Focus on Competition
Competitions Director — Chip Smith
On October 25, the AMA and R/CMA met with the FCC to discuss NPRM 92-235. This was an interim meeting to address continuing concerns with the FCC's "spectrum refarming." The FCC's first comment was that they had gotten our message; it came directly from both modelers and from your representatives on Capitol Hill. If you were one of the many thousands who took the time to write, this was your payoff. Thanks for joining in.
PR Docket 92-235 is still in the working stage and will most certainly be revised. The final outcome has not been decided, and the FCC will only say that they are sure we are going to be happy with what they are doing. Time will tell.
With so much emphasis on developing the "information highway," the FCC has become one of the busiest agencies in the federal government. We're fortunate that, over many years, modeling has built such a strong relationship with the FCC.
Nats Planning Meeting
AMA Nationals managers and Special Interest Group representatives met in Lubbock, Texas, to finalize 1994 Nats plans. The facilities are excellent, the support from the local clubs is well organized, and the community is more fired up than any I've seen. Circumstances are shaping up to make this one of the most fun Nats to come along in some time.
If you've never been to Lubbock, you are in for quite a surprise. The nearly 3,300-foot elevation causes drier air, and the average daytime high temperature during July is 92°F. There are plenty of family activities and plenty of hotel rooms. To get more information and a free copy of the Lubbock Travel Guide, call (800) 692-4035.
This year we are once again able to go back to the combined Nats format and fly all the model categories at one event. Control Line, Free Flight, Radio Control, and Scale will take place July 16–24, 1994. Entry forms and the schedule of event dates will be available by the end of December. To get your copy, send your name and AMA number to: 1994 National Champs 5151 E. Memorial Dr. Muncie, IN 47302
Big Contests
As the contest season slows down, I've had some time to think about the events I've participated in or visited this summer. I managed to attend more big events than ever, and it gave me a chance to see how many of you organize and run your operations.
The first thing I noticed was that modeler ingenuity certainly extends into contest organizing; I picked up many new ideas while wandering around. It was also obvious that many of you have been organizing and holding big events for several years now. Exposure to all this made me realize we have a tremendous wealth of large-contest and event experience to draw from.
If you have worked on a large event, why not drop me a line with your favorite hint and the detail you've learned to watch out for the most? The more we share this information, the more we'll raise the quality of the modeling contest circuit.
Beginning next month, I'll take a look at the international calendar for next year.
Bid — 1995 WC F3B RC Soaring Team Selection Finals
The Soaring Team Selection Committee requests site bids. The 1994 team selection finals will be held between July 1, 1994 and December 31, 1994. Clubs interested in hosting the 1995 World Championship RC Soaring Team Selection Finals should submit bids in writing to AMA Headquarters, attention Chip Smith, postmarked no later than December 3, 1993. Bids should include the following information:
- Name, address, host club/organization, including daytime phone number and contact person
- Site location description
- Preferred date between July 1, 1994 and December 1, 1994
- Expected weather conditions
- Local accommodations
- Costs and distance to site
- Officials and other jury, especially Contest Director
- Local help and equipment needed
- Estimated budget
SUMMARY OF FCC PRESENTATIONS
By Bob Underwood
On October 25, 1993, representatives of the Academy of Model Aeronautics and the Radio Control Manufacturers Association met with officials of the Federal Communications Commission. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss continuing concerns with the FCC's spectrum refarming proposals in PR Docket 92-235, from the joint perspective of both the users and manufacturers in the radio control industry.
Who Was Present
- For the Academy of Model Aeronautics:
- Robert Underwood, Executive Director
- Bill Hershberger, Frequency Committee member
- Raymond A. Kowalski, Communications Legal Counsel
- For the Radio Control Manufacturers Association:
- Steve Helms, Futaba Corporation and R/CMA President
- Bob Renaud, Airtronics, Inc.
- Ellen Block, Communications Legal Counsel
- For FCC Chairman James Quello:
- Brian Fontes, Chief of Staff
- For FCC Commissioner Ervin Duggan:
- Randy Coleman, Legal Advisor
- For the Private Radio Bureau:
- Ralph A. Haller, Chief
- Beverly Baker, Deputy Chief
- Robert McNamara, Chief, Special Services Division
- John Johnston, Chief, Personal Radio Branch
- Doreen Fertig, Staff Economist
- Steve Sharkey, Staff Engineer
Meeting Summaries
The first meeting was in Commissioner Duggan's office. Mr. Coleman listened politely and took copious notes, promising that his Commissioner's office was interested in these issues. He was interested in the spectrum refarming proposals and their potential impact on users. We educated him as to the nature and scope of the interference and the participants involved, and pointed out that, as the rules are now proposed, the industry would be severely and adversely impacted, especially by unreasonable technical standards that would result in interference by land mobile transmitters to RC transmitters.
The second meeting was in the Private Radio Bureau. Since the Bureau is already well aware of the industry's concerns, the meeting centered on the presentation of the results of tests that were conducted to evaluate the operating environment under the proposed rules. Mr. Haller's questions demonstrated an interest in and concern for the interference that was documented in these tests.
INDOOR — AMA CEILING RECORDS
Stick
- Jr. — 16.48 mm/sec — Jonathan Harlan — 10-01-83
- Sr. — 13.15 mm/sec — Don Slusarczyk — 12-11-88
- Op. — 34.18 mm/sec — Robert Randolph — 09-18-92
F1D (Free Flight A)
- Jr. — 16.48 mm/sec — Jonathan Harlan — 10-01-83
- Sr. — 13.15 mm/sec — Don Slusarczyk — 12-11-88
- Op. — 34.18 mm/sec — Robert Randolph — 09-18-92
ROG Cable
- Jr. — 10.81 mm/sec — Jonathan Harlan — 10-01-83
- Sr. — 05.40 mm/sec — Don DeLoach — 04-21-89
- Op. — 16.15 mm/sec — Robert Randolph — 04-05-91
Manhattan Cabin
- Jr. — 03.12 mm/sec — Don Slusarczyk — 08-18-86
- Sr. — 05.40 mm/sec — Don DeLoach — 04-21-88
- Op. — 08.31 mm/sec — Walt Van Gordon — 12-08-90
EasR B
- Jr. — 08.28 mm/sec — Don Slusarczyk — 08-19-86
- Sr. — 13.04 mm/sec — Don Slusarczyk — 12-09-80
- Op. — 17.15 mm/sec — Chuck Slusarczyk — 12-09-90
Penny Plane
- Jr. — 06.12 mm/sec — Jake Palmer — 06-26-93
- Sr. — 00.56 mm/sec — Don DeLoach — 05-19-80
- Op. — 12.46 mm/sec — Jim Clew — 04-18-93
Limited Pennyplane
- Jr. — 06.12 mm/sec — Jake Palmer — 06-26-93
- Sr. — 09.58 mm/sec — Don DeLoach — 05-18-80
- Op. — 09.55 mm/sec — Jim Clew — 05-18-80
Helicopter
- Jr. — 06.24 mm/sec — Jon Harlan — 06-29-85
- Sr. — 04.32 mm/sec — Ronnie Stranoky — 03-31-73
- Op. — 11.07 mm/sec — James Richmond — 12-11-88
Orienteering (?)
- Jr. — 03.22 mm/sec — Scott T. Robbino — 03-23-91
- Sr. — 05.16 mm/sec — Don Slusarczyk — 12-11-88
- Op. — 06.22 mm/sec — Roy White — 02-21-93
Autogiro
- Jr. — 02.43 mm/sec — Don Slusarczyk — 08-21-86
- Sr. — 06.52 mm/sec — Don Slusarczyk — 12-09-80
- Op. — 06.27 mm/sec — Ronald Ganser — 04-14-81
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
