By Les Hard
IMAA Festival '87
Once again this year the lure of big planes called in modelers and spectators from all over the United States and Canada to witness their majestic grace and endearing beauty as they drew smoke trails through gorgeous Indiana skies.
Perhaps the greatest of the IMAA Festivals, this sixth Rally of Giants was held at Converse, IN, June 11–14, 1987. This great site has 52 acres of concrete and plenty of wide open spaces for flying. The 1987 Rally of Giants was hosted by IMAA Chapter 48, the Converse Cadets of central Indiana, headed by Bill Johnson.
The 258 registered participants signed up over 400 giant-scale models to display and fly over the four-day period (really five if you count Wednesday, when many arrived early to set up motor homes, RVs, campers, trailers, and tents).
The organizers provided many large tents for overnight model storage, battery charging, transmitter impound, and frequency control — as well as check-in and registration. Many participants made their own accommodations; others stayed at motels and hotels in Marion and Kokomo. The Marion Sheraton Inn served as festival headquarters. (On Wednesday evening many dining at the Sheraton experienced a minor earth tremor that lasted about 20 seconds and was felt over a 16-state area and Canada.)
Pilots, inspections and flying
Participants lined up three abreast, models deep, waiting for the safety check. Chuck Shepherd and his inspection crew processed entries quickly, after which participants headed to the pit area and the flight line over 1,000 feet away. The flying procedure was explained at the first pilots' meeting. Pilots signed names on lists under frequencies; when called they picked up transmitters. Five flight stations were set up in front of two flight lines. With four or five giant-scale aircraft in the air at a time, there was lots of good flying the first day interspersed with a few crashes — one midair collision completely destroyed a model; another was repaired, re-inspected, and returned to the flight line. Someone calculated the average flight time the first day as ten minutes. Weather was bright and breezy with high, fluffy clouds.
Day Two seemed ominous with thunderheads around the site, but it didn't rain and activities continued uninterrupted. The traditional IMAA banquet enjoyed a full house in the Sheraton Inn's banquet room. Among dignitaries at the head table were AMA President Don Lowe and his wife Clara. After dinner Don gave a short talk. Others at the head table included Chairman Dick Garmhausen; Jim Johnson, festival manager, and his wife Joyce; Garry Bussell, festival event director, and his wife; Norm Goyer, editor of Scale RC Modeler; Les Hard, editor of High-Flight; and Miles Reed, coordinator of frequency control.
Saturday, the main flying day, was sunny, very hot, with a light wind in the right direction and high clouds. Model inspections were expedited; participants signed up to fly and displayed great enthusiasm. Running commentary by M. Bumper Lyons of Mobile, AL, and Steve King of Greenwood, IN, kept spectators and participants well informed about the models, pilots, and the variety of aircraft in the air.
The variety of aircraft was most interesting, a good mix of military and civilian types. Workmanship and piloting abilities have generally reached a high level.
On Saturday night IMAA Chapter 48 arranged a big pig roast for picnic night, with live music to conclude the affair. Flying diminished throughout Sunday as participants packed up and departed. Those who kept flying did so with freshening breezes and rising temperatures; by noon it was in the mid-80s.
Statistics and tidbits
- 258 registered participants
- Over 400 giant-scale models on display
- Twenty-seven states (including Hawaii) plus Canada were represented
- Very few crashes and no radio interference problems reported
- Over 2,000 spectators counted through the gates on Saturday and Sunday
- 12 exhibitors showing their wares
Additional highlights:
- A full-scale replica of the Wright Flyer, complete with an engine built like the Wright brothers' original, was displayed Saturday and Sunday. It had not been flown that week, but plans are to fly it.
- Three beautiful home-built full-scale aircraft were on the field Saturday.
- An aerobatics show by full-size aircraft entertained the crowd around noon on Saturday and Sunday.
Participant count by state:
- Indiana: 61
- Illinois: 46
- Ohio: 38
- Michigan: 32
- Florida: 15
- Texas: 6
- Missouri: 5
- West Virginia: 4
- Kansas: 4
- Alabama: 4
- Minnesota: 3
- Pennsylvania: 3
- New York: 3
- Louisiana: 3
- Iowa: 2
- Hawaii: 2
- North Carolina: 2
- Kentucky: 1
- Oklahoma: 1
- Tennessee: 1
- New Mexico: 1
- Georgia: 1
- New Jersey: 1
- Colorado: 1
- Connecticut: 1
- South Carolina: 1
Rally of Giants '88
Location for the Rally of Giants Festival '88 has been chosen; dates are not yet firm. IMAA Chapter 51 of Wheeling, WV, will host the event at Curtis Alderman Airport in St. Clairsville, OH. Late August is most likely — watch for an announcement of firm dates.
All told it was a great event, and IMAA Chapter 48 members are to be commended for their efforts in preparing and running it.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
