Trade shows and a forum
From the Copilot’s Seat by Gary Fitch, Executive Vice President
AMA Expo West
is in the books, and we certainly appreciate the many members who traveled to Ontario, California, and helped us celebrate the event. It was well attended, especially on Saturday, and the vendors I spoke with said that they were pleased with the event.
Several speakers provided us with inspiring discussions. One was performed by none other than The RC Geek, Chris Wolfe, discussing Scale—how to build and get into Scale competition. Chris recently became the 2016 Grand National Champion of the U.S. Scale Masters Championships, held at the Woodland Davis Aeromodelers’ field, in Davis, California.
Chris was encouraging about newcomers trying their hands at scale modeling. His website provides useful information about building and repairing scale aircraft, along with flight reviews, 3-D printing, foam kit bashing, and more. If you love Scale as I do, check out http://thercgeek.com.
I had the opportunity to witness the induction of two incredible people into the AMA Model Aviation Hall of Fame. The first was Lawrence Klingberg of Huntington Beach, California, nominated by AMA District X Associate Vice President Greg Stone. Lawrence is a Korean War veteran who served in the Air Force and he built model aircraft while in Korea.
Lawrence is a former officer and current member of several clubs in Southern California. In 1999, he began writing how-to articles and over the years, published 20 articles in Model Aviation, Radio Control Modeler,
Rich Hanson, AMA president, presented Lawrence Klingberg with his AMA Model Aviation Hall of Fame Award.
and HighFlight magazines. In 2000, Lawrence began building Scale model aircraft to enter in the AMA Expo contest, and placed first in the static judging at least five times. At age 85, Lawrence continues in this activity!
Rich also presented Tyler MacCready with his father’s AMA Model Aviation Hall of Fame Award.
The second induction was Dr. Paul MacCready, who passed away in 2006. Paul was an amazing man who used model aviation as a test bed for developing world-renowned full-scale experimental aircraft.
I learned that Paul mortgaged everything he owned to design and build the Gossamer Albatross, which in 1979 became the first human-powered aircraft to cross the English Channel, taking three hours. In 1980, Paul designed the solar-powered Gossamer Penguin, which was the first solar-powered climbing aircraft.
In 1981, he designed the Solar Challenger that flew 163 miles from Paris to England at an altitude of 11,000 feet on sunbeams. This aircraft is part of the National Air and Space Museum and is currently on loan.
Paul hired the best modelers and engineers from around the world, and used models as prototypes to push the boundaries of the aeronautic envelope. He stated that “modeling continues to be terrific training for young people, and is a great introduction to engineering, now being taken seriously by the military.” Paul’s son, Tyler MacCready, was present to accept the award and talk about his dad. It was time well spent!
As you read this, the inaugural AMA Expo East in Secaucus, New Jersey, will be behind us, and I hope, if you live in the Northeast, you attended. The AMA staff put forth a great deal of time and effort organizing and managing both AMA Expo West and East. It is our goal to provide interesting shows with many vendors, great buying opportunities, interesting speakers, and the chance for you to meet aeromodeling luminaries. We even offer a flea market as well as an opportunity to purchase donated aircraft and accessories from the AMA Foundation.
We are now only a couple of weeks away from The Toledo Show: R/C Model Expo’s 63rd annual running. This is the granddaddy of trade shows, and ends the trade show circuit for 2017. See you there!
On the third Saturday in January, I had the opportunity to attend the Syracuse Model Forum, presented by the Aero Radio Club of Syracuse and the Syracuse Thunderbirds Aero Radio Society. I joined AMA District II Vice President Eric Williams and we met with members from central New York, enjoyed the model displays and the flea market whose tables were sold out. I also enjoyed the opportunity to fly in the available gym.
What a great event in mid-to-late January where modelers have an opportunity to break from the winter doldrums and cabin fever and enjoy the company of other modelers!
Thanks for reading. Please help secure our future and take a youngster flying!
