District IV
Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland,
North Carolina, Virginia
Our AMA chartered clubs are the backbone of AMA. They are bringing relief from government regulations by being FAA-Recognized Identification Areas (FRIAs), which exempts the Remote ID requirement, offers altitude exemptions, and makes flying with friends more fun.
If you don’t belong to a club, it is in your best interest to find a group and join them now. If there is no club close enough and several of you want to get these club benefits, then by all means charter a new club! Visit www.modelaircraft.org/programs/clubs to find out how.
From time to time, our District associate vice presidents (AVPs) visit our clubs for no other reason than to see friends and offer any support the club might need. Bob Sowder, our AVP Free Flight coordinator, made such a visit and filed this report:
Roanoke Valley Radio Control Club, Inc.
I caught up with the members of the Roanoke Valley Radio Control (RVRC; www.RVRC.org) club in Salem, Virginia, on a recent weekend and was greeted by friendly and enthusiastic club members who introduced me to everyone who was there.
There is usually flight activity any day when temperatures are above 50° and the wind is less than 10 mph. The property is fenced and always locked. Vehicle access to RVRC is controlled by an electronic gate with members having gate keys. There is a pedestrian pass-through located next to the gate, and visitors are always welcome.
The RVRC flying site is beautifully maintained and has it all—starting with a 400-foot asphalt runway and a 600-foot short-cut grass runway. Other amenities include a grass pit area, clubhouse, a covered shelter, and electricity. The flying site is handicapped-accessible with a conveniently located portable toilet. Setup tables, workbenches, and startup stands make getting started a breeze. Plus, there is a designated spectator area, so come out and have a look around!
Aeromodeling started in Roanoke in the 1950s with roots in Control Line (CL) flying at Woodrum Airport, now Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport. The first modeling club was the Roanoke Aero Guidance Society, which started in the 1960s and had paved CL circles. Today, RVRC is a registered FRIA and is recognized as one of the oldest continuously operating RC clubs in the Mid-Atlantic region. The organization has approximately 85 members, ranging in age from middle schoolers to World War II veterans.
RVRC offers complimentary flight instruction to members by means of the buddy-box system. Those who are interested can make an appointment with an RVRC instructor to schedule instruction times. Reach out to club president Mike Fetz at president@rvrc.org and he will get you started.
Jay Marsh
Vice President
amadistrictiv@modelaircraft.org
3227 Pine Needles Rd.,
High Point NC 27265
(336) 687-0973
www.amadistrict-iv.org
www.facebook.com/amadistrictIV
ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENTS
Nic Burhans, VA; (540) 219-9646; nic@ama-d4.org
Bob Burnett, Washington, D.C. SFRA; (703) 742-9682; bobl@ama-d4.org
Rick Cawley, NC; (919) 630-1649; rcabcq@yahoo.com
Jack Hamilton, NC; (828) 206-5281; scorpionjacks@hotmail.com
Rusty Kennedy, VA; (757) 812-2812; rustyk716@gmail.com
Richard “Rick” Moreland, MD; (301) 261-7366; rmoreland@verizon.net
Mark Smith, NC; (704) 798-2776; marksmithsmitty@yahoo.com
Terry Terrenoire, VA; (412)760-4593; terry@ama-d4.org
Mark Weiss, DE; (302)547-4917; ama82824@yahoo.com
EVENT SANCTION COORDINATORS
CL AVP: Jack Rosemere, 609 William St., Cambridge MD 21613; (410) 330-4663; jrosemere@verizon.net
FF AVP: Bob Sowder, 84 Misty Hills Ln., Troutville VA 24175; (540) 525-7086; bsowder@rnbnet.com
RC: John Bergsmith, 1438 Piney Church Rd., Concord NC 28025; (704) 699-6977; RCcoordinator@ama-d4.org
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS AVP
Ray Stinchcomb, (443) 618-8998; govrelations@ama-d4.org
WEBMASTER
Jack Upchurch, webmaster@ama-d4.org
SOCIAL MEDIA ADMINISTRATOR
Douglas LeRoy, social@ama-d4.org
Go fly and have fun safely.
