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SINCE 1936

SSlopeSoaring

in theMidwest

History ofModel Engines

Official Publication of the Academy of Model Aeronautics

2 MODEL AVIATION

Contents

Midwest Slope ChallengeThe valleys of the central United States are Soaring-friendlyDave Garwood18

28How to Buy a Used Gas EngineKnow which questions to ask and inspections to perform toensure you are getting a good dealDon Apostolico

35

Features

History of Model EnginesAn overview of model engines produced in the USBill Mohrbacher

Page 18MidwestSlope

Challenge

February 2012 3

Mike Bailey launches a Leading Edge Gliders 60-inchspan EPP foam Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star duringthe Foam Warbird race at the Midwest SlopeChallenge at Wilson Lake in Lucas, Kansas.

This event has brought modelers from across thecountry together for 18 years, and who better to coverit than Model Aviation’s own “Slope Soaring”columnist, Dave Garwood. If you want to hit theslopes and get in on all the fun, Kansas is the place tobe in May 2012. Photo by Dave Garwood.

AMA This MonthPresident’s Perspective 5In the Air 9AMA Membership Application 139AMA Safety Code 140Focus on Competition 147Contest Calendar 149AMA News 155Education Through Aviation 159Flying Site Assistance 160View From HQ 176

ABOUT THE COVER

Worth a Closer Look 14AMA Plans Service Showcase 138Modeler’s Mall 142Classified Ads 173Index to Advertisers 174Full-Size Plans List 175

Products and Plans

Guide to Membership Services 4The Inside Loop Jay Smith 6Aero Mail 7Focal Point 68From the Build Table of … Keith Sparks 71The Engine Shop Eric Henderson 77Frequently Asked Questions Bob Aberle 84Click On! 86Small-Field Flying Paul Bradley 89Safety Comes First Dave Gee 92Electrics Greg Gimlick 94MA’s Abbreviations and Acronyms 116Old-Timers Bob Angel 128Viewfinder 129

Departments

ColumnsRC Giants Sal Calvagna 097RC Scale Stan Alexander 100RC Slope Soaring Dave Garwood 105RC Helicopters Mark Fadely 109RC Pylon Racing Aaron “AJ” Seaholm 113RC Jets Jim Hiller 117RC Scale Aerobatics John Glezellis 119FF Duration Lou Joyner 122CL Scale Bill Boss 135

Features

59 The classic Carl Goldberg Sailplane revisited as an ARFGreg Prater

Great Planes Sophisticated Lady ARF

Reviews

48 Build this large, lightweight 1/4-scale foam warbirdKeith Sparks

P-40 Warhawk

62 This sport model offers the elegance of a racerthat’s simple to build and flyJoe Hass

Cermark Fantasy Racer

FEBRUARY 2012Volume 38 Number 2

®

SINCE 1936

Page 28History of

Model Engines

40 Eighty-one pilots from 31 countries compete for the title of World ChampionJim Quinn

F3A World Championship

February 2012 5

y sincere thanks to all whoparticipated in the Academy’svoting process. I hope my term as

president will illustrate why I had so muchpositive support.

I would like to highlight the individualswho provided assistance, but it is impossiblebecause there are so many. However, mymain supporter, my wife JoAnne, deserves aspecial thank-you.

My gratitude is extended to BillOberdieck and Bruce Nelson for their yearsof service to the AMA Executive Council.Several new people have been added to thecouncil and others have changedresponsibilities. I welcome former District IIVice President (VP) Gary Fitch as AMA’sExecutive Vice President.

AMA’s new district VPs include EricWilliams, District II; Mark Radcliff, DistrictIII; Tim Jesky, District VII; and MikeMosbrooker, District XI. The new membershave extensive credentials and will prove tobe positive additions.

In the upcoming months, the FAA willcertainly be the major focus for our entiremembership. Our campaign to resistundeserving federal regulations willundoubtedly require input from all who careabout aeromodeling.

Everyone must meet the challenge thiswill present. We must act in a swift,professional, mature manner.

President’s Perspective

M

Because of the lengthy lead time requiredfor this magazine, please visit ourgovernment relations section of the websiteregularly. There you’ll find the most up-to-date information and calls to action.

Your government relations team has beenfighting hard to preserve your flyingprivileges for the past three years. Muchtalent and treasure has been expended on ourbehalf. When the call to action to writeletters of protest to Congress and the FAAcomes, please heed that call. I know youwill, and thank you heartily in advance.

Additional membership programs will begenerated in the near future. If the Academyhas any real pitfalls, it is the fact that it relieson dues for its major source of income.

We will begin a concerted effort togenerate non-dues revenue. Various avenueswill be approached. More information aboutthis will be presented in the near future.

As I write this column, I am attempting topopulate the committee structure of theAcademy. Fortunately, we have a largenumber of willing and capable members. Ifyou have the desire to serve, please adviseyour district vice president, ExecutiveDirector Dave Mathewson, or me.

The Academy has numerous benefits thatseem to be unknown to its members. One ofthose is our perseverance to obtain flyingsites. This past fall, District IV VP BlissTeague, several AMA members, and Iproudly represented the Academy at theSoaring 100 on the Outer Banks in NorthCarolina.

One of our locations was Jockey’s RidgeState Park. This park has the tallest naturalsand dune system in the Eastern UnitedStates. While there, we became friends withDebo Cox, the superintendent of the park.

We have been granted the right to fly

electric-powered models and gliders on thedunes. I am sure this will entice several ofour members to vacation on the OuterBanks.

Model Aviation is planning a distinctive newlook. Rob Kurek and the MA staff haveworked hard to generate these changes. Robhas also negotiated a contract with a newprinter to reduce the cost and generate amore pleasing publication.

This effort will evolve over the next fewmonths. I am sure you will like the newlook.

The AMA Headquarters computer system isalso being improved. New equipment willallow us to increase our productivity andgenerate a more efficient online profile.

Some of our software is at least 25 yearsold. This is being updated as quickly asfinancially possible. I am sure you will seepositive changes here, too.

I look forward to meeting you! I will be atseveral different activities including theWestchester Radio AeroModelers (WRAM)Show in Secaucus, New Jersey, February24-26 and the Weak Signals Expo in Toledo,Ohio, April 13-15. Stop by the Academy’sbooth and say hi!

As your new president, I’m here to serveyou the best I can. Please communicate withme early and often. We’re all in thistogether. MA

Bob BrownAMA Presidentbobb@modelaircraft.org

Mission Statement

The Academy of Model Aeronautics is a world-class association of modelers organized for the purpose ofpromotion, development, education, advancement, and safeguarding of modeling activities.

The Academy provides leadership, organization, competition, communication, protection, representation,recognition, education and scientific/technical development to modelers.

I’m here to serve you the best I can

AMA President Bob Brown

6 MODEL AVIATION

Editor Jay Smithjays@modelaircraft.org

Y NOW most readers shouldbe aware that we have beenworking on a redesign of the

magazine, especially if you read myeditorial in the November 2011 MA. Itis not an easy task and we enlisted thehelp of an outside design firm to assistwith the process. It has been seven yearssince we gave the flagship publication amakeover and that was done completelyin-house.

Everyone in the publications grouphas been involved and providedvaluable input. I have spent time inseveral meetings and discussions thatare reminiscent of an eye exam. Insteadof the doctor flipping a glass sphere infront of my eye saying, “Is this better,or this better?” I am looking attreatments of the Model Aviation logoor different design philosophies for thecontents of the magazine.

I’ve spent time at the local bookstorepouring over all manner of magazinestrying to figure out ways to make themagazine even better. We have asked forreader input and engaged some of ouradvertisers for feedback as well.

We have instituted a few changes inthe past year and have receivedgenerally positive comments. So if youare currently enjoying the magazine,you may wonder, “Why a redesign?”Ultimately, our goal is to continue toimprove your magazine. We want ourmembers to consider it a benefit, notjust something that comes withmembership.

We want to improve the readabilityof the magazine as well as the look. Wewill be making changes to the font tomake it easier to read. We will freshenup the columns and make it easier to getthe information you are looking for. Inthe end, we want to streamline MA andadd a little polish.

The biggest challenge with themagazine, however, won’t be solvedwith a redesign. Our greatest challengeis providing the appropriate content tosatisfy 142,000 readers.

In a recent conversation with aprofessional in magazine design, I wastold that ours has far too many columnsand the trend was either to cut themback to only a few or to get rid of themcompletely. Those outside of our hobbyneither understand, nor can fullyappreciate, all the different disciplineswe cover.

The Inside Loop

B

We will continue to provide youcoverage across the spectrum ofmodeling with a little more focus on FreeFlight and Control Line in 2012. Ialready have plans to bring you anexcellent FF construction article as wellas coverage of the 2012 Brodak Fly-In.

If you don’t see the amount ofcoverage you would like on thedisciplines in which you participate, Ichallenge you to let me know and toprovide topics you would like to seecovered. Point me in the direction ofmore people who are willing to write andsubmit articles on the topics.

I’m happy to share with you that thepublications department has manyexciting things planned for 2012.

Relaunching the Model Aviationwebsite was phase one of our digitalstrategy. The website is designed to be asupplement to the magazine withadditional content, not a replacement forthe magazine.

The next phase involves launching adigital magazine, which will be an exactreplica of the print magazine inelectronic form. By mid-2012, we willalso begin offering a magazine app ofMA for viewing on tablet devices such asthe iPad.

I hope you enjoy this month’s issueand look forward to next month’sredesign and the electronic content wewill have available for you. Thanks forbeing a loyal reader of the magazine anda supporter of the AMA! MA

Published by The Academy of Model Aeronautics

Rob KurekDirector of Publications

Editorial offices: (765) 287-1256, extension231 (8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays); Fax: (765)281-7907

Contributing Editors

Staff

(765) 287-1256 | www.modelaircraft.org Fax: (765) 289-4248

Advertising RepresentativeMark Lanterman, Airborne Media, 7414Burton Dr., Liberty Township OH 45044(513) 755-7494

Model Aviation is an official publication of The Academyof Model Aeronautics, Inc., an associate member of theNational Aeronautic Association (NAA). NAA is theofficial U.S. representative of the FédérationAéronautique Internationale (FAI), the world governingbody for sport aviation, and represents the U.S. at FAImeetings. NAA delegated to the AMA supervision of FAI-related aeromodeling activities such as record attempts,competition sanctions, and selection of U.S. teams forWorld Championships. (ISSN 0744-5059, USPS 087-930Publications Agreement No. 40688541) is ownedexclusively by The Academy of Model Aeronautics, Inc.,a nonprofit organization, and published monthly at 5161E. Memorial Dr., Muncie IN 47302. Periodical ratepostage paid at Muncie IN and at additional mailingoffices. Canadian return address: Station A, P.O. Box 54,Windsor ON N9A 615

Account Executive Yolanda JonesAdministrative Assistant Lisa JohnsonAssistant Editor Jennifer OrebaughCommunications Specialist Ashley RauenCopy Editor Rachelle HaughnDirector of Design/Production Carla KunzEditor Jay SmithMultimedia Editor Chad BudreauProduction Associate Vickie WilsonSenior Editor Elizabeth HelmsSenior Graphic Designer Sarah Shaw

Stan AlexanderBob AngelBill BossPaul BradleySal CalvagnaLee EstingoyMark FadelyDave GarwoodDave GeeGreg GimlickJohn GlezellisJim T. GrahamDonald Grissom

Jim HillerLouis JoynerJohn Kagan Rich LopezJoe MalinchakDennis NormanRichard L. PerryMike RiggsAaron “AJ” SeaholmRed ScholefieldGene SmithKeith SparksJoe Wagner

Editors Emeritus Bob HuntMichael Ramsey

Technical Editor Bob Aberle

Executive Director Dave Mathewson

Bob BrownPresident

Gary FitchExecutive Vice President

February 2012 7

Navy Nats Memories

I read with much interest the article on “History Preserved:The Navy Nats” on page 10 of the November issue of MA. Asa young boy I attended the Nats in 1962 and 1966 atGlenview NAS [near Chicago] as a spectator. I was 10 and 14years old respectively.

I saw my first radio-controlled aircraft fly at the 1962 Nats,unfortunately without too much success. I also remember seeing free-flights, bothindoor and outdoor, and many u-control planes, both nitro powered and Dina-Jetpowered. Two free-flight planes I remember seeing were flying saucers. If Iremember correctly, these were powered by .049 engines. Both disappeared out overLake Michigan and were not seen again.

Indoor was also held at Glenview NAS. I still see hand-launched gliders spiral upinto the rafters of the hangars and floating down gracefully. All manner of rubber-powered planes, from scale to micro-film models to Bostonian-style to what haveyou, were always in the air being tested or flown for times.

Unfortunately, Glenview NAS has been virtually obliterated and no longer exists,which is sad as many of the WW II Navy carrier pilots were trained at Glenview.Some of the planes they flew are now at the bottom of Lake Michigan.

The picture of young Mark Jordan caught my eye. The engine on his helmet looksto be one of the old .049 engines, maybe from one of the Jimmy Walker Firebabies.Of note is the prop on this engine. If I am correct this appears to be one of the metalprops that came with the Firebaby. I still have one of these in my flight box but onlyas a reminder of days gone by.

The Firebaby was my first U-control [Control Line] plane and I still have fondmemories of flying it. If you hit the ground too hard with this prop it was soft enoughto be bent back into place or close enough to resume flying, provided the plane didnot get smashed.

I have been a member of the AMA off and on since the late 1960s, more on thanoff. I am more involved in this hobby than I ever thought I would be, but that isanother story. One time I do wish to tell you about.

My ex-neighbor’s wife was born and raised in Germany. Relatives came to visitone time and included two young boys of about 12 or 14 years of age. They spoke noEnglish and I speak no German. They saw me flying a paper plane, yes, paper, infrom of my house and wanted to try it. For the next 1 to 2 hours we folded and flewall manner of paper planes. I would show them how to make the folds and theywould copy my moves.

We had a ball! Doing this type of thing keeps us young and may interest moreyoung people in our great hobby. Keep up the great work.

—Craig Dietervia email

Disappointed

Having not seen Model Aviation online for some time, I was momentarilyenthused about seeing the December 2011 issue; I was momentarily ready to tell youto quit mailing it [the magazine] to me.

Alas, just like all previous things Model Aviation has done online—just attempts,nothing complete! It was only 12 pages. And the cover even had a request for a pollentry. Quit messing around, get the magazine online, quit spending your (and my)money for postage.

Enthusiasm crashed to total disappointment.—Robert McClure

via email

We are currently working to have a digital version of Model Aviation and amagazine app for tablet readers available later this year. The website we recentlylaunched was phase one of our digital strategy. The website is designed to be asupplement, not a replacement for the magazine.

The next phases involve launching a digital magazine, which will be an exactreplica of the print magazine in electronic form. By mid-2012 we will also beginoffering a magazine app of Model Aviation for viewing on tablet devices such as theiPad.

We encourage you to visit www.ModelAviation.com/digital to learn more aboutthe role of our website, digital edition, and magazine app.

—Jay SmithMA Editor

Aero Mail

February 2012 9

IN AIRtheAMA HEADQUARTERS AND MEMBER NEWS

MA staff regrets to report the passing of two very important modelers whoare also Model Aviation Hall of Fame inductees. Bill Young (Class of 2011) andWarren Williams Sr. (Class of 2006) both passed away near the end of 2011.

Bill first got hooked on model aviation in 1941 and went on to dedicate themajority of his life to helping children get involved in the hobby.

Warren Williams, a modeler for more than 81 years, was an avid competitor,builder, and aeromodeling teacher.

Both men will be greatly missed by the modeling community.To read more about these amazing modelers and others, please visit the Hall

of Fame Web page at www.modelaircraft.org/museum/hoflist.aspx. MA—MA Staff

2012 National Aeromodeling

ChampionshipsThe AMA Executive Council has

approved the schedule for the 2012National Aeromodeling Championships(Nats). The Indoor FF events will beheld May 23-27, 2012, at the EastTennessee State University Mini-Domein Johnson City, Tennessee.

The Outdoor events will be held atAMA’s International AeromodelingCenter in Muncie, Indiana. The dates areas follows:

RC Scale Aerobatics: July 9-12RC and CL Scale: July 13-15CL (Navy Carrier, Precision

Aerobatics, Racing, Combat, Speed):July 16-21

RC Pylon Racing: July 16-21RC Combat: July 17-20RC Aerobatics: July 22-26RC Soaring: July 28-August 5 RC Electric: August 5-8FF Outdoor: August 6-10RC Helicopter: Aug 11-15

If you have participated in the Natswithin the last two years, you will receivean entry form in early February. For moreinformation or to obtain an entry form,visit www.modelaircraft.org/events or call (765) 287-1256. MA

—AMA Staff

Passing of Hall of Fame Members

Bill Young (Class of 2011)

William Warren Sr. (Class of 2006)

10 MODEL AVIATION

INtheAIR

MEET AMA PRES IDENT BOB BROWN

AMA ThanksIts LifetimeSupporters!

The Academy recently welcomed Life Members Dan Cox (Tucson AZ), JasonSafabash (Mission Viejo CA), Richard Karrigan (Bass Lake CA), Mike Schmidt(Glenzdale AZ), James Petraits (Martinsville IN), William Vogel (New York NY),John Yuill (Hoffman Estates IL), Russell Deedon (Anderson CA), and DhoncheerGarcia (Grovetown GA).

For information about becoming a Life Member, contact AMA Headquarters at(800) 435-9262. MA

—AMA Membership Department

MA: How old were you when youbecame involved in aeromodeling?What was the first thing you flew? Also,what sparked your interest in aviation?BB: I’m 66 years old I’ve been involvedin model aviation probably 60 years.The first plane I ever flew was a FFmodel.

The original Piper Cub was made inBradford, Pennsylvania. It was over thehill from my house; roughly 3 miles.The factory burned down in 1936 so itwas well gone when I was born. But theresidue from it, the fact that I could sitin my backyard and all of these PiperCubs were constantly flying over myhome … it really lit my fire.

MA: What do you like to fly?BB: In all honesty I like to considermyself a modeler. What do I like to fly?Whatever whim I have. I’ve beenaround the circuit for quite a few yearsand I can usually do very well atwhatever I want to do. I can try to fly[just about anything].

MA: Do you have any other hobbies?BB: I have an extensive garden railroadin my backyard. Not only do I haveelectric power, I have steam power also.The garden railroad, it allows me toexpress my modeling interest in anotherfacet.

I haven’t played with [RC] boats inyears, although I have a very closefriend who’s building one now. I won’tsay that I won’t be building one.

You’ll also find automobile racing isa real big bag for me; primarily dirt. Idon’t like to say that I’m refined. Eventhough I’m 66, I still love to play and I[am] into drag racing. I was into go-karts. I could easily be into Sprint Cars.

MA: How many years did you serve inDistrict III and in what capacities?BB: Let’s say I’ve served the Academyfor over 30 years. I started out with theFAI program, was the subcommitteechairman with that, and becameinvolved within the hierarchy theinfrastructure of the Academy. I was aVP [district vice president] for 21 years.Some people say I was a VP for toolong. But I must have been doingsomething right if I was reelected thatmany times.

MA: Why did you run for AMApresident?BB: To make the Academy bigger andbetter.

I’m not here as president, I’m hereas the team leader. The team iscomposed of the Council, theemployees, and the membership. I don’twant to be known as “Bob thepresident.” I want us to focus as a team,work as a team, and be as productive aswe possibly can for the benefit of theAcademy.

My campaign statement started outwith the word “fun” in the first

sentence. It concluded with the word“fun” in the last sentence. Modeling isfun. When the fun stops, the enjoymentis absent. We’re in this for fun.

MA: How can we get the new generationinterested in aeromodeling?BB: We have that new generation outthere. All we have to do is recognizethem in a fair manner.

I lead by example. As a [shop]teacher, I reached thousands of kids. Icould say yes, some of my kids are nowfull-scale pilots. I take great pride in thephilosophy that if you believe insomeone, they’ll believe in you. Thatmeans a lot to me.

MA: At the end of your term, whatwould you like to look back and see asyour accomplishments?BB: The main thing right now is asatisfied membership in relation to theFAA. That’s number one. Number twowould be an increased membership inthe Academy. Number three would be afeeling by each Academy member thatthe Academy is of value to them.

MA: You mentioned FAA being thenumber-one concern. How do you feelabout the problem and what might needto be done?BB: The problem with the FAA isprobably the most challenging problemthat we have ever encountered. It couldruin model aviation as we know it todayby limiting our enjoyment of the hobby.

MA: Other than the FAA issue, what isthe biggest challenge you think the AMAmight face?BB: Decreasing membership.

MA: As president, what are you mostlooking forward to?BB: I want to see people having fun. MA

Bradford, Pennsylvania,resident Bob Brown, 66, hasbeen elected to a two-yearterm as president of theAMA. He and his wife,JoAnne, have two daughtersand four grandchildren.

He visited AMAHeadquarters shortly afterthe election ended, and satdown for an interview withMA staff.

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12 MODEL AVIATION

Advocating for MembersAMAinACTION

Model aircraft standardsBy the time this article is published, it is likely that

the small Unmanned Aircraft System Notice ofProposed Rulemaking (sUAS NPRM) will have beenreleased and in the hands of the aeromodelingcommunity. If not, the release is eminent.

As I write this in early December, the proposedrule is on the desk of the Secretary of Transportationand is poised for submittal to the Office ofManagement and Budget, which is the last step in the

review chain before the NPRM ispublished.

The significant restrictions projectedfor model aviation in the proposed ruleare alarming. The restrictions includelimitations on where and how modelaircraft can be flown, limits on modelaircraft performance, and otheroperational limitations.

Representatives from FAA’sUnmanned Aircraft Program Office havetold us for months that the modeling

community is not going to like the proposed rule.That’s an understatement!

If there’s a silver lining in the proposed rule, it’sthe provision for community-based organizations suchas the AMA to develop and submit their own set ofmodel aircraft standards that, if adopted, can be usedas an alternative means of complying with the sUASregulation.

This concept reflects FAA’s view that modelaircraft operations, conducted under an establishedsafety program and oversight of a community-basedorganization, present a significantly lower risk to thepublic than the modeling activity occurring outside ofsuch a program. The AMA does not necessarilydisagree with this premise, however, we do questionthe effectiveness, enforceability, and advisability ofsuch an approach and we have grave concernregarding the potential impact of dividing theaeromodeling community.

This two-path concept stems from therecommendation put forward by the sUAS AviationRule Making Committee in its report to the FAA inApril 2009. In May of 2009, AMA put together aworkgroup composed of AMA members andrepresentatives from a broad spectrum of

aeromodeling disciplines to develop a set of modelaircraft standards for use by the modeling community.This committee has worked tirelessly in structuringand designing a set of standards aimed at allowing themodel aircraft activity to continue in much the sameway as it does today.

Although the model aircraft standards are basedupon AMA’s National Model Aircraft Safety Codeand current safety programming, the standards aremuch more detailed in their specificity. Safetyconsiderations that are commonplace and arguablycommon sense are spelled out in the standard to ensurethat the most inexperienced modeler understands thesafety considerations and can operate his or her modelaircraft in a safe and responsible manner.

The standards, currently under development,address selecting a suitable flying site, preflightprocedures and preparation, model aircraft operationsincluding high-performance flight, operations ataltitude, and post-flight procedures. The standards alsoinclude AMA’s Turbine Waver and Large ModelAircraft programs. There is very little in the standardsdraft that is not already part of our current approach tosafe model aircraft operations; it’s merely spelled outin much greater detail.

The workgroup is continuing its effort to developthe standards and this work will likely continue formany more months to come. As we get closer to afinal product, the proposed standards will be presentedto the membership and open for comments andsuggestions. For now, however, our primary concernis our response to the NPRM and proposed sUAS rule.

The AMA website contains the most currentinformation regarding the NPRM and providesguidance and information about how to respond to thecall for public comment. Please make sure thateveryone you know is aware of the impendingregulation, and ensure that everyone who shares ourlove for this hobby is well-informed and participatesin the response to the proposed sUAS rule.

Timely updates regarding the sUAS rulemakingcan also be found on Facebook by Liking “AMAGov,”and on Twitter at <Twitter.com/AMAGov>. MA

—Rich HansonGovernment and Regulatory Affairs

amagov@modelaircraft.org

February 2012 13

Advocating for MembersAMAinACTION

WhereWe Stand!• Throughout the past 75 years, model aviation has posted

an impeccable safety record—one that surpasses anyother aeronautical activity in the aviation community.

• We are an exceptional group of recreational modelers,and under AMA’s leadership the modeling communityhas proven to be decisively effective in self-policing ourhobby and sport.

• We believe that we have proven our ability to operatesafely and harmoniously in the National AirspaceSystem (NAS). We have clearly demonstrated thataeromodeling activity is distinctly different and separatefrom the commercial sUAS community, which poses adifferent set of concerns that is the primary focus of theFAA’s need to regulate unmanned aircraft.

• We believe the inclusion of model aircraft in the sUASrule to be extremely impractical, unnecessary, and aquestionable use of taxpayer dollars.

• We are concerned that model aviation will be undulycurtailed for future generations, especially for youngpeople who represent general aviation’s pipeline oftalent.

• Model aviation has a proven track record and poseslittle to no threat to the safety of the NAS, the generalpublic, or community property.

Don’t find yourself grounded. Keep up-to-date on government relations at www.modelaircraft.org/gov. Photo by Allen Brickhaus

Aeromodeling needs you now. As the collective voice for modelaviation, it is vital that AMA has your email address on fileimmediately to keep you up-to-date on the FAA regulations.

Communication is essential to protect your flying privileges thatwill soon be under attack from the federal government. We need toshare with you background and resources to protest these pending,onerous, and undeserving restrictions on model flying.

Don’t delay! Go to www.modelaircraft.org and then click on“Your Account” located on the top right of the page to login to youraccount. Confirm the address we have on file so when the timecomes to respond to the FAA’s notice of proposed rulemaking(NPRM), you’ll be ready to communicate appropriately to ournational leaders that model aviation is just fine the way it is.

To get the most up-to-date information on this issue, be sure tovisit www.modelaircraft.org/gov. MA

Call to action—AMA needsyour email address!