JANUARY 2006 DISTRICT 1 REPORT:
Andy Argenio, District I Vice President

THE SPORT OF aeromodeling began with FF models and has evolved into many categories and special-interest areas.

Today, 95% of our membership is involved with RC, and as a result we forget to recognize and promote FF, CL, and Soaring as the worthwhile modeling activities that they are.

The pictures in this column were sent to me by Mark Fineman. They were taken at the Glastonbury Modelers Flying Aces meet held September 18, 2005, in Durham, Connecticut.

All of the events were FF rubber-powered Scale ones for models that were traditionally constructed using a balsa framework and covered in tissue.

Mark wrote, "Free Flight has a special significance within District I. The modern Flying Aces movement was created by Dave Stott and the late Bob Thompson, both Connecticut residences. These two men and the Flying Aces clubs invented and popularized Peanut Scale and Embryo Endurance flying."

With winter coming you might want to check out some of the Indoor FF activity in your area. Go online to the National Free Flight Society (NFFS) at www.freeflight.org for event listings, contest calendars, and club contacts.

There are four FF clubs listed in District I: Glastonbury Aero Modelers in Glastonbury, Connecticut; Merrimack Valley Air-Istocrats in Littleton, Massachusetts; New England Wakefield Group in Everett, Massachusetts; and SAM 7 in Vernon Rockville, Connecticut. I will be covering CL, Soaring, and other special-interest activities in future columns. Your continued input is needed and most helpfull

As the year comes to an end and flying events wind down, I am looking forward to finishing the airplanes I started but never found the time to complete. Owning a hobby shop, being an active modeler, and performing the duties of a district vice president are challenges, to say the least.

Change has been the order of this year. I welcome your suggestions and comments on district and AMA matters. Together we can modify and prioritize our goals and objectives to address current needs.

I want to thank all the members who have supported this year's revitalization plan for District I. On behalf of the district team, please have an enjoyable and safe holiday season.

This shows the popular FF World War II mass-launch event.

Steve Blanchard shows off his great-looking Cessna Cargomaster with twin-rubber power.

Mark Fineman  displays his F-82 Twin Mustang.

Scale judge Paul Stott examines Vance Gilbert's beautiful D.H. Mosquito that won the FAC Scale event.

Dave Scott launches his Loose Special and Mark Fineman launches his Cessna CR-3. Mark's airplane won the Thompson trophy.

Al Lawton winds his Mr. Smoothie racer while Bill Dietz holds it. The racer won the Greve mass-launch event.