IN THE AIR
Membership News & Updates from AMA
AMA AND UASIDEKICK PARTNER TO PROVIDE FLIGHT-PLANNING SOFTWARE
UASIDEKICK AND AMA HAVE formed a partnership to disseminate free recreational Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC) flight-planning software to nearly 175,000 UAS hobbyists who are AMA members.
The software allows pilots to file LAANC authorizations with the FAA via a web portal and mobile app when flying in controlled airspace. It includes additional flight-planning tools, such as interactive maps, weather information, and flight logs.
“One of our top priorities is helping hobbyists comply with evolving regulations. We are proud to partner with UASidekick, which has developed the leading technology to help recreational and commercial pilots secure necessary approvals from the FAA and plan safe flights,” stated AMA Executive Director Chad Budreau. “This cutting-edge technology will hopefully make the safe operation of UAS a little bit easier for our community.”
Nathan Ruff, CEO and cofounder of UASidekick, added, “At UASidekick, we have always been committed to the ‘Safer Skies’ mindset and working closely with industry professionals like AMA. We are confident that the hobbyist community will find immense value in the quick and easy access to the regulatory system that our software provides. Our goal is to provide streamlined authorization services and flight-planning tools that make flying safer and less burdensome for AMA’s community.”
In addition to the access of free LAANC flight-planning software, AMA members will be able to search for AMA flying sites, indicated by the AMA logo within the map, as well as all AMA sanctioned events hosted by AMA chartered clubs. AMA members will also receive a significant discount for the full UASidekick functionality for commercial and organization UAS pilots.
UASidekick and AMA will provide training webinars to help UAS pilots understand the airspace and flight restrictions, as well as informational webinars on the industry and changing regulations.
You can learn more at www.uasidekick.app/#/map/ama. If you have questions, contact Erin Dobbs, AMA Partnership and Sales manager, at erind@modelaircraft.org.
AMA Thanks Its Lifetime Supporters!
The Academy of Model Aeronautics recently welcomed Life Members David Pennington Conrad II, Austell GA; David A. Stahler, Cleveland OH; Robbie F. Campbell, Hayward CA; Robert Willhelm, Raleigh NC; Jonathan G. Festa, Theodore AL; John D. Dominick, Kent WA; Keith Krasnowski, Lynnwood WA; and George A. Aguirre, Ventura CA.
For information about becoming a Life Member, contact AMA Headquarters at (800) 435-9262.
—AMA Membership Department
FREE FLIGHT AUTHOR, DESIGNER PASSES
A MEMBER OF THE AMA Model Aviation Hall of Fame, who wrote books and numerous magazine articles about model and full-scale aircraft, has passed away.
William “Bill” C. Hannan died December 14, 2020. He and his wife, Joan, had owned publishing company Hannan’s Runway in Magalia, California, before selling it to Plans and Things. Bill is survived by Joan, to whom he had been married for 67 years.
Bill was inducted into the AMA Model Aviation Hall of Fame in 1987. Additionally, he was inducted into the National Free Flight Society Hall of Fame in 1986 and the Kits And Plans Antiques Hall of Fame in 1997.
Several of his model aircraft designs were kitted, including the Stringless Wonder, the McDonald Madcap, the Uncle Sam, a Nieuport Monoplane, the Tres Kroner (a Swedish variation of Uncle Sam), and the Antoinette.
Throughout his life, Bill had articles published in many magazines, including Model Airplane News, Model Aviation, Model Builder, and Model Retailer. Among his published books were Model Plans & 3-Views International; Peanut Power!: A World of Tiny Flying Scale Models; Stick & Tissue International Vol. 1-3; Model Plans & 3-Views International, Vol. 1-2; Peanuts & Pistachios International: Vol. 1-6; and GBs & Gee Bees International. He is also survived by a daughter, a son, 10 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren.
Detailed Hawker Fury Plans Available
AMA PLANS SERVICE houses all plans formerly sold through Model Builder magazine, Bill Northrop’s Plan Service, and the Scratch Builder’s Almanac. There are more than 18,000 plans in the collection.
The full-scale Hawker Fury was a pre-World War II Golden Age biplane that featured a chrome finish, large roundels, and red stripes on its fuselage. You can build a highly detailed, 1/4-scale replica of this aircraft, designed by Don Prentice and featured in Model Builder, by ordering plans from the AMA Plans Service. This model aircraft has an 84-inch wingspan.
Plans for the Hawker Fury, plans number 11831, are available for $29 at https://plans.modelaircraft.org/product/hawker-fury-mk-2/ or by calling (800) 435-9262, ext. 507.
BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION FOR VETERAN
A DRIVE-BY CELEBRATION is planned for a former AMA member and World War II veteran who is set to turn 100 years old this year.
The birthday procession for Lt. Col. Alexander Jefferson, a Tuskegee Airman, is scheduled to take place on his birthday, November 15. It is slated to begin at 1 p.m. and pass by the lieutenant colonel, who will be at the Detroit City Airport in Detroit.
Lt. Col. Jefferson was featured in the April 2007 issue of Model Aviation. You can read the article at http://library.modelaviation.com/ma/2007/4.
June 1. The December 1996 issue stated that 1,000 fliers attended the Outdoor Nats, held July 8-28, which was 200 more contestants than those who attended the previous year’s outdoor events. Thirteen Special Interest Groups (SIGs) helped make sure “the 104 official (and numerous unofficial) events ran smoothly.”
50 Years Ago
The 1971 Nats lasted from July 26 to August 1. Outdoor events were held at the Glenview Naval Air Station in Illinois, and Indoor events were held in Chicago’s International Amphitheater. The U.S. Navy had hosted the Nats at various naval air stations across the country since 1948 and would continue to do so through 1972. The November 1971 issue of Model Aviation stated that there were 1,264 total entrants
at the contest, and roughly 600 awards were distributed. A grand champion was named, with the title going to Bucky Servaites. This was the third and last year in a row that Bucky was named both Grand Champion and Open Champion of the Nats.
75 Years Ago
The 1946 event was titled the “Victory Nats” because the Nats had been put on hold for World War II from 1943 through 1945. Supplies had been rationed and potential competitors were busy helping in the war effort both overseas and on the home front. With the war over, the 1946 Nats was a momentous occasion. Competitions were held in less than a week at sites in the Wichita, Kansas, area from August 29 to September 2. The Nats were sanctioned by the AMA and sponsored by the Wichita Kiwanis Club and Wichita YMCA. According to the November 1946 issue of Model Airplane News, Milton L. Huguet, the 1938 National Champion, won the National Champion title again with 210 points.
Judging from the cover of the June 1946 issue of Model Aviation, it appeared that people were excited that the Nats were back on. The November 1946 issue of Model Airplane News stated it was “attended by 1,000 enthusiastic contestants from all over the country.” An article in the 1946 Air Trails magazine stated that the Nats “were to
have been the first Nats. This consisted of one aeromodeling event held at the International Air Races in St. Louis on October 2, 1923. Page 29 of the air races booklet in our collections (pictured) describes it as “Event No. 6, Mulvihill Model Trophy … Duration Race for Model Airplanes.” Cash prizes amounted to $300, with $100 of that being the first-place prize. In a retrospective article about this event from the February 1977 issue of Model Aviation, Edward Lange, a member of the Illinois Model Aero Club, won first place, flying 4 minutes, 22.6 seconds. He received both the cash prize and “custody of the Mulvihill Trophy for one year.” The Mulvihill Rubber Model event continues at the Nats today.
The National Model Aviation Museum is already working out how we want to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Nats, so stay tuned to our social media channels and “History Preserved” column as we head toward the momentous occasion.
Model Annual shouted, “HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN!”
98 Years Ago
The year 2021 is only two years shy of celebrating the 100th anniversary of what is considered to have been the first Nats.
