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Corky's CornerWinter 2005 by Corky Heitman FS-6 I.M.A.A. Vice-President Hello Big Bird Lovers, The past two months have been an emotional roller coaster, marked by great happiness, and great sorrow. Our District III Mini-Fest at the Thistledown Field was a great success, and was even bigger and better than ever before...and one of the mainstays of our club and that event was tragically murdered. Jim Steinhurst, who was to be the new Director from District III was mugged and severly beaten...apparently just for his billfold. The impact of this totally mindless act has affected everyone who knew him...his wife, his children and grandchildren, and all of his many friends.
Less than a month before Jim's death, he was working hard with us to make the Thistledown District III Mini-Fest one of the premier giant scale events in the midwest. This year, in addition to all the great big bird flying, the night flying, and an amazing barbecue, we had Matt Chapman, flying his famous, paint ball splattered CAP 580. Matt is an avid supporter of model aviation, and aviation in general. His airshow routine is spectacular...but our show was particularly unique, because he also flew in formation with Frank Noll Jr...flying the Great Planes 1/3 scale model of Matt's full size. THAT is something you won't see anywhere else! The one key word describing the Thistledown Mini-Fest is "Free". I can't emphasize this enough. We work hard to give back to the pilots...give back to the spectators, and all of this is done at no charge. By getting plenty of sponsorship, it is possible to put on a major event like this without any landing fees, etc. It is getting more and more expensive to travel to a fly-in, and having to pay a $20 landing fee or more is an insult that just isn't necessary. With the larger crowds of spectators, and the "air show" atmosphere of an IMAA event, we can attract the advertising and promotion dollars of local businesses, and do not have to put the financial burden on the pilots to make a big fly-in happen. Think about it...You can make this work at your event too. This will be my last "Corky's Corner" as your IMAA Vice-President. Twenty-five years ago, I started with the IMAA as VP...and now a quarter of a century later, I'm bowing out of the "Official" limelight. Your editor has asked me to stay on writing this column, and I will continue to stay upbeat, remembering my motto "If it is good for IMAA, it's good for me!" Your new officers and Board of Directors are already working hard to provide energy and enthusiasm for the organization. Big Bird pilots are alive and well, as is the entire hobby. If you don't believe it, just look at the cover of the Fall issue. There are over 600 pilots, and probably 1800 airplanes in that picture...taken at the 2005 Joe Nall Fly-In. That's a TON of aviation fun, at the largest R/C event in the country! The great part about our hobby is that we can all have just as much fun, whether at a huge event like the Joe Nall, at a local Chapter event with just a couple of dozen pilots, or just out with one flying buddy at the local flying field. It is an exciting time to be a Big Bird flyer. The equipment is more reliable, more capable, and better performing than we could have ever dreamed. And the range of airplanes, engines and radios is more affordable (or more 'out of sight') than anyone could have imagined...even five years ago.
Just think about it...you can have a complete IMAA legal airplane like Brian Wattie's Phony Fokker Einducker (the complete construction article is in the Giant Scale Handbook)...ready to fly with airframe, engine, and radio...for under $250. Or you can have a 20 foot B-29, with four 80 cc engines, and all the bells and whistles...for more money than can be imagined. The choices are yours...how complex, how expensive, how fast, how big. But regardless of how you choose to pursue this great hobby, you'll be welcomed at your local IMAA Chapter. Great fun...Great friends...that's what the IMAA is all about... –Corky
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