Edition: Model Aviation - 2017/10
Page Numbers: 129
Portrait of Lawrence Tougas.

District X—Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii, Nevada, Utah

Portrait of Lawrence Tougas.

Lawrence Tougas
Vice President

ama.district10@gmail.com
Box 276, Fairfield CA 94533
Tel.: (707) 480-2053; www.ama10.org

I had the honor of attending the Knights of the Round Circle (KOTRC) club meeting recently. KOTRC is a Control Line (CL) club in Southern California that has been around now for 30 years. The club is active in its community and holds regular competitions. The members enjoy all aspects of CL flying—Speed, Racing, Navy Carrier, Scale, and of course, Stunt. The club events draw members from Arizona and Nevada in addition to California.

The Knights are well represented in the AMA Model Aviation Hall of Fame with Dale Kirn (deceased), Charles Mackey, Larry Renger, Bob Palmer (deceased), and Bill Netzeband (deceased) all having been recognized with this honor. In addition, Eric Rule, Charles Mackey, and Warren Walker have all been named AMA Fellows.

The KOTRC is a regular fixture at AMA Expo West. The members set up the CL models that they fly in the ballroom and give interested guests of all ages the chance to go around in circles themselves.

There was a lively show and tell with Larry Renger, Joel Chesler, John Wright, and Warren Walker all sharing models they had in their hangars. Randy Heydon displayed a fascinating mock-up of an exponential control system. We’re all used to exponential in RC, which is done electronically, but Randy’s setup was all mechanical. I found it wonderfully inventive.

One reason I attended the meeting was to recognize Warren Walker for his recent award as an AMA Fellow.

Warren earned the distinction for his many years of service to the KOTRC and truly deserved the award.

Larry Renger congratulates Warren Walker while Walker holds an award.
AMA Model Aviation Hall of Fame member Larry Renger (L) congratulates Warren Walker on his AMA Fellow Award.

A group of KOTRC members standing together.
The KOTRC crew (L-R) Warren Walker, Larry Renger, Howard Doering, Mike Alurac, Mike Jones, Randy Heydon, John Wright, Joe Brownlee, Denis Coleman, Don Rep, Pete Soule, Scott Barth, Joel Chesler, Mike Meadows, and Dave Kick.

Joel Chesler beside an in-process model airplane.
Joel Chesler with an in-process Gialdini Olympic. Controls are yet to be added.

Denis Coleman and John Wright holding model aircraft.
(L-R) Denis Coleman and John Wright holding a Whipsaw that Denis gave John.

Randy Heydon demonstrating an exponential bellcrank system.
Randy Heydon with his exponential bellcrank system.

Mike Alurac holding a trophy.
Mike Alurac, an avid CL Combat flier, displays the Marvin Denny Spirit of the Aviator trophy he was awarded at the Kansas City F2D contest.

Howard Doering holding two trophies.
Howard Doering displays two trophies he won at the 2017 Nats—first place in Proto Speed, and third place in 1/2A Speed.

Warren Walker holding a red model airplane.
Warren Walker is holding a beautiful Dago Red built by Nats winner Bob Whitely.

Until next month, I wish you all happy landings.