38235 Castle, Romulus, MI 48174; tel. 1‑313‑941‑6661.

International Aeromodelling Champs Set for China in 1990

The Aero Sports Federation of China (People's Republic of China—F.A.I.) is organizing a major international championships set for November 6–11, 1990. Events to be flown have been selected from the FAI Control Line and Radio Control menus: F2A/F2B/C/D (Speed, Aerobatics, Team Race, and Combat), and F3A/C (RC Pattern and Helicopter). The contest site is located in Guangzhou (formerly known in the U.S. as Kwang Chow), which is located north of Hong Kong.

An unlimited number of contestants from each nation may enter the competitions for individual standings, but only three competitors from each nation may enter the team competitions. Any number of supporters may attend. The fee is $360 (U.S.), with additional days at $60 per person/day. Local transportation, meals, and hotel accommodations are included.

For further information, write to: Organizing Committee 1990 Guangzhou International Aeromodeling Championships 16, Jiangchao Rd. Jiahexiang District, Guangzhou, 510056, China

• Telephone: 342490
• Telex: 434011 YSYS CN
• FAX: 020‑346653

A copy of the announcement bulletin (which has more details) and entry forms may be obtained from Micheline Madison in the Competitions Department at AMA Headquarters. The Organizers want to receive provisional entry forms by June 30, 1990; however, since their letter was only received by AMA HQ in late May, U.S. modelers wishing to enter can probably get an extension on the entry date (coordinate this fact with Micheline Madison at AMA HQ).

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