IN THE October 2007 issue of MA I wrote
about a partnership with the Civil Air Patrol
we’ve begun to develop in our district. New
Jersey was the location of this year’s first
event hosted by the Mercer County Radio
Control Society (MCRCS) and the
Washington’s Crossing RC Flyers
Association.
Held at the MCRCS field, the three-day
encampment included an intense flight
instruction program for the cadets. Friday
evening was ground-school night, which
included a demonstration of CL flying,
lectures and demonstrations on
aerodynamics, flight controls, and safety.
Afterward the Astronomical Society of the
Toms River Area (ASTRA) hosted a
stargazing party.
Flight school began Saturday morning
with the help of eight instructors, drawn from
both clubs, staffing three flight stations and
an advanced ground school.
Nick Maggio helps this cadet work toward
solo flight.
Captain Ulric Gordon-Lewis, Commander
of the New Jersey Bayshore Composite
Squadron, had worked beforehand with the
cadets to develop a detailed syllabus to guide
the student cadets through the training
process. The syllabus called for students to
learn to take off, land, fly minor aerobatics,
and to get a model in the air and safely back
on the ground.
The ambitious goal was to get the students
to the point of soloing. While none of the
students actually soloed, six of the eight were
able to take off and land at least once without
the instructor taking control. From an
instructor’s perspective, achieving this in two
days is a significant accomplishment.
Cadets received certificates commemorating
their participation in the event.
Everyone involved with this inaugural
event agreed that it was a complete success. I
spoke with Captain Gordon-Lewis during the
weekend and we agreed that we’d like to
build on this year’s success in 2008.
Information about how your club can
become involved will be available soon.
AGS Hosts Successful TAG Day
Each of the clubs in our district that participated in AMA’s Take off
And Grow (TAG) program this year have now completed their events.
You’ll be able to read about them in future columns.
The Aeroguidance Society (AGS) was one of the first clubs to host
a TAG day in 2007. My wife and I spent the day at the AGS field and
left with the feeling that what occurred was exactly what AMA
envisioned when we created the program.
AGS membership chairman Scott Wallace stepped up to organize
the event. In
addition to
support from
AMA, the club
approached two
local
corporations,
Lockheed Martin
and BAE Systems, and both came through with financial support used
to advertise the day as well as provide a picnic lunch for everyone who
attended.
All of the participants went through a brief ground school presented
by Joe Perucci who lectured on the basics of flight. That was followed
by time on a computer flight simulator and finally a trip to the flightline
for some actual stick time. For those who were waiting their turn to fly,
the club offered the opportunity to build a Delta Dart.
Art Riegal organized those waiting to fly and Frank Gieofreddo
managed the flight stations. It was clear that the two trainer aircraft
provided by AMA would not be enough and a third model was
employed.
At the end of the day, the club introduced 90 non-modelers, most
of them teenagers and younger, to model aviation. They burned three
gallons of fuel and put countless flights on the trainers.
After the event ended, we were invited back to club president
Terry Terrenoire’s house to watch the
local television newscast that featured a
segment on the events. The reporter
prominently mentioned AMA, the AGS,
and the two financial sponsors.
The club will end up with new
members as well as generating some
positive press in the community. The AGS
TAG Day was an incredible success.
AMA will continue this program in
2008. Information will be available soon
in MA and on the AMA Web site
detailing how your club can apply to host
a day.
See you next time
Model aviation icon Dick Allen helps several
young students with the flight simulator.
Bill Markovitz, Don Shugard, and Frank Giofreddo
help this young guy and his dad get some stick
time on an AMA trainer.
