Competition Newsletter

Edition: Model Aviation - 1983/09
Page Numbers: 119, 120, 121, 122, 123

COMPETITION NEWSLETTER

Support the U.S. RC Soaring Team!

Soaring Team patches and decals for sale! Show your support for the 1983 U.S. F3B Soaring Team by sporting one of these items on your flying jacket or field box. Although the AMA provides money for overseas transportation and entry fees for U.S. teams at World Championships, team members still incur other out-of-pocket expenses.

You can help cover incidental team expenses for the 1983 RC Soaring team by buying one of the colorful items:

F3B Team Patches — $6
Stick-on vinyl decals — $3
One-inch cast-metal pins — $5

Proceeds from the sale of these items will be given to the team. Order direct from: Dave Peltz 20450 Celtic St. Chatsworth, CA 91311

Make checks payable to "F3B Soaring Team." Please include a stamped, self-addressed envelope with your order.

FAI Ruling on Indoor Proxy Steering

AMA President John C. Grigg has directed the U.S. Indoor Team Selection Committee to implement procedures and rules regarding proxy steering of indoor models in World Championship competition. This decision aligns U.S. activities with a recent ruling by the FAI's CIAM Technical Secretary Tony Aarts.

If an indoor competitor (in a World Championships team selection program) needs a proxy steerer because they are physically unable to steer the model themselves, they may do so provided the following restrictions are met:

An affidavit from a licensed physician, attesting to the contestant's handicap or condition, must be presented at the contest. The affidavit must be dated no more than four weeks prior to the start of the event for which it is presented.
The proxy steerer shall not be a competitor or official at the same contest; otherwise, the proxy may be whomever the contestant chooses.
If the competitor gains a position on the U.S. Indoor team while using a proxy steerer, the competitor and the steerer shall be considered a team. Should either be unable to attend the World Championships, the other member of that team will be automatically disqualified as a member of the U.S. team and will be replaced by the next qualified finisher.
The proxy steerer’s attendance at the World Championships will not be funded by the AMA; however, a competitor authorized a proxy steerer may elect to share his normal AMA funding with the proxy steerer.

These rules and procedures are effective immediately.

People's Republic of China Enters World RC Aerobatic Champs!

For the first time, contestants from the Chinese mainland will participate in an RC Aerobatics World Championships. The team from the People's Republic of China will join teams from 25 other nations in the 1983 RC Aerobatic event to be held in Pensacola, FL during the week of October 10–15.

Nations indicating participation include: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, England, Finland, Federal Republic of Germany, Guatemala, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Guinea, New Zealand, North Korea, Norway, South Korea, Switzerland, Thailand, the U.S.A., and Venezuela.

Supporters and Spectators Invited

Special attendance packages are available from AMA HQ for those who wish to participate in the World Championships as Supporters:

$50 — Site Pass (entry past spectator line), souvenirs (official program book, official pin, patch, decals, poster), and the closing banquet on October 15.
$250 — All of the above, plus six nights’ lodging.
$350 — All of the above, plus all meals each day (including lunches at the contest site).

There is no admission charge for spectators at the flying field; anyone may be a spectator at no charge.

1983 U.S. RC Aerobatics Team Selected

Forty-five contestants flew in the Team Finals (Masters Tournament) of the 1983 U.S. RC Aerobatics team selection program over the weekend of June 24–26. The three team members, one alternate, the Team Manager, and the Assistant Team Manager were chosen.

Team members:

1st: Dave Brown
2nd: Steve Helms
3rd: Tony Frackowiak

Alternate: Dave Wilson Team Manager: Dick Penrod Assistant Team Manager: Rod Barnes

The 1983 RC Aerobatics World Championships will be flown in Pensacola, FL October 10–15, 1983. At present, 26 nations have indicated they will send competitors.

Memorabilia for Sale: '83 Nats Booster Kit

The Booster Kit includes two items not pictured earlier: an Annual Convention patch and a reduced-size replica of the official Nats publicity poster.

Modelers who delayed ordering their East Coast Nats Booster Kit can still get one by ordering directly from the Supply and Service Section at AMA HQ.

Kit contents include: the '83 Nats patch, Annual Convention pins, the '83 Nats pins, the Annual Convention pin, and the bumper sticker — all in vivid colors. The Booster Kit price is $10, a $3 saving over buying the items separately.

Individual prices:

Pins — $3 each
Patches — $2 each
Bumper sticker — $1
Poster (reduced-size replica) — $1

FAI LICENSE REQUIRED AT INTERNATIONAL FAI CONTESTS

Recent action by the FAI (Federation Aeronautique Internationale) requires that all contestants at FAI-sanctioned international competitions have a special sporting license issued by the contestant's national aero club. For U.S. modelers, this is the AMA, the aeromodeling affiliate of the NAA (National Aeronautic Association).

Previously, modelers could be issued temporary or provisional licenses by the host country’s aero club; this is no longer possible.

World Championship Teams

Members of U.S. teams need not worry—the AMA HQ and team managers will ensure all team members complete the required forms and obtain the new FAI licenses.

Competitors at Other International Contests

This applies to European, Pan-American, and other regional championships that are open to interested modelers. If you plan to attend such a contest as an individual, you must obtain an FAI license in advance from AMA HQ.

To apply, write to the Competition Department at AMA HQ. The additional requirements compared to the regular AMA license are:

Date and place of birth of the competitor
A passport-type photograph (about 2 inches square) of the applicant’s head

AMA HQ will attach the photo to the license, add the required FAI stamp, and return the document. The license must be signed by the contestant. FAI licenses are valid for the remainder of the year in which they are issued. Modelers who have already purchased the $10 FAI stamp for their AMA licenses will have no additional fees for the new FAI license.

COMPETITION DIRECTORY

CONTEST COORDINATORS

FF: Pat English, 823 Broadway, Vincennes, IN 47591
I: Terrence Williams, 347 Southwick Rd., Westfield, MA 01085
II: R. Sobrino, 87-26 88th St., Woodhaven, Queens, NY 11421
RC: Ernest Nikodem, 207 Willow St., Lockport, NY 14094
III: Bill Pruett, 28 Fernwood Dr., Commack, NY 11725
Ken Barber, 427 Elm Dr., Nazareth, PA 18064 (East)
M. Weisenbach, 4658 W. 146th Ct., Cleveland, OH 44135 (West)
IV: Warren Sanders, Jr., 9735 52nd Avenue, College Park, MD 20741
RCI: Ed Byerley, 200 Commander Cove, Stafford, VA 22554
V R.C.: H. R. Norcuck, 12016 Queens Pl., Huntsville, AL 35803
FF: Wallace Johnson, 4112 White Acres Rd., Montgomery, AL 36106
CL: Joseph Mead, 1339 Rensselaer St., Jacksonville, FL 32205
VI RC: Charles Gray, 201 Hulman Salem Rd., Terre Haute, IN 47803
RC Soaring: Helen Olsen, 820 Old Bonhomme, University City, MO 63132
CL: W. R. Bodzioch, Jr., 235 W. Glade, Palatine, IL 60067

(Additional Contest Coordinator listings continue on the page.)