IN THE AIR
CAMPING AT THE IAC MADE EASY
IF YOU PLAN TO CAMP at the International Aeromodeling Center (IAC) in Muncie, Indiana, this year, securing your spot just got easier.
AMA now offers an online camping reservation portal. It allows you to choose what type of camping amenities you will need, when you will be there, and how many people will be camping. Special weekly full-hookup rates and water/electric rates are available. Make your reservation now at www.modelaircraft.org/camping.
AMA Thanks Its Lifetime Supporters!
The Academy of Model Aeronautics recently welcomed Life Members David J. Davies, Mint Hill NC; Andre A. Morais, Bethel CT; Grant Schroeder, Fort Worth TX; Philippe Jacques Naviaux, La Jolla CA; Chris D. O’Connor, Jacksonville FL; Derek E. Jones, Yelm WA; Amauri J. Rodriguez, Weehawken NJ; and Jason K. Arhart, Las Vegas NV.
For information about becoming a Life Member, contact AMA Headquarters at (765) 287-1256.
—AMA Membership Department
INDIANA HOTEL DESIGNATED AS HISTORIC AEROMODELING SITE
A HOTEL IN SOUTHWEST INDIANA has been recognized by the AMA as a National Aeromodeling Heritage Program Historic Site. Carl Cook, the owner of the West Baden Springs Hotel, located in West Baden Springs, was presented the award on Sunday, March 27, 2022.
Carl is pictured with AMA President Rich Hanson (L) and National Free Flight Society President David Lindley (R). The award was presented at the hotel during the Jim Richmond Open.
The historic hotel has hosted several Indoor Free Flight contests since 1967, including several world championships. This honor is given to businesses, aeromodeling organizations, and flying sites that have historical significance to their community, state, or nation. Past recipients include the Torrey Pines Gliderport in California, Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome in New York, and the East Coast Indoor Modelers club in New York.
The purpose of the recognition program is to identify and memorialize organizations, businesses, and sites, and, in the process, collect, preserve, and interpret documents and materials related to each entity.
You can read more about the Jim Richmond Open and the award presentation at https://amablog.modelaircraft.org/blog/west-baden-recognized-as-historic.... To learn more about the recognition program, visit www.modelaircraft.org/museum/history-recognition/national-aeromodeling-h....
AMA SELECTS PILOTS FOR WORLD GAMES
THE 11TH EDITION OF The World Games will take place this summer in Birmingham, Alabama. AMA has selected two top pilots to represent the US in drone racing.
Evan Turner, age 19, Maryville, Tennessee, and Ryan Lindsey Lessard, age 40, Buxton, Maine, will compete in the July 9-11 contest.
Evan, a multi-time winner of the MultiGP International Open World Cup contest, is the youngest champion in the history of the Drone Racing League (on NBC), with championship wins in both the 2020 and 2021 seasons. He has participated in amateur racing events since the age of 14 and won two national championships. He first joined the Drone Racing League at the age of 16. Before competing in drone racing, Evan competed in RC Scale Aerobatics and the AMA Nats.
Ryan was a pilot for team Quad Force One in the 2021 Drone Champions League. She has competed in more than 100 amateur races, including two national championship events.
Evan and Ryan, both AMA members, were selected based on their extensive experience in both amateur and professional racing leagues. They are well prepared to represent the US on the world stage.
Originally planned for 2021, this year’s event will debut drone racing as a new discipline. Drone Racing (Class F9U) was formally adopted as an international sport by the World Air Sports Federation (Fédération Aéronautique Internationale; FAI) in 2019, along with team sport Drone Soccer (Class F9A), which will be a demonstration event at The World Games Plaza.
Governed by the World Air Sports Federation, The World Games Drone Racing 2022 contest is a mixed event for men and women, with 32 top pilots competing (20 men and 12 women) from 20 countries based on FAI World Cup rankings. With a recent lack of qualifying World Cup events to formally rank American pilots, the host nation was allowed to select one man and one woman to participate as wildcard athletes. Tickets for the event can be purchased online at www.twg2022.com.
These events will elevate drone sports to the highest levels of international athletic competition. Best of luck to Evan and Ryan!
Build a Predecessor to the Jug
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 Republic P-43 Lancer is the predecessor to the P-47 Jug. It was published in Model Builder magazine and designed by Col. Art Johnson. The aircraft boasts an 81-inch wingspan and has landing gear and wheel pants.
You can order plans for the Lancer, plans number 2831, through www.modelaircraft.org/plans for $34.
History Preserved
THE TESTOR CHEMICAL CO. TROPHY
By Michael Smith, National Model Aviation Museum Director
NAVAL AIR STATION DALLAS played host to the 1950 National Aeromodeling Championships. For the 1,000-plus contestants who attended, their goal was displayed at the U.S. Navy exhibit in Nimitz Hall, in the rows of trophies and coveted perpetual awards.
Those who looked closely could see a new and impressive trophy that had been added to the lineup. Sponsored by Testor Chemical Co., the new trophy was for “The Most Beautifully Finished Model Airplane—National Model Airplane Championships.”
Founded in 1929, Testors began marketing its adhesive to aeromodelers in the early 1930s, with regular advertising on the inside cover of Model Airplane News magazine. By the late 1930s, Testors introduced paints and dopes, and by the early 1940s, the company was selling fuel, model airplane kits, and raw balsa.
For Testors, the creation of a national perpetual trophy was the culmination of a marketing program started in 1948 with its Most Perfectly Finished Model Airplane Flown in Meet award. Geared toward local and regional contests, all that a contest director had to do was contact Testors and tell the company that he or she would include a Best Finish category in his or her event. Testors would then send a bronze and wood plaque. For the 1950 Nats, Howard Tomme was the first winner of the perpetual trophy, but the National Model Aviation Museum does not have any information or a picture of his airplane.
The museum has three models that won the Testors trophy: Joe Coles’ pulse-jet-powered Fury from 1961 (2002.36), Ted Prasol’s LeVier Little Tony Cosmic Wind from 1965 (2018.53), and Andy Sheber’s Cessna Skyknight from 1969 (2002.38).
Although the airplanes that won the Testors trophy did not have to win any other event—it was basically a beauty contest—that did not necessarily mean they couldn’t perform. A good example is Andy’s Skyknight. He went on to join the US team at the first Scale World Championships, held in Cranfield, England, where he placed ninth. With Control Line (CL) Scale teammates Bill Harney flying an FW 190 and Dr. Linton Keith flying a Lancaster, the US CL team placed first.
The Testors trophy was last awarded in 1976, going to Greg Doe, who flew a Little Toni Formula 1 Pylon racer.
Following is a list of the winners as engraved on the trophy.
- 1950 - W. Howard Tomme
- 1951 - D.K. Anderson
- 1952 - John Tatone
- 1953 - Burtis Nelson
- 1954 - Bob Yeoman
- 1955 - John Tatone
- 1956 - Bob Yeoman
- 1957 - Joe Coles
- 1958 - Joe Coles
- 1959 - W.M.H. Ogden
- 1960 - Harry Halsted
- 1961 - Joe Coles (2002.36.01)
- 1962 - Ted Prasol
- 1963 - John Mavel
- 1964 - Jerry Worth
- 1965 - Ted Prasol (2018.53.01)
- 1966 - Jerry L. Worth
- 1967 - Linton J. Keith Jr.
- 1968 - V.A. Sheber (2002.38.01)
- 1969 - V.A. Sheber (2002.38.01)
- 1970 - Leroy K. Gunther
- 1971 - Leroy K. Gunther
- 1972 - Ed Ellis
- 1973 - Claude McCullough
- 1974 - Dan McCan
- 1975 - Ernie Violett
- 1976 - Greg Doe
