District I

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

The AMA Expo West highlights that Associate Vice President Steve Brehm and I enjoyed are featured in this column.
My first stop at the annual event, held this year on January 6-8, in Ontario, California, is always to admire and take pictures of Lawrence’s Klingberg’s latest aircraft on display. Lawrence started building model airplanes when he was 8 years old. He is recognized in the aeromodeling community as an extraordinary craftsman and master builder.
His scratch-built, award-winning scale models focus on aircraft from the 1914-1939 eras. Lawrence builds at least one new model aircraft every year to display at AMA Expo. Featured in this column is Lawrence’s scale replica of the Heath Super Soarer Glider. The following link goes to a nostalgic story of Ed Heath’s looping glider and a glider building plan: www.amadistrict-i.org/glider.
AMA does an outstanding job of acquiring speakers for AMA Expo events. I suggest going to the AMA Expo website at amaexpo.com/video to view the speaker series videos. As an old techie, I particularly enjoyed the presentation by Sean Clarke, a senior engineer at NASA, who talked about an evolutionary aircraft under development called the X-57 Maxwell.
The X-57 has 14 electric motors built into a unique wing. The two at each wingtip are larger. Each motor is made from two three-phase electric systems integrated into one to create a six-phase motor, allowing for more torque and redundancy. The X-57 demonstrates that electric propulsion can make

airplanes quieter, 40% more efficient, eliminate carbon emission, and decrease noise. A video of the composite Tecnam P2006T being converted to utilize the X-57 wing and electric power system can be seen at https://youtu.be/UQwhAX5woPo.
I recommend that everyone go to www.modelaircraft.org/aboutama/gov.aspx to watch the interview by Public Relations and Government Affairs Director Chad Budreau, who moderated a question-and-answer session with Rich Hanson, AMA president, and FAA’s UAS senior attorney, Charles Raley. I spoke with Charles regarding getting assistance from FAA Counsel on local issues involving preemption of city ordinances in violation of federal law. He said he could help us.

Model aircraft display with a sign for Lawrence Klingberg

Lawrence Klingberg holding an award plaque — Lawrence Klingberg on the stage at AMA Expo West graciously accepting an award plaque honoring his induction into the AMA Model Aviation Hall of Fame for his significant contributions to the sport of aeromodeling.

Display of the NASA X-57 Maxwell project and an electric motor — The electric motor (R) is one of the 14 motors to power the NASA X-57 Maxwell aircraft (L). This evolutionary aircraft project was presented by NASA Senior Engineer Sean Clarke at AMA Expo West.

Red model aircraft with its engine exposed — The electric motor (R) is one of the 14 motors to power the NASA X-57 Maxwell aircraft (L). This evolutionary aircraft project was presented by NASA Senior Engineer Sean Clarke at AMA Expo West.

Three people seated during an interview — AMA’s Public Relations and Government Affairs Director Chad Budreau (L) interviewed AMA President Rich Hanson and FAA’s Senior Attorney Charles Raley (R).