Focus on Competition
Technical Director Steve Kaluf skaluf@modelaircraft.org
IN ABOUT A MONTH, the Indoor National Aeromodeling Championships will be held June 2–6, 1999, at East Tennessee State University's Mini-Dome, Johnson City, Tennessee.
If you have not seen an indoor event before, consider attending. If you are a competitor and have not registered, do so right away — preregistration saves a lot of time at check-in.
The same holds true for the outdoor events, which begin July 9, 1999, at the International Aeromodeling Center in Muncie, Indiana. For a complete schedule of events, see the Nats web site: www.modelaircraft.org/Comp/99Nats1.htm.
If you did not receive an entry form in February (all who participated in the '97 and '98 Nats did), please contact the Competitions Department and we will put a form in the mail to you right away.
The Nationals Category Championships will continue for 1999. Remember, you are automatically entered in this competition. Winners receive a plaque and a cash award. In some cases the cash award has been reinforced by generous donations; it is expected that the Free Flight Champion will take home $1,000.
Another large event will take place in Pensacola, Florida, beginning September 10 — the F3A (RC Aerobatics) World Championships. This event will draw teams from approximately 40 countries and will include the best F3A pilots in the world. Please consider making plans to attend. The Pensacola area is also a great vacation spot and is reasonably priced at that time of year.
Spectators are invited to attend the World Championships. We have blocked hotel rooms in the area for spectator use; call (800) 282-1212 and ask for the World Championships spectator rate. Complete details regarding the World Championships may be found on the AMA World Championships web site: www.modelaircraft.org/Comp/f3awcl.htm. If you do not have Internet access, call the Competitions Department for more information.
Spectators are also invited to attend the Opening Ceremonies, Closing Ceremony, and Banquet. Seating will be limited at these events, so make arrangements well in advance through the Competitions Department. Attend and help cheer Team USA on to victory!
Reminder: on January 1, 1999 we began the 1999–2001 Rules Change Cycle. New rules proposals are accepted only from January 1 to October 1, 1999. Proposals must be submitted in the proper form (a form is available from the Competitions Department). This is the time to act if you do not like the current rules for the event(s) you fly.
The rules change cycle must be interactive to work properly. AMA HQ does not write the rules proposals — they come entirely from the membership. If the membership does not participate, we end up with archaic rules that serve no one. Please participate!
The 1999–2001 version of the Competition Regulations has been available since December 1998. If you have not received a copy (you must request one), call the Competitions Department, extension 234. There is no charge for this publication to AMA members.
Pylon Racing barrier update: AMA has designed and is building 10 sets of trailer-mounted barrier systems. These are being distributed around the country to geographic areas based on activity; by now there is probably a set within a half-day drive of your club site. At the time of this writing, all details regarding the use of the barriers have not been finalized; please call me and I'll explain what was decided.
To recap: new barrier specifications go into effect January 1, 2000. To start using barriers meeting these specifications in 1999, AMA designed and constructed 10 sets and is distributing them for AMA member use. Design drawings are available for clubs that would like to build their own set of barriers; you can obtain a copy by calling me. Please do not use barrier systems that do not meet these new specifications — we can only approve systems built to specifications that AMA has tested. If you have questions, give me a call.
That is about it for this month. As you begin the last flying season of this century, please check your equipment carefully, and fly safely!
Till next time ...
NATIONAL RECORDS UPDATE
JANUARY 1999
INDOOR FREE FLIGHT
- CAT II
- Unlimited Catapult Glider — Kenny Krempetz — 1:07 — 11-22-98 — Jr.
- CAT III
- Unlimited Catapult Glider — Stan Buddenbohm — 3:08 — 12-27-98 — Op.
- Standard Catapult Glider — Stan Buddenbohm — 2:48.2 — 12-27-98 — Op.
- Mini-Stick — Andrew Tagliafico — 11:49 — 12-27-98 — Op.
- CAT IV
- F1D Rubber — Stephen Brown — 53:45 — 8-17-97 — Op.
CONTROL LINE
- Formula 40 Speed — James Rhodes — 161.87 — 12-06-98 — Op.
Key Dates
(Events attended by AMA HQ staff and/or officers)
- April 26–29: National Retail Hobby Stores Association Convention — Las Vegas, NV
- June 2–6: Indoor National Aeromodeling Championships — Johnson City, TN
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
