Academy of Model Aeronautics

Everyone,
I was able to make the Delta Rocks event that the LAFA crew attends due to the cancelation of the Sig event. It was quite an affair for Delta Township with a big focus on community and the kids. The LAFA crew set up to host a build session for up to 10 kids. They assembled some cute little airplanes (Whizzer??) that could be flown with a Cox engine or you could bolt on a nose weight and use it as a whip airplane. I think I saw a couple kids make some laps with theirs. Kudos to LAFA for supporting interest in the hobby.

Rich let me fly his version of the airplane. There was some challenge about trying to make it loop. Local CLE (Control Line Expert) Frank Carlisle had given it a pretty good shot, but was unable to complete a loop. The Wannabe (me) did not have much better luck, but I was able to fly it inverted and bring it back around. That maneuver involved, wind, luck and a lot of running.

Frank got a lot of quality flights on his Slob and lots of socializing in. I flew my Slob once and my Profile Oriental once and helped some of the guys out with their airplanes. Terry Bentley had probably the worst turf vs. airframe incident of the day. Frank was there with plenty of moral support with statements like "Isn't that pretty embarassing?" or "Wow, you crashed that real good". Nothing was taken badly although I know that Terry was not too happy about having to do repairs after only 3 flights with the airplane. I let him know that I went through the same thing with my son at the recent Brodak event when his plan went in during the square 8s after a bad engine setting. I spent about 4 quality hours in John's workshop but got it back together. We did a couple of test hops to get the wing straight and engine right, but he made the complete pattern in the second round.

For those that don't make the trip out to Iowa on that weekend, it is worth the time to make the haul to Lansing for some flying and socializing. Now that I have been there, I will know what I can bring for the next time.

John

John got put to work right away helping guys with engine run and trim issues. He helps everyone who asks.
The wind was fairly lite and blowing reasonably straight.
I felt real bad for Terry when he dunked his plane. He's a good builder and finisher so the crash hurt him pretty bad. I hope he puts it back together. It flies too nice not too.
I think we had about 8 flyers in attendance.
The LAFA guys work within the community to reach out to and demonstrate how the models work and perform.
Like John said--it's a good day to be had and you won't be disappoinyed if you can make it out there next year.