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Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) is the largest sport aviation organization in the
world with over 170,000 members in over 2,500 chartered clubs. AMA District VII consists
of the 249 AMA Chartered clubs in Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
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| Message from Bill... |
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OK people, here's my latest just to show I do fly model planes.
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Click to see larger photo |
Edge 540, 94" w/s Taurus TS-72, 72cc, 4.4c.i. swings 24x8 xoar and flies like on rails.
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| Take The Challenge |
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AMA District VII VP Bill Oberdieck has given a challenge to district clubs, "...introduce
a youngster to our hobby". Here is another response to Bill's challenge:
Dear Bill,
I too have taken your challange to take a youngster to a flying field. The youngster is Evan, my 12 year-old grandson who lives in
Valpariso, Indiana and I live in Huntington Woods, Michigan. Last July I went to Valparaiso and picked up my grandson then drove to
Muncie, IN for the McCook Squadron Freeflight Meet. We camped on the field in my trailer and waited out the wind storm on Saturday.
We were rewarded with perfect calm weather on Sunday. He flew his NoCal Scale Vagabond, built from plans by Cloudbuster Club member, Mike.
The attached photo shows the first place trophy and his plane. Taking this youngster was a 900 mile trip for me, but it was worth every mile to
see his smile with the trophy.
Dan Olah, member, Cloudbusters Model Airplane Club of Michigan.
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| Take The Challenge |
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AMA District VII VP Bill Oberdieck has given a challenge to district clubs, "...introduce
a youngster to our hobby". Here is a recent response to Bill's challenge:
Hi Bill,
I have just read your D-VII column in the September Model Aviation and the challenge
to involve youngsters in Model Aviation. No challenge required here, I
wholeheartedly agree.
In July I pulled together an Aviation camp for troop 349 of the Boy Scouts of America
and had great support from RCCD, the club to which I belong, as well as Chapter 13
of the EAA. Unfortunately, I was so busy with the Scouts I forgot to take
pictures, or ask someone else to! Darn!
Regards,
Noel Hunt
RCCD - Vice President
Scout Troop 349 Aviation Camp with RCCD
Thanks to the strong support of some RCCD members as well as members of Chapter 13
of the EAA, thirty Scouts form Troop 349 earned their Aviation merit badges on
July 10th and 11th.
At the RCCD field Larry Parker and Noel Hunt presented the basics of flight, R/C
control, field safety and other aviation topics. This was followed by an
opportunity for plenty of stick time with an R/C plane. For many, this was the
highlight of the camp! Intro pilots Larry Chaltron, Howard Motin, Keith Jones,
Don Veres II, and Noel Hunt subjected their trainers to the 15 to 20 mph winds and the
sometimes over-eager fingers of the youngsters. Neither the wind, nor the fingers
claimed a plane that day! Also thanks to Willie McMath, Dan Bateman, and Rainel Veres
for helping out.
Another Aviation merit badge requirement is to build and fly an FPG-9. The FPG-9
(Foam Plate Glider – 9) is designed by Jack Reynolds is relatively easy to make yet has great
flight characteristics and teaches the effect that control surfaces have on flight. As the
name implies, the FPG-9 is made from a foam plate. “Plans” are printable from AMA’s
web site. Once the FPG-9s were completed, the Scouts had to perform tasks with them;
tasks like longest time in the air, longest distance flown, fly round a pylon, land on a target,
etc.
And all the time there was continued opportunity for the Scouts, and a few of their
parents, to fly R/C with an Intro Pilot.
Lunch and dinner were prepared by the Scouts for themselves and all the adults
helping out. Hot dogs and hamburgers for lunch; and chicken yakitori, rice
and corn for dinner. Pretty good! especially from a camp kitchen!
The Scouts spent some of the day at the Ray Community Airport. Lead by Rex
Phelps (EAA Chapter 13 President) and Dennis Glaeser (Young Eagles coordinator)
the folks from Chapter 13 introduced them to airport operations, pre-flight
inspections, aircraft instrumentation, etc. The EAA Chapter 13 then held a
Young Eagles day on Saturday (14th) and many of the Scouts took the opportunity to
go for a ride in a real aircraft.
Working with youngsters can be challenging, but it is always rewarding.
Some comments heard at the end of camp and since then:
From Scouts: “That’s the best camp I’ve been to!” “I know Mr. Parker
was teaching us stuff for the merit badge, but he made it really interesting.
He knows how to teach” “This is really hard! Can I try one more time?
I’ve got to get it!” “Wow, that’s cool!” (After doing a loop)
From Parents:
“The guys over at Ray (Community airport) were organized and shared a lot of
interesting information”, “I heard (from a scouts and/or attending parents?)
the camp went really well. Thanks.” “My son was contemplating quitting
Scouts. Since going to the camp, he's changed his mind”, EAA, Chapter 13 and
RCCD, your efforts are really appreciated.
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| Add Your Club's Events to D-VII Calendar |
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Email Ed with the
specific information. You can list sanctioned and non-sanctioned events,
but it's best to send info at least 4 weeks in advance. And don't forget
non-flying events like swap meets and mall shows.
Here is the information we need:
- Event Date(s)
- Event Name
- Event City, State
- Site location (URL of map if available)
- Event desription
- Event flyer (URL of flyer or attach pdf file)
- Contact name, email & phone number
- Sponsoring club name with URL
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