Joe Nall Giant Scale Fly-In
By Jerry Smith
Overview
Fellowship, festivity, and fun are the hallmarks of this annual South Carolina premier Giant Scale flying festival.
Beautiful South Carolina weather smiled on us for three gorgeous days of flying. The 10th annual Joe Nall Giant Scale Fly-In, held May 15–17, 1992, was the largest International Miniature Aircraft Association (IMAA) event ever held in the South. In fact, the fly-in is second only to the largest IMAA event—the IMAA Rally of Giants, held annually at different locations throughout the United States.
Location and Host
The setting for this well-attended event was Hartness Field, Greenville, South Carolina. Each year Pat Hartness, owner and host, opens the big iron gates to his 400-acre estate and allows spectators and pilots complete freedom to wander about and take in the wonders of the place. Nature trails, ponds with geese, and a beautiful landscape provided tranquil, relaxing moments.
Chapter 94 of the Confederate Air Force, a small chapter with approximately 30 members, sponsored the event and did its share to make sure everyone enjoyed themselves. The chapter's slogan is "We specialize in fun, fellowship, and hospitality." Event Director Tom Phelps made that known to all.
Attendance and Aircraft
The runway and flight line were long and carpeted with beautiful Bermuda grass. When one looked down the length of the flight line, many magnificently built Giant Scale aircraft were in view. No single design appeared to be dominant.
Over 200 pilots signed in, with some 300 aircraft on the flight line over the three-day period. Some pilots brought two or three airplanes. The flying went smoothly, except for one spinner-to-spinner midair that resulted in a shower of balsa, parts, and hard feelings. Some pilots found that the trees on the far side of the runway reached up and grabbed the planes—strictly pilot error, of course. Safety, though, was foremost in the fliers' minds.
Event Highlights
The popular Saturday night barbecue was fantastic, serving good country food to over 500 people. A bluegrass band, pickin' and singin', added homespun entertainment. Pilots and newfound friends discussed the day's flying, their latest projects, and other topics of common interest. It was a super evening—the friendly Southern kind.
Don Lowe, AMA President, had attended the event for the past three years and considered it one of the best in the region. He said he was highly impressed with the operation. Don presented the AMA Award of Achievement to Pat Hartness for his exceptional generosity and for achieving a safe and popular event.
Awards
- Bob Smith Award (most realistic flying): Dick Konkle, Smyrna, Georgia — his beautiful 1/3-scale Monocoupe was loaded with fine detail and flew realistically.
- Joe Nall Award: Ken Goff (Tuscaloosa, Alabama) and Chris Venter (Sydney, Australia).
- Ken is wheelchair-bound, but that hasn't stopped him from helping many novices learn to fly RC. He claims to have the only RC flying field in the United States dedicated to the handicapped.
- Chris came all the way from Sydney, Australia—on business, of course—and won our hearts with his intense love of Giant Scale RC. He's a very likable guy.
Final Thoughts
Having attended this event for the past four years, I came away with a feeling of satisfaction. Each year it gets better and better, and this may have been the best ever. Hospitality like that shown by Chapter 94 and Pat Hartness is hard to turn down.
The Joe Nall Giant Scale Fly-In is a premier event in every respect. If you have never attended the fly-in, make it a point to next year. It's always scheduled for mid-May. Spectators must have a current AMA license, and IMAA guidelines prevail.
Mark your calendar. You won't be disappointed.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
