District V

District V

Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, US Virgin Islands

Welcome back everyone! I have a few words on events and event sanctions. Many clubs, especially those with small membership numbers, rely heavily on income from events to run their club for the year, while making dues affordable for members.

Sanctioning an event does several things. It gives you protection from other clubs having a similar event within a 100-mile radius so that nearby clubs aren’t competing for pilots who end up having to choose between going to one or another event. A pattern event and a warbird event would be fine; however, with two jet events or two warbird events, the second sanction would be rejected by our contest coordinator.

A sanction also gives you a listing in Model Aviation magazine if it’s in with sufficient lead time and the event will show up in the event search on www.modelaircraft.org. Also, if you’re the contest director or event manager, you get credit for half price on your following year’s AMA dues by running one event per year.

I understand that there are only 52 weekends each year, 300 clubs in District V, and the busy spring and fall event season is when the weather is best, but clubs, please sanction your events so that they are listed and protected, and work with nearby clubs so that events don’t overlap, because in the end, that hurts everyone involved.

Finally, if your sanctioned event is canceled for weather, make sure that there’s not another event nearby before you simply decide “we will move this to next weekend.” Thanks everyone!

One final note: I plan my event attendance schedule by using the online listings at least a month in advance, so if your event isn’t sanctioned or you send me an invitation on Wednesday for an event the following weekend, chances are I won’t be able to attend. That stated, attending events and meeting members, talking AMA, and hanging out and flying are my favorite parts of my position.

On that subject, I attended Joe Nall Week in May. Held in Woodruff, South Carolina, it was the 42nd annual gathering of this popular event.

The weather was soggy, but there were 1,300 registered pilots and several thousand spectators enjoyed a great week meeting and greeting old and new friends!

Two men presenting an award plaque at the Joe Nall Fly-In — At the Joe Nall Fly-In at the Triple Tree Aerodrome in Woodruff SC, this year, former AMA Vice President Tim Jesky presented a well-deserved AMA Fellowship Award to Pat Hartness for outstanding service to model aviation, his lifelong commitment to all facets of aviation, and promoting the youth aviation programs in both model and full-scale aviation.

At the Joe Nall Fly-In at the Triple Tree Aerodrome in Woodruff SC, this year, former AMA Vice President Tim Jesky presented a well-deserved AMA Fellowship Award to Pat Hartness for outstanding service to model aviation, his lifelong commitment to all facets of aviation, and promoting the youth aviation programs in both model and full-scale aviation.

Wayne Matthews holding an award cup — District V member Wayne Matthews received the 2024 Joe Nall Award. “The award celebrates individuals embodying Joe’s spirit during Joe Nall Week, recognizing those who emulate Joe’s generosity, warmth, and inclusive nature. Recipients exemplify Joe’s spirit, fostering friendships, and contributing selflessly to Triple Tree Aerodrome and the broader hobbyist community.”

Until next month, stay safe and keep ’em flyin’!

District V member Wayne Matthews received the 2024 Joe Nall Award. “The award celebrates individuals embodying Joe’s spirit during Joe Nall Week, recognizing those who emulate his generosity, warmth, and inclusive nature. Recipients exemplify Joe’s spirit, fostering friendships, and contributing selflessly to Triple Tree Aerodrome and the broader hobbyist community.”

Team Extreme Flight demonstration pilots at Joe Nall. (L-R): Neal Kapaloric, Antonio de Souza, and Santiago Perez, after laying it down on the 3D flightline.