JUNE 2005 DISTRICT 1 REPORT:
Andy Argenio, District I Vice President

THERE ARE AMA clubs in district 1 that can not have flying events at their flying sites because of restrictions that limit the amount of cars or people that are allowed on the sites.

This doesn’t necessarily mean that these clubs should give up the idea of having an event. The club members should try to find locations that can accommodate their event. This is much easier then trying to find a permanent site because the location is only needed for a few days. 

There are a number of possibilities to check including parks, athletic fields, schools or colleges, industrial or business sites, airports, military bases, parking lots, construction sites, farm property and any facilities that have enough open area and parking for the event.

Find out who owns or controls the use of the property and be prepared to sell the concept of your event to the people in charge. Show them videos of flying events and provide information on how the event will be sanctioned and insured by the AMA.

It is best to have a theme for the event that will target an audience of children through adults and make it known that the proceeds from flying and parking fees; and the sale of food and beverage will be donated to a needy cause.

If you can’t find a public or private location you can contact other AMA clubs in your area who have suitable sites for events and find out if they would be interested in hosting your club’s event.

While campaigning in 2004, I attended the two events featured in this column.

The first event is an example of a club obtaining the permission from a town or city’s Department of Parks & Recreations to have an event at a public park. Through the efforts of my good friend, Bill O’Donnell who is a member of the Millis Model Aircraft Club an R/C Model Aircraft Demonstration Event was held on Sunday, Oct. 17, at Plains Park in Milford, MA.

Good weather with clear skies and calm wind made for a great day of flying. The Park is adjacent to Rte. 85 only a few miles from the center of town and because the flying activities could easily be viewed from the road there was a constant flow of spectators all day.

Plains Park in Milford, MA was closed for Athletic / Public use for the R/C Air Show.

The site has an asphalt parking lot and the area designated for flying is a manicured grass field large enough to accommodate all sizes of model aircraft. A vendor was present selling drinks and hot dogs and a huge permanent shade structure was within 50 feet of the flight line. A variety of aircraft were flown, from small electrics to large scale gas. The aerobatic flying that was done to music was a big hit with the crowd.

Millis Club Members, friends and spectators enjoy the event at the Park.

Bill told me that the manager of the Parks Department and the public were so pleased that the event went off without any hitches, that they would like to do it again and maybe more than once a year. Check out the Millis Clubs Web site at www.millsmodelaircraftclub.com for 2005 event notifications.

Another event I attended was with District 1 IMAA Director Frank Ponteri and my friend Steve Breamer, who took the pictures and provided the captions. It was the last IMAA event that I attended before retiring as the IMAA National Sanction Coordinator.

The Wintonbury Flying Club Hosted the Chapter 392 Central Ct. Giant Squadron IMAA Fly-In

This event is an example of how a club, “The Central Connecticut Giant Squadron” (CCGS), who’s flying site is a sod farm and can not accommodate large events, found that the “Wintonbury Flying Club” was willing to host the CCGS club’s IMAA event.

I enjoyed meeting and talking with the President of the host club, Tim Adams, and the members of his club...

I was pleased to meet up with some old friends Joan Liska, who provided the following event report, her husband Ron, and Steve Swahn, President of IMAA Chapter 392.

The Central CT. Giant Squadron Pilot Photo behind Larry Gagnon’s big DC-3

“The CCGS Labor Day Fly-In took place Sep. 4 & 5, 2004 in Bloomfield, CT. It was a picture perfect weekend for flying; sunshine, comfortable temperatures, and low wind prevailed as lots of Big Birds took to the skies to entertain the crowds for a really first class IMAA fly-in. Forty-five flyers from surrounding states gathered to fly aerobatic, sport and military models on the tightly clipped grass runway. The variety of models gave something for all types of aviation lovers to enjoy. Eighteen year old Cody Wojik put his ZDZ-80 powered 31% Extra through impressive IMAC routines. Steve Swahn took to the skies to wring out his 40% Carden Extra. A mock WWI battle was narrated by Joan Liska, as a ¼ scale Fokker D-VIII tangled with a 1/3 scale Sopwith Pup”.

Tim Adams (L) President Wintonbury Club

Andy Argenio (M) IMAA Event Coordinator

Steve Swahn (R) President Chapter 392

Plan to attend the “Central CT Giant Squadron IMAA District 1 Mini-Fest” on Sept.3 & 4, 2005. This event will again be hosted by “The Wintonbury Flying Club”. 

Having a flying event may seem impossible but remember:

“Impossible is only in the dictionary of fools.”