District X—Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii, Nevada, Utah
Vice President
ama.district10@gmail.com
Box 276, Fairfield CA 94533
Tel.: (707) 480-2053; www..org
Happy St. Patrick’s Day to all. You still have time apply for a Flying Site Assistance Grant for your club before the March 1, 2017, deadline. Please contact me if you have any questions.
We also have Leader Club and AMA Model Aviation Hall of Fame nominations due March 31. We have so many great clubs and individuals in District X. I hope you take advantage of the opportunity to get them the recognition they strongly deserve.
AMA scholarships applications are due April 30. Please take advantage of this program. We give away roughly $40,000 per year to students. Let’s help some District X kids today.
It is now three months until June and Father’s Day. I am dedicating my June column to remembering our fathers, father figures, and surrogate fathers who got us into this wonderful world of aeromodeling.
Please send me an email with a photo of your loved one and a brief write-up. We’ll share our photos and memories in the June District X column.
AMA Expo West 2017 was a great time for all. We inducted two District X members into the AMA Model Aviation Hall of Fame.
Lawrence Klingberg, who has been modeling for 80 years, was recognized for his numerous outstanding Scale models. He is a perennial contestant in the Expo’s static display competition, and usually takes home top honors. He enjoys models from the Golden Age, and each of them is 100% scratch-built from his own plans.
Dr. Paul MacCready received the AMA Model Aviation Hall of Fame award posthumously for his contributions to model aviation. With Dr. Peter B.S. Lissaman, he created a human-powered aircraft, the Gossamer Condor, and won the first Kremer prize in 1977. The award-winning airplane was built out of aluminum tubing, plastic foam, piano wire, and bicycle parts with Mylar foil for covering.
In 1979, he built its successor, the Gossamer Albatross, which won the second Kremer prize for successfully flying across the English Channel from England to France. Google his name to find a “TED Talk” video of him talking about his accomplishments—it is fascinating.
Please enjoy some of my favorite photos from AMA Expo West.
Julian Guthrie, author of How to Make a Spaceship, the story of the design and flight of SpaceShipOne. It’s worth reading. Julian was one of many guest speakers.
This beautiful Scale model of the Luscombe Model 10 was built by Jack Dunkle. This one-of-a-kind prototype that was designed by Luscombe never went into production.
Quique Somenzini (L) and David Ribe of Flex Innovations with their Mamba 10. Quique is an F3A world champion and four-time winner of the Tournament of Champions. He is a giant in our sport, so anything he designs is worth a close look.
Until next month, I wish you all happy landings.
