Let the Show Begin
By Duke Iden
If you think show teams are strictly for virtuoso pilots or near-professionals, it's time to take another look. AMA show teams need you!
Once upon a time two pioneer aviators sat beneath the wing of a fragile early airplane and thought about how to spread the magic message of flight to the common man. In those days, few people were aware that man could actually fly. Most believed God had never intended man to fly and that his feet should remain forever planted upon the earth. Others gazed into the heavens watching the eagles soar and believed that only they and other gifted feathered creatures would ever know the wonders of flight.
The two aviators thought and thought. Finally one said, "Perhaps we should call the networks and try to get on the prime-time news."
"No," said the second, "this prime time has not yet come to pass. Have you seen any TV antennas sprouting from the rooftops, let alone cable wires bringing CNN to the dwellings?"
"Well, how about the telegraph? It is now linked across the country."
"Fool! No one will believe it if they can't see it."
"That's it!" yelped the first aviator as he jumped up and hit his head on the undercambered airfoil. "We'll fly our air machines in front of great crowds, and we shall call these events air shows. We'll have narrators shout information to the people, and we aircraft drivers will dazzle the people by flying in big upright circles (loops), performing wing twirls (rolls) and maple-seed descents (spins). We can even sell the crowd some cheap boiled hot dogs."
His friend scratched his beard a while. "By Jove," he said at last, "you've got an idea."
And a popular one at that. So successful were these full-scale aerial displays that, years later, the AMA was quick to borrow the idea for miniature airplanes. Today a dedicated group of men and women actively promotes model aviation through the AMA Air Show Team program.
About the Author and Program
As a member of the Spirit of America Air Show Team (AST #109), I'm one of them. Does that make me a great pilot? Nope. On the other hand, I'm not a bad narrator for the Spirit, and I also edit the national show team newsletter, The Showgram.
In upcoming issues of Model Aviation you'll be reading about AMA show team activities, how to start one up in your area, what's involved in joining an existing team, and other general news. The series will also highlight specific categories of flying, including:
- Gliding
- Towline
- Ducted fans
- Combat
- Scale and Giant Scale
- Control Line
Clearly, AMA show teams are into pretty much the same things you are.
History and Current Status
The AMA Show Team idea first took shape in the mid-1970s with a formal demonstration of model aircraft at Dulles International Airport near Washington, D.C. Today, with 32 sanctioned teams and about 350 active members, the program extends to nearly every region of the country.
There are gaps in the national show team network. Regions and states currently without AMA-sanctioned show teams include:
- Southern states: Tennessee, Arkansas, Louisiana, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia, Kentucky
- Western states: Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota
- New England / Mid-Atlantic: Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, New Jersey
You can help. For details on how to start a show team, contact Geoff Styles at AMA Headquarters, 1810 Samuel Morse Dr., Reston, VA 22090 (telephone 703/435-0750). Styles can also refer you to an existing team in your area.
Do You Have to Be an Exceptional Pilot?
Must you be an exceptional pilot to participate on a show team? No. But you do have to practice safe flying, use common sense, and demonstrate some skill. The AMA Show Team program has an excellent safety record, and we want to keep it that way. We want to entertain the crowds, of course, but we also want to make sure they're kept out of harm's way. A healthy dose of common sense helps assure that we will do the appropriate thing at the appropriate time.
If you're a proficient fun flier, your skill level should meet the requirements of any show team. You should be able to handle a model safely under varying site and weather conditions, including wind.
Interests and Roles
What interests do show team folks have? From what I've seen, AMA show teams attract fliers of every persuasion. If you're into Scale, Control Line, jets, fun flying—you name it—there's a slot for you on a show team. Some teams fly only Scale aircraft. Others have a potpourri that would embrace just about any modeler's interests.
If you question whether your present skills would merit a flying position, show teams also need:
- Narrators
- Equipment handlers
- Builders
- Helpers
Commitment and Family
Being on a good show team is fun, but you've got to be prepared for the work as well. If you have a show scheduled in a town 100 miles away, you can't suddenly decide to stay home and paint the shutters or visit your mother-in-law. Your fellow team members will be counting on you, so it's time to make sure your planes are ready to go, the van is loaded, and your family is prepared.
A good show team makes its outings family affairs. Many teams encourage participation from every member of the family. This adds to the fun, brings the family together, and puts more helping hands into the program.
As with any positive work, show-teaming is worth the effort—and you know it when you see the results. It usually happens just as the hassle begins to get to you: a really explosive show comes along, and the roar of the crowd or the wonder in a child's face makes it all worthwhile. Many modelers report that joining a team rekindled their interest just as they were getting a little bored with the hobby.
Closing
I hope you'll look forward to what's in store on these future pages. In the meantime, give me a hand, if you can. I'd appreciate any comments or helpful hints you might have.
To begin with, what the heck am I going to call this series, anyway?
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
