District I
Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont
In recent years, the district columns on indoor flying focused on RC electric-powered models. Associate Vice President Andrew Figlar submitted the following column about a Free Flight (FF) stick-built and tissue-covered rubber-powered model aircraft event:
On Sunday, April 16, 2023, I experienced some really strong déjà vu while at the Glastonbury Flying Aces Club (FAC) sanctioned indoor meet. It was 11 years ago, on February 20, 2012, that I met Contest Director John Koptonak and wrote about the event. This was the last column published in black and white in Model Aviation.
In that article, Jon Grant was pictured winding up an Indoor Delta Dart for my nine-year-old grandson, Tim Rinaldi, who now is a junior at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Time also flies.
I found that many of the indoor rubber band-power fliers from 2012 were still flying FAC aircraft at this event, including Ray Harlan, Jon Grant, Andrew Ricci, and Ed Zorek. These winter monthly club events are open to all rubber-powered airplanes to fly in the beautiful Glastonbury High School gym in Connecticut. As it was when I first went there, everyone was friendly and I thoroughly enjoyed the variety of models being flown and the amazing flight times derived from their rubber-powered motors.
The Glastonbury gym site was founded by George Armstead as a Category Two site that is one of the premier indoor sites in the US, with its 31-foot height, 200-foot length, and 100-foot width. Visit the club’s website for more information at www.stealthsquadron-fac49.com/tag/glastonbury-modelers.
Thanks, Andrew! I really enjoyed this column because it’s how I entered the hobby in the 1950s, building Comet and Guillows’s FF kits before getting into Control Line and RC models.
(L-R): FAC members Michael K aiteris, Peter K aiteris, and Tom Nallen participated in the FF rubber-powered model aircraft flying event held at the Glastonbury High School gym in Connecticut.
(L-R): Two judges awarded points for each of the Scale model aircraft, while Ray Harlan waits to fly his unique model.
Andy Argenio
Vice President
brandshobby@gmail.com
3 Sheila Ln., Smithfield, RI 02917
(401) 231-6901
www.amadistrict-i.org
ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENTS
Steve Brehm, Jamestown RI; (401) 423-1085; stbrehm@yahoo.com
Jim Cyr, Madison CT; (203) 421-2145; cardenpro6@gmail.com
Andrew Figlar, Shelton CT; (203) 513-8546; safiglar320@gmail.com
Steve Goler, Salem MA; (617) 373-0884; nipmuck2@comcast.net
Daren Hudson, Greenland NH; (603) 674-5809; dh7@comcast.net
Ray Labonte, Standish ME; (207) 892-7994; rplabonte@aol.com
Tom Lavoie, N. Smithfield RI; (401) 824-6134; d2tw4all@yahoo.com
Joan Liska, Middletown CT; (860) 347-0257; jliska9000@sbcglobal.net
Mark Montella, Falmouth, MA; (508) 457-4984; montellamj@comcast.net
Thomas J. Puma Jr., North Clarendon VT; (802) 558-4439; usakingcat1@aol.com
Tom Rocheleau, Wethersfield CT; (860) 280-1701; trochleau@cox.net
Joel Rosenzweig, Marlborough MA; (508) 667-3720; joel@helitronix.com
Tom Siwek, Shrewsbury MA; (617) 893-5249; trsiwek@gmail.com
William Unghire, Newinton CT; (860) 978-5353; n1cnv@icloud.com
Ted Wojcik, Fremont NH; (603) 479-3799; tedwojcik@comcast.net
TECHNOLOGY AND SAFETY OFFICER
John Yassman, 5 Quarry Rd., Nashua NH 03062; (603) 321-8442; jyassemedis@comcast.net
EVENT SANCTION COORDINATOR
David Surwell, 24 Norwich Rd., Nashua NH 03062; (603) 888-2020; davidsurwell@comcast.net
