Focus on Competition
A Note From the Technical Director
Bob Underwood
I have always had a problem with the term "potpourri." I'm not certain whether it is because it doesn't sound like what it is or because I have to watch how I pronounce it. In any case, this month's offering is a potpourri—a combination of various incongruous elements.
The major element of business passing through the Technical Department for the last seven weeks has been the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) action. Our biggest frustration has been the inability to keep everyone up to date on the fast-moving changes. I sat and looked at page 111 of the April issue of Model Aviation and couldn't help but sigh. So much had happened between when I put that information together at midnight in my hotel room at the Pasadena IMS show and its appearance in the magazine! As phone calls come in and new information comes along, JoAnne Spampinato and I revise the messages we provide.
As your letters pour in to the senators and representatives, we are receiving calls from their offices. The fax machine earns its keep, and we keep pounding out new written copy. Industry is kept abreast of the progress through weekly (almost!) status reports. Now that the Academy's formal letter of comment is ready to go, we are working at setting up in-person meetings with the FCC staff and commissioners.
Spacemodeling Training and Competition Program
During non-World Championship years, a two-day training session and competition will be conducted at the Muncie facility. During World Championship years, a similar program will be conducted as a team practice.
The first training session will take place on May 21–22, 1993 at the National Flying site, Muncie, Indiana. It will be open to all AMA members to provide training in international FAI Spacemodeling competition and prepare the participants for entering the U.S. Spacemodeling Team selection flyoffs in the fall.
The program will consist of one day of seminars and building sessions and one day of test-flying and competition.
Scheduling an International Contest
Organizers who want to sponsor an International Contest in 1993 (and who want the contest listed in the FAI International Calendar) should send a letter of particulars to AMA HQ, attention Competitions Department, no later than October 1, 1993. The letter should include a summary of the contest organization, especially location, dates, entry fees, and the address and telephone number of the Contest Director or other key person.
Please be sure to wander through the pages of this publication for complete frequency information. Also, make certain that the contact person in the AMA chartered club shares the National Newsletter with everyone, since the lead time is much shorter for that publication. (Note: As of today, February 24, more than 11,000 letters have arrived at the FCC.)
A second item for this month is changes in sanctioning procedures for one type of event. As an AMA Special Interest Group, the IMAA has cooperated with the Academy in sanctioning their special type of event for a number of years. As you know, the IMAA fly-in is not a competitive rule-book type; it is sanctioned as a class C event.
An inherent problem exists in that the time required to run the sanction request through the AMA system and then the IMAA often precludes a timely announcement—especially in IMAA's quarterly publication, High Flight. So, effective now, the following procedure applies to IMAA fly-ins:
- The AMA sanction request and the appropriate fees are forwarded directly to the IMAA coordinator for processing, not to AMA HQ, as has been the procedure to date.
- After any coordination necessary between the AMA coordinator for the district involved and the IMAA coordinator, all paperwork will be forwarded to AMA Headquarters for the completion of the processing and issuing of the sanction.
One concern that must be watched for in this process is clubs that are not IMAA chapters applying for sanctions through the AMA channels listing their event as a Big Bird Fly-In or IMAA-Style Fly-In. The procedure set in place here applies only to those events sanctioned through IMAA by IMAA chapters.
While on the subject of larger models, you should know that there will be some changes in the over-55-pound-model rules. The Radio Control Experimental Aircraft program has existed for five years. While not many models qualified through that program, there has been considerable debate concerning various aspects of it. In particular, some of the technical guidelines have been questioned.
Currently, the entire procedure, including the inspector program associated with it, is being studied. Some of the major items being considered are wing loading, number of qualifying flights, details of insurance coverage, and the inspection mechanism.
Key Dates
- April 30–May 2: IMS, Orlando, Florida
- June 3–6: Indoor Nats, Johnson City, Tennessee
- June 19: Annual Membership Meeting, Muncie, Indiana
- June 19–20: Homecoming, Muncie, Indiana
- June 26–27: IMAA, Muncie, Indiana
- July 2: Officer nominations due at Headquarters
- July 7: Officer nomination acceptances due at Headquarters
- July 10–11: Intercities FF Meet, Muncie, Indiana
- July 17: Executive Council Meeting—Nats, Lawrenceville, Illinois
- July 17–25: RC Control Line Nats, Lawrenceville, Illinois
- July 29–August 4: EAA, Oshkosh, Wisconsin
- August 11–15: Byron Expo, Des Moines, Iowa
- August 12–15: Scale Team Selection, Muncie, Indiana
- September 1–5: Nats—USOC, Muncie, Indiana
- October 4–9: Free Flight World Championships, Lost Hills, California
- October 21–23: National Recreation Parks Association (NRPA), San Jose, California
- October 30: Executive Council Meeting, Muncie, Indiana
- November 4–7: RCHTA Show, Chicago, Illinois
- November 12–14: Toys & Adults, Cincinnati, Ohio
Technical Director — Continued
We have witnessed a number of excellently prepared models flown in a very safe manner. Certainly, no one can deny the great interest that the larger models evoke not only in modelers, but in the general public as well. It is in our best interest not only to allow their operation, but to make certain that they are operated in as safe a manner as possible. When the new procedures are available, we will make everyone aware of any changes that may have occurred as a result of this study.
While we are on the subject of safety, let's mention the latest information concerning turbojet-type engines. It was reported to you on several occasions that the Academy purchased JPX jet engines for the purpose of testing in order to get an idea of how to handle them within the AMA Safety Code.
Contrary to general modeler perception, at this time the AMA Safety Code does allow the operation of true jet engines. Upon receipt of information relative to the operator and the conditions of flying, we will issue a waiver.
During the testing of the engine, Don Lowe created an excellent set of operational recommendations. While these are not in any way exhaustive, since the engine was only operated statically, they would be very helpful for someone who might purchase the engine. In like manner, the Academy now has a better idea of how to approach Safety Code concerns.
Submitting FAI Rules Proposals
Modelers wishing to submit proposals for FAI international competition rules are reminded that the current AMA procedures for handling these proposals require that they be sent to AMA Headquarters first. They are to be addressed to the attention of the Competitions Department and must be received by August 20, 1993.
There is no official AMA or FAI form for submitting such proposals; however, each proposal must conform with the following requirements:
a) Quote the relevant paragraph and/or heading from the 1993 FAI Sporting Code. b) Detail exactly what the alteration or the addition to the wording is to be. c) Give the reason(s) behind the proposed alteration in a short separate paragraph.
A sample of typical (but imaginary) rules proposals is given below.
Sample Form for Submittal of FAI Rules Proposals
(Note: these are imaginary proposals)
Example A Section 4, para. 4.7.1. Execution In line three delete "two" (level laps) and substitute "three" (level laps).
Reason: Where no judges, clerks, or recorders are employed, two laps between maneuvers does not give the judge time to consider his marking and mark his flight card accordingly.
Example B Section 4, para. 4.9.11. End of Race Sub. para. 1: Delete "100 circuits" and "10 kilometers;" substitute "200 circuits" and "20 kilometers."
Reason: The longer the race, the greater the difficulty of the contest, and this will ensure a larger difference in the time between the leading competitors who, in the shorter race, all finish within fractions of a second of one another.
(Section and paragraph numbers refer to the FAI Sporting Code, not the AMA Rule Book.)
Technical Director — Continued
The 1994–95 rule book cycle keeps trundling along. As you may have noted, we are a month off schedule. This occurred because of changes in the magazine deadlines and the inability of the voting schedule to fit it in a timely way. While we will be forced to push a bit after the final vote, we should be able to maintain a print date that will make the book available in December, as has been the case for the last eight years.
At the risk of sounding immodest, I must relate that I have taken pride in the fact that we have managed to have the rule book available before the end of the year ever since I have been responsible for producing it. In fact, I have a huge bottle of Tabasco hot sauce that was a peace offering from a member in Louisiana who scoffed at my promise that the 1986–87 book would be out prior to the new year. I am given to understand that he had good reason to be skeptical. I now have a good reason to live a l-o-n-g life—that bottle of liquid fire is so large that...
And the last piece of the potpourri... On June 13, 1993, I will begin yet another stage in my modeling and personal life. As the AMA Headquarters operation moves to the Muncie, Indiana, site, my wife and I will be heading a tiny bit farther west along Interstate 70 to St. Louis.
It was eight years ago that we took up residence in Reston. I like to think that the time since has been productive. The concepts that were outlined for my tasks as Technical Director have expanded.
A Note
The three of us—JoAnne Spampinato, Chip Smith, and I—have lovingly referred to our department as the Potpourri Department. And we wouldn't want it any other way! When the phone rings, you never know what the subject to be discussed might be!
I am kinda retired! Kinda is the operative word. I have been asked to continue on a part-time basis, doing some of the things I do now: attending some trade shows, responding to mail relating to technical matters; continuing as the Frequency Committee coordinator, Scholarship Committee chairman, and Safety Committee member; monitoring sanctioned-event and Contest Director activity; preparing the rule book; and writing this column on an infrequent basis.
In addition, the Executive Director has requested that I develop and be a central source of information for a youth program. In that capacity, I will prepare three columns a year for Model Aviation.
I will be working out of my home in the St. Louis area. I will be available by phone and fax, and I will be making monthly trips to headquarters in Muncie.
My wife and I have mixed emotions about moving back to the St. Louis area. We have many longtime friends and family there. Certainly the cost of living compared to the Washington, D.C., area is more inviting. On the other hand, the nation's capital offers much in the way of "Underwood-interesting" activities. Oh well, nobody ever said that life was simple!
Until next month....
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
