District V
Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, US Virgin Islands
Welcome back everyone!
We have lost several great modelers and friends lately. The AMA Executive Council (EC) recognizes these people with a moment of silence at our quarterly meetings and in the magazine. This is known as AMA’s Final Flight list. If you know of a fellow modeler from the district who has recently passed away, please email me with his or her name, city, or AMA number, so that we can properly recognize that person and update his or her membership record appropriately.
If you’ve ever attended Florida Jets or Top Gun, you likely know Jim Mahoney. He managed the campers and parking area and was an all-around great guy. Jim Weems, from Huntsville, Alabama, was the longtime contest director (CD) of the Rally of Eagles warbird fly-ins at Hodges Field in Georgia, as well as other popular events. Both passed recently and I wish them fair winds.
One who hit closer to home was Ralph Dalusio. Ralph passed away several months ago, but because of COVID concerns, it was impossible to get everyone together at his celebration of life. I recently made the trip to the Daytona Beach RC Club where Ralph was a regular. It would be easy to fill up this column with Ralph’s accomplishments in the hobby. He was a talented engineer, one of the first-ever factory model helicopter pilots, and ran a flight school with his good friend, Ernie Huber.
Ralph left a legacy in the many model helicopter pilots who he patiently taught to fly, set up, build, and maintain their helicopters. Hanging out with Ralph was like taking a masters class.
In a time-honored passion, he trained others, giving freely of his time and knowledge. The Daytona Beach RC Club has named the helicopter pavilion in his honor. Most of his family came together for a celebration of Ralph’s life and we had a few laughs, a few tears, and a great time honoring my longtime friend. Fair winds to you as well, brother.
I’m writing this as I return from Muncie, Indiana, from the summer EC meeting. AMA’s Government Affairs department is making great progress. Government Affairs Director Tyler Dobbs and his team publish information via AMA Air, the AMA in Action blog, and social media. I urge you to sign up for the emails and stay informed about this ever-changing landscape.
The AMA National Fun Fly was a great success with more than 100 pilots. If you’ve never been to the AMA International Aeromodeling Center in Muncie, Indiana, I urge you to plan a trip, attend the fun fly, do some camping, and check out the wonderful AMA National Model Aviation Museum.
Until next month, stay safe and keep ’em flyin’!
Andrew Griffith
Vice President
barracudahockey@aol.com
12258 Gulf Harbor Dr. N.
Jacksonville FL 32225
(904) 993-4956
www.amadistrict-v.org
ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENTS
Mickey Avery, AL; (334) 247-7123; district-V-AVP@email.com
Joe Dolliver, FL; (239) 218-2677; Joe33914@gmail.com
Rick Grim, AL; (256) 656-0859; uavpilot@bellsouth.net
Keith Hall, FL; (813) 928-3861; wingman@verizon.net
Jose Melendez, FL; (321) 412-3078; rcjets12@hotmail.com
Bill Barbee, GA; (912) 660-2155; awbarbee@hotmail.com
Bob Dixon, GA; (478) 960-5200; rldixon3@cox.net
Nick Ray, GA; (865) 368-3820; lasray@gmail.com
Darrell Sprayberry, GA; (706) 280-5848; darrellhub@optilink.us
Dave Wenzel, GA; (912) 754-9619; davevfrguy@hotmail.com
Paul Verger, MS; (228) 826-4892; cpaulverger@yahoo.com
Edwin Medina, Puerto Rico; (787) 525-7768; captmedina@gmail.com
Don Wise, SC; (803) 534-8164; d7wise@sc.rr.com
Scott Anderson, TN; rfoamyg@hotmail.com
Dick Tonan, TN; (615) 995-6291; dtonan@mac.com
SAFETY COORDINATOR: Red Scholefield, Johns Island SC; (843) 494-5225; redsch03@gmail.com
RC AND FF EVENT SANCTION COORDINATOR: Dick Tonan
CL EVENT SANCTION COORDINATOR: Dave Wenzel
WEBMASTER: Glenn Bond, d5amaweb@gmail.com
