District V
Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, US Virgin Islands
Welcome back to District V!
I want to reach out and thank all of the clubs that have renewed their Leader Club status for 2021. Obviously, 2020 was a challenging year, so we waived some of the requirements for renewing clubs, but that in no way diminishes their accomplishments. If you feel your club should be recognized in one of our Leader Club categories, please contact me and I will put you in touch with the information you need.
If you’re interested in becoming more involved individually in the AMA, please feel free to call or email me. AMA Leader Members and contest directors/event managers are always welcome. These are stepping-stones to being appointed to AMA Contest Boards, committees, or even as an associate vice president (AVP). If you’re not careful, you might set yourself up for my job in a few years!
I want to devote the rest of my column to recognizing a longtime, outstanding member of our district.
Acworth, Georgia, is home to one of the largest and oldest AMA clubs in District V—the Cobb County Radio Control Modeler’s Club (CCRC). As with any club, its greatest asset is its members, and CCRC has an exceptionally special member—Brayton Paul, AMA #686.
Brayton was introduced to aviation in 1925, and soon after, he built his first model, a Comet C1 Pursuit biplane from the Comet Model Airplane Company. In 1940, Brayton started his career in full-scale aviation, working at the Glenn L. Martin Aircraft Co. as a riveter on the B-26 Marauder.
With World War II raging in Europe, Brayton received notice to report for military service in August 1944 and was deployed to Europe as a member of the 30th Infantry Division (the “Old Hickory Division”), 120th Infantry Regiment, as a Private First Class.
After the war, Brayton worked for Bendix Radio doing drafting for radio systems. Circling back to his background in aeromodeling, Brayton began working on remote-control systems when that aspect of the hobby was still in its infancy, using escapement control. Employing techniques that he learned in Europe, Brayton developed the Flyball Actuator. The Flyball converted radio signals to the push/pull motions required to actuate control surfaces and used centrifugal force to overcome the limitations presented by escapement actuators.
In 1959, he announced the Transistor Triggers modification to his Flyball, which combined a two-tube receiver with the Flyball to provide positive control.
In recognition of his contributions to our hobby, Brayton Paul was inducted into the Radio Control Hall of Fame in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. (I didn’t even know there was a Radio Control Hall of Fame in Ohio! To read more, visit www.rchalloffame.org/index.html.)
Brayton’s contributions go far beyond his mechanical and electronic developments though. He was a highly valued member of the CCRC. He freely shared his extensive knowledge with friends and fellow members and tirelessly trained new members.
In Navy speak, Brayton’s legacy brings great credit to himself, his club, and the hobby I’m so proud to be a part of. I’m sorry to say that I didn’t have the chance to make his acquaintance in person. Brayton recently passed away, but he certainly left a lasting mark on the hobby and those who were privileged to know him.
Until next month, keep it safe!
