RE: Is there a CODE here?
 

Boy, this has really gotten off the topic of bashing Horrace and turned into a warm fuzzy thread. Now you'd think someone running for elected office would jump in with some useful answers to some of the pertinent yet off topic questions posted by GG but I suppose garnering attention with attacks is a better way to feed one's ego.

RE: Is there a CODE here?
 

Dude, I realize you are from the left coast where they do thing a little different than here in the deep south. I also know and appreciate the translation of your AMA number but I aint ready to swap spit just yet[8D].

How about a few more ballots so we can see for our own eyes what the future will be.

RE: Is there a CODE here?
 

Well now. Tho off topic a thread I want to read. I have found that the club guys aren't like the rah rah AMA defenders like Horsefly in these threads. I usually write in defense of the electric flyers out there. I'll now write a little in defense of the AMA club flyers out there. I have run into a couple I wouldn't share dog food with but also some I would give my shirt too. The Condor Club in Camarillo is a good club. It has the usual old guys sitting around. Ok, they might have been my age. And they had a couple of younger guys too but and it's a big but too, they didn't give a rats what I flew. A younger man showed up with a large gas heli and went to heli area and lit her up and felw around for a while. I walked over and asked if he got any flak about heli's here. He said not at all and continued wiping down his bird. I walked back to the old guys. One fella had a RTF electric in his trunk. The other guys didn't have their planes with them as they were there that midweek day to shoot the breeze. So I sat there and shot the breeze with them too. Not a one of them asked me to join but in the same light not a one of them asked me to leave. I think it is my responsibility to ask to join. After all, it is a private club regardless of my AMA membership. After a while I left and haven't been back. Might have been a good place for me but I didn't pursue it any further. I had the 3 month intro membership to the AMA and it lapsed without fanfare. No coments or quieries from the AMA. Not a problem. I have that farm to fly in tho I do want a grass runway to land on. I had at one time thought all AMA guys were like the bashers in the AMA Discussions Forums. I'm still hesitant to give all a pass but find a bunch of you out there to good upstanding people.
I'll still bsash you hard if ya pick on my vertical planes, ARF or stick built. Just the kind of guy I am.
Lou

RE: Is there a CODE here?
 

GG, there are personalities and there are issues. Here are some answers to your issue questions.

The only qualification for being a member of the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) is to pay the dues. Whether you participate in any form of aeromodeling is NOT a factor. You do not have to be a flier, builder, spectator or even like model airplanes, just simply pay the fee.

As for going to an AMA event (sanctioned event) and fly, your qualifications are regulated by the host group's choice of event with its specific restrictions (there are several hundred different AMA events plus various club designed events and fun-flys) and you must sign that both you and your aircraft have, and can perform the maneuvers required for that specific event. If you are doing turbines, you have another set of hoops to jump through.

The Contest Director, an AMA position obtainable for the asking, along with the host group take care of those items.

Fully explained above. Most RC Clubs require you to be a member before they teach you to fly. That is because of the Tort system in this USA and due to the AMA provided Liability Insurance. AMA insurance is secondary, however at least that yokel next to you has some financial stability if he/she has an AMA card.

Probably because you have never flown competition. That fast airplane will really become s l o w when you get into a race with it. That beautiful P-51 will definitely change when the Scale static judges get to looking at it. Those beautiful aerobatic maneuvers disappear when the judges are sitting behind you. I can land in the center of the runway, right in front of me almost every flight unless it's a spot landing in a fun-fly, then it's great to just find the runway.:D
Actually when flying with a group of peers, each flight is a 'competition' because you try harder to look good. I love to fly alone, however there is never any challenge as everything always just goes OK.

You answered it yourself. Actually many other older experienced fliers are playing with electrics. However the generation of newbies that are coming into electrics do not want any form of "SAFETY" placed into their path. They do not have any desire to be a club MEMBER that takes pride in his field, cleans up his messes, works on work-days, etc., etc. After all the milk has always been in the refrigerator for them and those grumpy old geezers can do those housecleaning chores. The newbies bless us with their presence a couple times so we old-timers should fall down and praise 'allah' to them. Fotunately they are NOT ALL like that.

RC came before the glow engines. CL bled FF. 1/2A did not do any favors for the CL disciplines. It made things too easy. As a kid I liked FF. I was snubbed by the CL fliers. Then as I became a decent CL Stunt competitor I was snubbed by the RC crowd. So I just flew both FF and CL competition for some years. I finally got into RC back in '71. Been a jack-of-all-trades good at none. I enjoy modeling. I enjoy building and doing my own thing. My only regret is that I can't decide which I like most, building, flying, promoting model aviation or being able to continue for another 70 years. :eek:

With the current AMA leadership, elected by a vast minority of AMA members, I do not think AMA will ever die. I foresee the establishment of a small foundation to carry on current modeling issues with government IRC 501 (c) (3) blessings. There will evolve a larger business composed of a large publication bureaucracy attached to the foundation for tax purpose. A captive insurance organization providing AMA member insurance and good fat positions for the appointed directors will continue in force. It's not AMA, the organization, that will get swallowed. [:-]

It's far too bad that those vocal enough to make some noise much rather voice their poison against personalities rather than for getting AMA redirected to an organization that performs as required by its Bylaws, such as:
>>>>>>>>
(h) To associate interested organizations and individuals for group
support of education and development needs related to model
aeronautics.
(i) To guide and direct national model activities to the end that
model aeronautics may be advanced in the United States in a
manner that will best serve model aviation as a whole.
(j) To guide and assist in the acquisition and retention of flying
sites for the further growth and development of model aeronautics.
(k) To establish and maintain official regulations governing the
conduct of model airplane records and contests and issue sanctions
for same.
(l) To direct the technical organization and conduct of national and
international model contests held within the United States and to
act through the National Aeronautics Association as the
aeromodeling representative in the United States for the Federation
Aeronautique Internationale.
(m) To license model aircraft and fliers thereof for competition.
(n) To promote recognition in the United States and abroad of all
officially sanctioned competitions and records which are
conducted by AMA Contest Directors.

(o) To have as its guiding principle, Of, By, and For the Model
Airplane Enthusiast.
<<<<<<<<<<<<&l t;

Fun is Fun and I certainly enjoy a good free-for-all, yet Business is Business, and it's time BUSINESS got taken care of.
Edit GG vice GC

RE: Is there a CODE here?
 

Hossgnat...i'm touched. You actually replied to me. Gosh, I am all a tremble.
Is that it though? Nailing me because I am not an edjimicated guy like you?
I was about to say that's beneath you until I realized that, well frankly nothing is beneath you.

Have they counted the ballots yet?

RE: Is there a CODE here?
 

Hi Lou,

What kind of runway do you land on now? A lot af RC people are looking for a place to fly in Ventura, trust me, so I am just asking out of curiosity.

Thanks,

RE: Is there a CODE here?
 

Hey Mr Matt. I land on weeds, rocks and ChooChoo tracks. Sometimes I land on produce but I try to limit that. The farm workers and I have an unspoken deal. I don't wreck their plants and they don't laugh at my flying.
The Camarillo Condors is a good flying club. Gotta have that AMA card thing but the members seem ok. And... I just got home from the Sepulveda Basin. Now that is a field. During the week it seems calm enough. I'll check out a weekend one of these days.

RE: Is there a CODE here?
 

To Glacier Girl & vicman: I will try to answer your questions in this manner. At age 7 I started building rubber powered models. At age 11, in 1941 I built a free-flight Comet Zipper, and powered it with an Ohlsson 23. That was my first gas model, and my first year of competition. I never won a first place trophy until 1945 at age 15. After that, I won lots of them. That same year I joined the model club and the AMA.

In 1943 we started flying U-control, and everybody in the club participated. There was no "them and us" at that time. We enjoyed both FF and UC.

I was one of the first to get into radio control with a system purchased from Germany. That was in the early 50's. For many years, the radio systems were so unreliable, that many planes were lost due to fly-a-ways. Still we persisted in building, flying, crashing, and losing the whole plane until the systems improved.

In 1971 the R/C systems were reliable enough, and I was getting tired of chasing free-flights, so flying at the Nats that year was the end of FF for me. I won 2nd. place in class B FF at the Nats that year also.

From then on, only R/C planes held my interest. In 1975 a group of us built a squadron of 1/4 scale Bristol Scouts powered by Roper industrial engines, and that was the start of giant scale as we know it today. In 1978 I put the Quaadra 35 on the market in the US, and that became the powerplant that propelled giant scale into existence all over the world. I was instrumental in getting large diameter propellers made for the engines that I sold, along with heavier accessories such as control horns.

I began manufacturing 1/4 scale kits for this new market, and became a distributor for such names as Zinger, DuBro, CB Associates, and others associated with the giant scale market.

On 8-28-05, the AMA recognized our club (STARS), Southern Tier Aero Radio Society by bestowing the highest award that AMA gives out - the Heritage Landmark Award, for their pioneering efforts toward the formation of giant scale. This is in the form of a bronze placque that is now permanently mounted at the STARS airfield, that is owned by them.

To show the significance of this award, keep in mind that this is only the 2nd. one given out by the AMA in its history, since 1936. That speaks volumes about it's importance to the modeling fraternity. Giant Scale started in Olean, NY with the STARS, and look where we are today.

Even though the STARS is heavy into giant scale, and they still have a very well attended giant scale meet, (non-IMAA), they also are big in electrics, and have some plans to sponsor an indoor electric meet in coming year. So, with the STARS, modeling is all encompassing. Most are R/C, a couple still fly free-flights, UC is gone, and electrics are the new kids on the block, and they are welcomed into the club. The STARS welcomes all types of modelers, as does the AMA. We are all in this together, so why not try and get along with each other.

The STARS also does something no other club in the world does that I am aware of. We sponsor an "open house" one Sunday of the year, and everyone that shows up at the field, pilots and spectators alike, are treated to all of the food and drink that they can consume at no cost, other than a cash donation if they choose to give. This year, we had the AMA award ceremony on that Sunday, and about 500 people showed up for the festivities. About 1200 cans of cola was consumed.

There were eight people involved in the Bristol Scout project, and three of them have passed away. I am attaching a photo of the AMA bronze placque with the five members that are left. I am the third from left. My brother, Bill, second from left has been in this hobby just one year short of me.

The second & third photos shows the five original Bristol Scouts, first flown in 1976, now 29 years old, and three of them flew in formation at this AMA presentation. That is a feat in itself.

I have also written a book (unpublished) for my nine kids, so that they would know more about their Dad when he was a kid as related to this hobby. It begins in 1937, and continues to 2001. I also have prepared a nice DVD about "My Hobby is Model AViation", 45 minutes long, for their consumption also. Also I have made a DVD of the AMA Heritage award, exactly as it happened, with recorded voices of all that participated, and that is 25 miinutes in length. That's the legacy I leave for my kids and to younger modelers.

Yes it is true: I can fly, I can fly, but I can't land!

Jim

RE: Is there a CODE here?
 

Jim, just for your information, now you know one other: Jetero RC Club, Humble TX, sponsors an open house, the annual Anniversary Celebration Fly-In each Spring usually in April. No entry / food costs, and open to any AMA member. Event celebrates the anniversary of the opening of the current flying facility, 10 years next April.
One expense is voluntary and that is the raffle. Lots of goodies.

RE: Is there a CODE here?
 

Could that be the difference, Hoss? Doesn't sound like that would bring any new blood into the hobby and the AMA.

RE: Is there a CODE here?
 

Hmmm...Maybe Hoss has broken the hotdog code...Since buns are only eight to a package,I bet Hoss has figured out what to do with the two leftover hotdogs from the pack he buys for HIS open-house.

I have been just feeding them to the dog...

RE: Is there a CODE here?
 

I buy the OM bun length, 8 to a package, just like the buns. May someone will remember that next year, not so much math to strain the old brain.

RE: Is there a CODE here?
 

Jim,

I have read some of that before, and I always get a kick out of it. Thanks very much for all you have done.
Here are a few snaps from 1979 and a Corsair my Dad built. I hope they work out.
Sounds like you guys do a true open house, that is to be commended.
Yikes sorry those pictures are so bad.

RE: Is there a CODE here?
 

Hoss: The difference between the Jetro open house and the STARS open house is that at the STARS, EVERYBODY that shows up at the field gets to eat and drink. If you were to walk in to the field on that day, you would be invited to eat and drink - no limit. We don't just limit our hospitality to AMA members. Think about it. That's a BIG difference.

RE: Is there a CODE here?
 

There is just such a very different SPIRIT to Jim Messer and Horrace Cain. So very different.
Jim, you are one of the good guys. Know that your life and works have been a positive influence on people. For real. When I was a kid back in the Seventies, the STARS planes and such, written up in MAN and other places, well, that was an INSPIRATION to a kid like me.
Thanks for that.

RE: Is there a CODE here?
 

Whatever you're getting at seems like you now #75 blowing holes.

It's a sanctioned event. Only AMA members fly, the exception being Advertised and available are Jetero's AMA Introductory Instructor Pilots with trainers and a number of newbie wanna'bees do get to have a go at it.
I have not been the CD for some 5 years. It's a JETERO event, not my event.

At a sanctioned event the CD can issue "Instant AMA memberships". If any non-AMA person that can fly and can pass a quick Jetero solo qualification flight wishes to fly at the event, then join AMA and take the check. No problem here.
If they do not wish to do that, then they can remain as a spectator, or saddle up and get the _ell out of Dodge. Again, no problem here.

And that is a code that even YOU can decipher. :eek:

RE: Is there a CODE here?
 

Here's Horrace at the event....

NO AMA, NO HOTDOG FOR YOU, NEXT!

RE: Is there a CODE here?
 

Seeing Hossgnat Cain as the Hot dog Nazi....priceless.

RE: Is there a CODE here?
 

You know the Soup Nazi is a real guy? He looks kind of like the guy in the picture. Acts a LOT like the guy in the picture.
And you know what? His soup IS that good. Really good.

RE: Is there a CODE here?
 

... without a Hot Dog!

I think Jim proved my point just fine, what a great inspiration he is to this hobby. Heck the local clubs around here have a fling just like yours every year, only some don't bother with the politics.

RE: Is there a CODE here?
 

I think He is just east of Broadway in the 40's, is it 44th?

RE: Is there a CODE here?
 

He was on 55th across from DuArt Film Labs, I think he has closed down now, and is going franchise. As I heard it, he had been offered all sorts of money from all sorts of people to do franchises, but he held out for the right partners so he could keep better control of things, he really IS fanatic about how the soup must be!

RE: Is there a CODE here?
 

He sounds like as a big a control freak as ole Horrace.

Back on topic (see how I did that).