Pomona Valley Model Airplane Club

The FAA Modernization and Reform Act received final congressional approval today as it passed the Senate today with a 75-20 vote.  The bill switches air traffic controllers from Radar to GPS, and opens up the U.S. skies to unmanned drone flights within 4 years.  Modelers and the AMA were concerned that a new bill would impose new restrictions and regulations on model aircraft.  However, with the effort of the AMA and its members, the bill includes provisions that protect model aviation and as such, there are no new restrictions on modelers.  This is Great News!   The Bill is expected to be signed into law by President Obama shortly.  You can read the press release from the AMA here.

John Reid,  Model Airplane News' West Coast Editor and fellow PVMAC member, has posted a really nice article on his blog on the Model Airplane News site about the  Red Tails, to coincide with the recent release of the Movie, The Red Tails.  At the end of the posting, John dedicates some time to italking about our own Marty Nelson and his very special P-51.  In addition, John posted an video interview  late last year, which I missed, but I've linked to it below in case you missed it too.

Link to Tuskegee Airmen Blog Post on Model Airplane News

Link to John Reid's video Interview with  Marty Nelson
 

Photo is credited to John Reid and Model Airplane News

On Tuesday,December 13th, the PVMAC held its December club meeting at the Chino Community Center, and we had a great turn out, matching last years turn out of 75 PVMAC members, showing up to eat pizza and cast their vote for the 2012 board member.  With a record mebership year having 504 members in 2011,  the 75 members in attendance Tuesday night was more than the requred 10% quarum.  Your PVMAC 2012 board members are Roy Barringer, Tom Marcure, Larry Marsh, Charlie Mitchell, Steve Parola, Chuck Pozanac, Paul Smith, Jim Stout and Phil Goodwine.  

In addition to electing the board members, we  heard several great presentations by members who were trying to get a last minute presentation in for the year end drawing.  Every year, at the last meeting, The PVMAC holds a yearly drawing for a $350 and a $250 Visa gift card.  For each presentation that you make during the year, you receive 1 ticket into the drawing.   Greg Stockdale had the record this year with 7 presentations thus 7 tickets into the drawing; unfortunately he did not win.  Roy Barringer proved you only need one ticket to win, and took home the $350 prize.  2012 promises to be another great year, and the newly elected board members wasted no time,  getting right to work on making the final preperations for the first event of 2012, the  Prado Booth at the AMA Expo on January 6th-8th.

Big Jolt has been over for almost 2 weeks now, and were just getting around to assembling all the material.   The event was a  BIG Success dispite the 108 degree heat.  We had almost 70 Registered pilots, this year, with many coming from as far away as Arizona.  This year we added a night flying competition, which we had many competitors, as well as spectators turn out for the dazzling night time flying light show.  We also had the speed run, though this year was not as fast as last year due to the heat and wind, but it was sill very fast , with top speeds approaching 190Mph.   Check out the Speed Trials Result Document Here.

We have posted some photos from the event so be sure to check the PVMAC photo gallery, and  John Reid from Model Airplane News posted some videos on ModelAirplaneNews.com

The PVMAC would like to give a BIG THANK YOU! to all of the 2011 Big Jolt Sponsors, who helped make this event such a great success. Like everyone else, these businesses are also having more difficult times these days, but they stepped up to the plate to make some significant donations to make our event a success.   Be sure to show your appriciation by purchasing their products,  which will allow them to stay in business during these difficult times.

Big Jolt 2011 Gold Sponsors
Big Jolt Silver Sponsors: Big Jolt Medallian Sponsors:

Dr. Ken Wagner is a PVMAC Member, and an avid RC pilot and modeler, and has the unique distinction of being proud owner of Lady Alice, a real P-51 Mustang.   Dr. Wagner has been very generous to the PVMAC, often donating ride alongs for raffle or auction, which benefit our club tremendously.  And if you have ever been to any of our hanger dinners held during our events, you've probably had a chance to sit in the cockpit of this immaculate piece of history.  And seeing this museum piece up close, you can't help but feel your in the presence of a true thoroughbred, whose caretaker has treated her as such, with passion, love and devotion.   Every aspect of the plane is impeccable, and no details were spared.  It reminds me of a glossy concept show car on the podium at the L.A. auto show, except it flies, and Dr. Wagner is at the controls almost every weekend.

Scott Plummer of PlaneVideoArt Productions has produced and narrated a fantastic video featuring Dr. Wagner and his P-51, Lady Alice.  If your interested in the history of this P-51, or how Dr. Wagner came to be the proud owner, or what it's like to pilot this stallion, or what its like to ride along, I encourage you to watch this high quality documentary produced for Warbirds on the Net.  

There is a nice write up of this years IMAC event that just passed on the Model Airplane News website.  The write up gives a complete list of all the classes and who the winners were. The article was written by West Coast Senior Editor John Reid and the great photos were provided by Sam wright and Phil Goodwine.  Check in out here!

PVMAC member Allan Hess has informed me of some sad news this evening.  Allan Writes; "It was brought to my attention today that Jerry Boggs, longtime PVMAC & MARKS club member passed away June 11 of natural causes.  Jerry cut back his flying as of late, but used to be part of the Mon/Wed/Fri group at Norton.
We are told that Funeral is at Mt. View cemetery in San Bernardino, 10am, Tues June 21. " 

Here is the Obituarity printed in the San Bernardino Sun on June 19.

JERRY ALLEN BOGGS Age 72, a resident of San Bernardino for 37 years, passed away on June 11, 2011. He was born in San Bernardino. He was a Journeyman for 50 years with the Edison Company until 1994. He was active in the Pomona Valley R.C. Club and Marks R.C. Club. Also a member of the N.R.A. Jerry is survived by his mother, Barbara Myrle Boggs; sons, Jeff and David Boggs; Grandchildren, Stevi and Sam. Visitation: Tuesday, June 21, 2011, 9-10 A.M. with Funeral Service at 10:00 A.M. at Mt. View Mortuary.

Please visit: www.mtviewsanbernardino.com to offer condolences.