District V—Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, US Virgin Islands
Bob Brogdon
Vice President
r.a.brogdon@comcast.net
5251 Hermitage Dr., Powder Springs GA 30127
Tel.: (770) 421-8838; www.amadistrict-v.org
Hello again from District V. Thank you for taking the time to join me.
I see a number of interesting events are planned for the year. I encourage each of you to get out and attend any event that is within your travel range. Even if you specialize in one particular aspect of modeling, you might find that you enjoy watching a different type of airplane and/or flying, if even for just an afternoon. Who knows, you might want to give it a try.
We have a few changes in the district that I want to bring to your attention. One of our District V associate vice presidents (AVPs), Scott Anderson of Knoxville, Tennessee, is the new AMA Leader Member Program Coordinator. Congratulations Scott, and thanks for accepting this important assignment.
We have two new Leader Members in our district, Richard Weir of Athens, Tennessee, and Timothy Cox, of Louisville, Tennessee. Congratulations to you both and thank you for stepping into this position. I’m sure you will do well.
Richard has also been approved to be a contest director. Now that’s dedication! Richard, thank you and congratulations.
We have also had some changes in members of three contest boards. Fred Johnson has decided to retire from the RC Scale Aerobatics Contest Board after many years. Chuck Anderson is retiring from the RC Soaring Contest Board, and Richard Schneider is retiring from the RC Fixed-Wing Scale Contest Board. Thank you all for your many years of service to your respective contest boards. We wish you well!
All of these retirements have left some major holes in those individual contest boards, but I’m happy to be able to report that I already have one of those positions filled. Don Cleveland, of Tullahoma, Tennessee, has accepted the position vacated by Chuck on the RC Soaring Contest Board. Thank you, Don, and I wish you the best with your new responsibilities. It is an important position.
If you have a chance, please thank Scott, Richard Weir, Timothy, Fred, Chuck, Richard Schneider, and Don. They deserve it!
The RC Scale Aerobatics and RC Fixed-Wing Scale contest boards are still open and we are looking for suitable replacements. Let me know if you know someone who you would recommend.
Now some late-breaking news: Stephen Hilmes of Gainesville, Florida, told me that the Flying Gators Model Airplane Club has reached an agreement for a new flying site. The official opening of the new site is scheduled for early March of this year. I should have a report to share later. Congratulations to the Flying Gators! I hope to visit there soon.
Another piece of good news comes from Dick Tonan, an AVP in Tennessee. The Middle Tennessee R/C Clubs Association has received approval from the Dickson Airport to host a fly-in at the airport this coming fall on the second weekend in September. Great news, Dick!
Lou Melancon, a member of the Georgia Model Aviators (GMA) club in Cummings, Georgia, sent in the following information. I should note that Lou was very busy and was unable to capture photos of the activities, but the story pretty much tells it all.
Pilots and their warbirds came from near and far in early November 2016, to attend the Dino DiGeorgio Memorial Warbird Rally held at the GMA flying site. Seventy-three pilots brought more than 120 aircraft for the three-day event.
The warbird rally is for the pilots and interested modelers. Spectators are always welcome, but there are no announcements or attempts to draw a crowd. It is an event for the pilots to share their interests and skills in designing, building, flying, and keeping history alive.
Models ranged from an early Sommers Monoplane to modern jets with emphasis on the World War II years. The sky was filled with P-47s, Zeros, FW-190s, P-51s, and everything in between.
A number of vendors were present to display their wares: adjustable pitch propellers, scale pilots, kits, plans, and a plethora of scale modeling-related items. Everyone seemed to appreciate the opportunity to get together and share the time. If you have an interest in scale modeling, you cannot afford to miss this event next year.
The GMA is blessed to have one of the best flying sites in the US. The members are very civic minded and try to give back to the community whenever possible. Toys for Tots and the U.S. Marine Corps joined forces with GMA to present a full-day model flying extravaganza for the community. Visitors, were invited, welcomed, and asked to bring a toy to donate. At the end of the day, the collection boxes were full of toys for children in need.
There were flying exhibitions of International Miniature Aerobatic Club airplanes in formation, warbirds chasing each other across the sky, an exhibition of drones flown by professional photographers, and a Giant Scale turbine-powered airplane. The crowd favorite was a monster-size stick airplane that performed an hourly candy drop for the children.
GMA continues to be involved with the community in many positive ways—this is just one of them.
Until next time, keep the wings level on landing!
Associate Vice Presidents: Alabama: Rick Grim, (256) 502-5847; uavpilot@bellsouth.net. Florida: Andy Bowen, (386) 736-1688; ab36builder@gmail.com; Chuck Forman, (352) 347-4745; timeout1932@hotmail.com; Andrew Griffith, (908) 993-4956; barracudahockey@aol.com; Keith Hall, (813) 928-3861; wing-man@verizon.net. Jose Melendez, (321) 412-3078; rcjets12@hotmail.com. Georgia: Bill Barbee, (912) 660-2155; awbarbee@hotmail.com; Bob Dixon, (478) 960-5200; rldixon3@cox.net; Nick Ray, (865) 368-3820; lasray@gmail.com; Dave Wenzel, (912) 754-9619; davevfrguy@hotmail.com. Mississippi: Paul Verger, (228) 826-4892; cpaulverger@yahoo.com; Puerto Rico: Edwin Medina, (787) 525-7768; captmedina@gmail.com. South Carolina: Robert Blackwell, (803) 317-9431; reblackwell2@gmail.com; Don Wise, (803) 534-8164; d7wise@cs.com. Tennessee: Scott Anderson, rcfamily@hotmail.com; Dick Tonan, (615) 995-6291; dtonan@mac.com; Charles Anderson, (423) 892-3998; canderson898@comcast.net. Safety Coordinator: Red Scholefield, Newberry FL; (352) 331-8410; redsch0@cox.net. RC Sanctioned Event Coordinator: Dick Tonan. FF Sanctioned Event Coordinator: Bob Thoren. CL Sanctioned Event Coordinator: TBD.
