Here we are, in the month of love already! Be sure to do something really nice for your spouse or significant other. If you are good, maybe you’ll be allowed to buy that new aircraft you have been dreaming about!
I hope that COVID-19 will soon be a thing of the past! I am so ready to put this whole virus thing in the rear-view mirror!
People have let me down. I received no submissions this month to let us know what is going on in your club. Now you have to put up with some of my ramblings.
The first picture this month is of me at the beautiful Evansville RC Model Aircraft club in Indiana. The club has a nice, unique facility. I had a great time attending the event!
After a long bout of thinking (yes, it really hurt), I came up with an idea. In my possession, I have a new-in-the-box Apprentice Trainer complete with a transmitter and a new RealFlight 9.5 flight simulator with a controller. I am going to give these away to two clubs in need.
This is for clubs only, not individuals. In order for your club to win this, you need to submit your entry to me—500 words or less—by email. The email should state how the prize will help your club grow and attract new people to the hobby. Email it to AMADistrictVI@modelaircraft.org and put “Club Help” in the subject line. The cutoff date is midnight on Friday, February 20, 2021. This only gives you roughly three weeks, so you better get started now.
I will choose one club for each prize. I have no preconceived ideas on what rationale I am going to use to award the prizes. It will be strictly on a whim. I believe that this will give all clubs, regardless of size, an equal chance at winning.
One last thing: Time and COVID-19 restrictions allowing, I plan to personally deliver the prizes to the two winning clubs.
The next picture is an after-hours camp re at the Lake Ozark Radio Control Society in Eldon, Missouri.
There is something special about a camp re on a cool night. I want to apologize to the locals because I kind of took charge of the re and keep it going well. I heard that several days after the event, the pit could not be moved because it was still full of hot coals—oops!
Mark your calendar now for July 30, 31, and August 1 for the second annual National Fun Fly. It will be held at the AMA International Aeromodeling Center in Muncie, Indiana. Last year’s event had nearly 90 participants despite COVID-19 restrictions. Randy Cameron is the event manager, and any ideas or improvements over last year can be sent directly to flyrc@modelaircraft.org. Put “21 Fun Fly” in the subject line.
We plan to grow vendors’ row and possibly set up a swap-and-shop area. Like last year, we will have the annual AMA Membership meeting with a meal following. Mark your calendar to attend!
Don’t let me down. Send me a submission of your club’s event from this past year! Email me at AMADistrictVI@modelaircraft.org with the word “magazine” in the subject line and attach a few high-quality digital pictures! This is the time of year when submissions are few, so get to writing, and please take the time to introduce someone else to model aviation!
Gary Himes
Vice President District VI