District II
New Jersey, New York, Europe
Eric Williams
Vice President
rcpilot@nycap.rr.com
4242 Amanda Ln., Schenectady NY 12303
(518) 356-2057
www.amadistrict-ii.org
www.facebook.com/DistrictIIAMA
ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENTS
Dennis Andreas, Freeport NY; (516) 902-8207; denniss66536@gmail.com
Eaton Bryce, Brooklyn NY; (917) 749-3125; subundergroundy@gmail.com
Sal Calvagna, Holbrook NY; (631) 737-6372; rcgiants@optonline.net
Frank Costello, Somerset NJ; teams3fpv@gmail.com
Chuck Davis, Sayville NY; (631) 589-7690; cjdavis60@verizon.net
Ed DeRossi, Johnstown NY; (518) 322-5172; edeross@nycap.rr.com
Gary Fitch, Delevan NY; gmfitch@hotmail.com
Gene Gavin, Staten Island NY; (718) 967-0598; Gavin1957@aol.com
Frank Granelli, Rockaway NJ; (973) 625-4995; granellifaol.com
Bill Hauth, Hamburg NY; (716) 649-8582; toolmkr2000@msn.com
Tony Jensen, Binghamton NY; (607) 644-6873; tjravenpilot@gmail.com
Ron McGrath, North Chili, NY; ronmcgrath@rochester.rr.com
Anthony Rossi, Somerset NJ; (917) 320-2665; p510851@gmail.com
Leonard Max Smart, Morrisonville NY; (518) 572-6727; hotrodsbymax@charter.net
Alexander Szेमere, Kendall Park NJ; (732) 821-5641; drszemere@aol.com
Michael Wong, Mahwah NJ; kingmeow@verizon.net
Herb Ziegler, Baldwinsville NY; (315) 857-6268; herbz1957@yahoo.com
RC EVENT SANCTION COORDINATORS
Tony and Trish Jensen, 23 Clarendon Dr., Binghamton, NY 13901; (607) 644-6873; tjravenpilot@gmail.com
CL/FF EVENT SANCTION COORDINATOR
AMA Headquarters, Competitions Department; (800) 435-9262, Ext. 252; cpierce@modelaircraft.org
District II Senior Associate Vice President Gary Fitch provided this month’s column and pictures.
The RC Aircrafters and The Flying Knights of Hamburg jointly hosted the 2024 AMA District II Fun Fly at the Hamburg Recreational Center, south of Buffalo, New York. The remnants of tropical storm Debby blew through with its promised timing. Friday, August 9, saw rain in the morning, but it was breezy and cleared in the afternoon. That didn’t stop the District II Fun Fly and many pilots flew. On Friday evening, the club hosted a Corn Hole Tournament.
Saturday was partly sunny with 15 to 20 mph wind and gusts up to 35 mph, but 38 pilots still came, registered, and flew! Thirteen-year-old Lucy Andolina was fearless with the wind, and she made her first P-51 flight before Contest Director (CD) Stuart Brierly called for a pilots’ meeting at 9:50 a.m. She flew all day with her Viper and Mustang. Lucy helps raise ducks and sells their eggs to help fund her hobby. Her favorite duck is named Boeing, and she named her Mustang pilot after the duck.
The most emotional moment of the day was when 88-year-old Orv Chatwood arrived. Orv had given Randy Bittenger a gorgeous 35% Extra that he built, covered, and painted with automotive paint many years ago, before the advent of large ARFs. Orv can no longer see well enough to fly, and it was Randy’s gift to Orv to prepare and fly the Extra for him. There was a tear in Orv’s eye as he watched his creation fly again, and fly it did—as well as any of the new lighter-weight ARFs!
Most of the pilots won a door prize and Mike Brose won the UMX Mustang that Jason Fields, of Fields Hobby, donated to the event. Stuart won the 50/50 for $172, which he generously donated to the event charity, the Hamburg Recreation Center’s Youth Program, and then Lucy drew Stu’s name in the DH-18 Beechcraft ARF raffle that Horizon Hobby donated to the event. He kept that prize!
At the close of event flying, more than 70 people gathered to share in a great chicken barbecue dinner. Despite Debby’s arrival, we had a great day! Thank you to the RC Aircrafters and The Flying Knights for doing a great job hosting the District II Fly In, under trying conditions, and a big thank-you to the pilots who attended and flew!
