District I—Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont
Andy Argenio
Vice President
brandshobby@gmail.com
3 Sheila Ln., Smithfield RI 02917
Tel.: (401) 231-6901; www.amadistrict-i.org
Associate Vice Presidents Steve Brehm, Andrew Figlar, and I attended the Wonder of Flight Air Show in Westport, Connecticut, on June 4, 2016. The following event report, written in part by Andrew and me, describes a well-promoted and directed event by Don Lord.
Don is a longtime RC enthusiast and a private instrument-rated pilot. He came up with the idea of having the Country Squire Modelers club conduct a model aircraft air show in conjunction with the statewide Trails Day nature event at Sherwood Island State Park, where the club’s flying site is located.
The Connecticut Trails Day venue attracts many community members to engage in nature hikes, kayaking, sailboat racing, and to watch show-and-tell exhibits by Friends of Sherwood Island about animals and reptiles from the tidal marshes in the area. Don recognized this as a perfect opportunity to highlight the sport of aeromodeling to the public, while demonstrating to park officials the benefit of the club’s location at the park.
Don planned an educational session from 10:45 a.m. until noon at the Nature Center Pavilion where he and Richard Paul, his associate director, made an excellent presentation on flying and aerodynamics for the many youngsters and adults who attended. Attendees were also given the opportunity to apply what they learned about RC flying with hands-on simulator flying.
Everyone then walked to the club’s flying site where a variety of types and sizes of model aircraft were on display. Aircraft owners answered questions and talked about their favorite aircraft and their interest in the hobby. Demonstration flights of gliders, aerobatic airplanes, Scale warbirds, ducted-fan jets, helicopters, and drones were accompanied by Don announcing related and interesting information about each aircraft.
I had an opportunity to talk with Senator Tony Hwang and his staff about AMA’s safety programming and how we could be of help when sUAS/drone issues were being considered.
As can be seen in the column photos and the smiling faces of the spectators and pilots, everyone had a great time at this superb flying site and absolutely beautiful park. Thank you from the AMA to Don Lord, Richard Paul, Dave Baron, Chris Burkhalter, Roger Post Jr., Marty Ludwin, John Ganter, and all who contributed to this awesome event. Check out the club’s website at https://countrysquiresblog.wordpress.com.
Associate Vice Presidents: Steve Brehm, Jamestown RI; (401) 423-1085; stbrehm@yahoo.com; Andrew Figlar, Stratford CT; (203) 377-1535; Andrew_L_Figlar@sbcglobal.net. James Gilliatt, Concord MA; (978) 369-9796; jegilliatt@cs.com; Daren Hudson, Greenland NH; (603) 674-5809; dth7@comcast.net; Robert Kilmon, Nashua NH; (603) 594-2725; rk102136@aol.com; Ray LaBonte, Standish ME; (207) 892-7994; rplabonte@aol.com; Joan Liska, Middletown CT; (860) 347-0257; jliska9000@sbcglobal.net; Thomas J Puma Jr., North Clarendon VT; (802) 558-4439; usakingcat1@aol.com; Tom Rocheleau, Wethersfield CT 06109; (860) 280-1701; trocheleau@cox.net; Ted Wojcik, Fremont NH; (603) 479-3799; tedwojcik@comcast.net. Contest Coordinator: David Surwell, 24 Norwich Rd.; Nashua NH 03062; (603) 888-2020; davidsurwell@comcast.net; Frequency Coordinator: Joel Chappell, Milford NH; (603) 673-6240; joel.b.chappell@myfairpoint.net.
