Model Aviation
Hall of Fame Induction
Jim Messer was inducted into the AMA's Model Aviation Hall of Fame during the 31st Annual STARS Scale Rally, held in Olean, New York, July 12, 2008.
He was flying his round during the noontime air show when the surprise began to take place behind his back. Jim was paged to the announcer's stand as soon as he landed his model.
District II Vice President Gary Fitch awarded the honor to a stunned Jim Messer. A majority of his family was present to support him.
"I was completely flabbergasted; tears came to my eyes and my voice cracked," said Jim. "It was such a surprise; I didn't know what to say."
The STARS—Southern Tier Aero Radio Society—submitted Jim's Hall of Fame nomination. He has been a member of the AMA and of STARS since age 11, and he is a life member of the latter. He has been a member of both organizations for 67 continuous years. MA
—Ashley Rauen AMA Communications Specialist
Wakefield Champion Passes
George Reich was born January 18, 1921, and passed away June 19, 2008. He was 87.
He began his model-airplane career at age 9, when he and his older brother, Bob, built two World War I Cleveland Model kits they won for delivering newspapers. George spent his early model-building years with Scale, microfilm, and CL aircraft. After piloting many twin pushers, single pushers, and single tractors, his interest shifted to the wonders of FF.
George entered his first national contest, the Scripps Howard Junior National Races, in Akron, Ohio, at the age of 16. He won the Senior Commercial Rubber event with a time of 13 minutes, 2.5 seconds.
In 1939, George established a national record of 22.51 minutes in the Senior Outdoor Cabin event at the 12th National Model Airplane Championships, held in Detroit, Michigan. That earned him a spot on the American team that competed in the Moffett International Competition, at which he was a runner-up in the finals.
In the same year, at only 18 years old, George designed his first original model. The gas-powered Cloud Hopper was built and flown in 1939, and it was approved for flying in Old-Timer events.
At the 1946 Nationals in Wichita, Kansas, George set a national record of 8 minutes, 51.4 seconds in the Stick Model Class D event. He also won Outdoor Rubber Cabin.
In 1948, George married Doris Korda, who was the sister of 1939 Wakefield Champion Dick Korda. George spent the next few years building a house for his family, which in time was filled with four children. In 1953 he returned to modeling and earned a place on the US Wakefield team for the first time, with a return-gear design.
George performed well at the World Championships and missed tying for the win with three other contestants by 1 second. He ended up in fourth place. He was also a member of the 1958 US Wakefield team, and he finished 28th in that World Championships.
In 1960, George revamped his 1958 Wakefield model, the Max Maker. On September 25, 1960, he used it to establish a national record of 20 minutes, 59 seconds. The 1962 Model Airplane News annual edition listed the Max Maker as one of the top 10 models.
In 1961, George earned a spot on the US Wakefield team. At the competition in Leutkirch, Germany, he flew the Max Maker to a win and the prestigious Wakefield Cup. He had missed the 1953 flyoff round by a mere second.
George spent 37 years working for NASA as an experimental metal model maker. He was involved in many aircraft and space projects, including the fabrication of flight hardware for the first low-thrust, .006-pound, mercury ion engine.
Throughout his lifetime, George had many plans published in modeling magazines such as Air Trails and Flying Models. He received many awards during his aeromodeling career, including the AMA Scientific Award in 1941, the AMA Fellowship Award in 1964, and the Championship Certificate from the Cleveland Balsa Butchers club in 1964.
George was inducted into the National Free Flight Society Hall of Fame in 1983 and the AMA’s Model Aviation Hall of Fame in 2001.
George Reich accomplished many things during his aviation career. He will be missed by his aeromodeling family. MA
—Ashley Rauen AMA Communications Specialist
FAQs About AMA’s Competition/Technical Department
Communication:
Q: How do I contact the Competition Department? A: There are a few ways, one of which is by telephone at (765) 287-1256. When the automated attendant comes on, enter one of the following extensions: 230 for Technical Director Greg Hahn, 232 for Michelle Lamb (sanctions, “Contest Calendar”), or 252 for Colleen Pierce (FAI, teams).
Or you can E-mail Greg at gregh@modelaircraft.org, Michelle at michelle@modelaircraft.org, or Colleen at cpierce@modelaircraft.org. Sending a fax is another option; the number is (765) 286-3303.
Sanctions:
Q: Why should my club sanction an event? A: For the following reasons.
- Sanctioning offers a protected draw area and date protection for like events.
- To offer chartered and nonchartered clubs additional insurance in case they decide to fly in areas other than those listed in the AMA’s club records as their club flying fields or for additional sponsors who may require it for the particular event.
- To obtain a text-listing advertisement in MA's “Contest Calendar.” (Subject to leadtime requirements.)
Q: What is the deadline for MA, and what is the lead time? A: The 14th of every month, 90 days before the event for at least one listing in the magazine.
Q: How do I sanction an event? A: A licensed CD needs to apply for an event sanction. Applications are available from the Competitions Department or online at www.modelaircraft.org/documents.aspx. The form is Document 302.
The CD completes the application and then forwards it to the Contest Coordinator for the district in which the event will be held. The Contest Coordinator will check the dates and area, draw protection, and forward the sanction application to the Competition Department for processing. Once processed, a sanction certificate will be mailed to the CD.
Q: How do I know who my Contest Coordinator is? A: The Contest Coordinators' names are listed bimonthly in MA, in the “Focus on Competition” section under the “Competition Directory” heading. You can also find the listing online at www.modelaircraft.org/events/contestcoordinators.aspx.
Q: Why would I need additional insurance for a sanctioned event? A: The AMA sanction certificate is the normal means of providing proof of $2.5 million of insurance coverage for the event sponsor. If you need to extend this coverage to landowners or organizations (e.g., flying-site owners, government agencies, or other organizations whose property will be used for the event), you may obtain an additional insurance certificate.
If the flying-site owner has already been issued a certificate of insurance under a club charter, no further application is necessary. Any club activity—including the sanctioned event—is automatically covered.
FAI Programs/US Team Selection:
Q: What is the FAI? A: FAI stands for Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, which is the world sanctioning body for sport aviation (including full-scale aircraft and models). US participation in World Championships events is under the auspices of the FAI and adheres to the rules in the FAI Sporting Code (the rule book for international competitions).
Q: What are FAI programs? A: Events that are recognized on an international level. A modeler participates in the programs to become a member of a team that competes in World Championships that are held in various countries. The programs, of which there are 15, are devised by the participants of each event and a Team Selection Committee (elected participants from each district).
AMA supports the Team Selection Committee by distributing information, tabulating votes, etc. The Academy does have guidelines for each of these groups and set procedures. AMA supports the various World Championships teams monetarily and administratively.
Q: What is an FAI stamp and how do I get one? A: An FAI stamp is certification found on the back of an NAA (National Aeronautic Association) license that allows one to fly in international FAI events. You can obtain a stamp by contacting Colleen Pierce.
Q: Can I pay for my program entry fees and FAI stamp by credit card? A: Yes. Contact Colleen Pierce, and you may pay with MasterCard or Visa.
Q: Are FAI Sporting Codes available to me? A: A: Yes. They are available from the Competition Department for $5 per section or for $15 for the entire document. MA
—AMA Headquarters
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
