Coming out of the 2024 FAC Nats, I just had to add this beautiful image of Vance Gilbert’s stunning Farman to our banner rotation. The photo was taken by Jonathan Nunez. BEAUTIFUL!
You’ve been dragging your feet! The 15th of June is the last day to register and get a T-Shirt! Grab the form, fill it out, and mail it in! (There’s even an electronic registration option, if you read the fine print!)
2024 FAC Nats Registration form – click HERE to download the PDF!
See you there!
Let’s all welcome our new friends in Switzerland, Squadron #44 – the Swiss Rubber Twisters!
Here is their web page: https://www.gummimotor.ch/
Over the last week, we have been informed of two great modelers that have passed away:
In California, FAC Hall of Famer, John Hutchison, passed away peacefully after an illness.
John Hutchison with his Zero
In Texas, Bob Isaacks passed away under violent circumstances.
Bob Isaacks with his Chambermaid
Here’s hoping for a wonderful Day of Giving Thanks to all of our modelers and families!
This is from Jim Miller, reporting on his father Bill Miller on Facebook:
“Sad news… my father and long time FAC member Bill Miller passed away today peacefully at the age of 95. He flew with Dave Stott and the gang back in the 1970’s-1990’s. He was also the cartoonist who drew the Hungorilla cartoons for the old FAC newsletters. Thanks to his long time friend and fellow FAC member, Brian Knapp for some of the great photos! I sure will miss flying model planes with my dad.”
I have selected two photos from what he posted. If you have Facebook, you can see his original post HERE.
Coming out of the FAC Board Meeting last night, the Board voted to increase subscription rates immediately. Here is a high-level explanation of “why”:
1) rates have been the same for several years at $25/$35/$50
2) most memberships are being paid by PayPal – which takes a little over $1 out of the $25 in fees per payment
3) choosing to mail the newsletter at First Class rates instead of bulk rates
4) the newsletter is now costing just under $27 per person
Given that information, it is easy to see that we are losing almost $3 per subscriber and there are about 850 subscribers. We cannot suffer such losses.
So, we have raised the rates by $10 per subscription to cover immediate and future costs for some time.
Note: CinC Dave Mitchell may have an explanation forthcoming, but we were instructed to implement this immediately and we felt we needed to provide the membership with something of an explanation. We are also looking at other potential cost-saving measures. Please direct your comments or concerns to the FAC Board and/or CinC.
US: $35 per year
Canada: $45 per year
Overseas: $60 per year
EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY
We have dates, so set your calendars! The 2024 FAC Nats will be 17-20 JULY at the site in Geneseo, NY.
We don’t have a schedule yet, but we have dates!
(edit: corrected end date to the 20th)
See you there!
After a long and complicated summer, the Kanone and Sierra Hotel Lists have been updated!
Happy Halloween!
–george
As Keeper of Kanones, I see the results of all reported contests. I keep track of such in a database; well, the winner and winning model. I would like to share the results (top three) of the recent contest at Wawayanda. There were 8 flyers recorded in Jimmie Allen, and looking at the photos on Facebook, there was a preponderance of Jimmie Allen Specials, the smallest and rarely successful eligible model. But that is not the Exciting news regarding this Contest and Event.
The Skokie (B.A. Cabin) was SHUT OUT of placing in this contest! What a rarity! And, yes, at least one was flying. To give you an idea of the rarity of this, take a look at the database record (since 2014) for Jimmie Allen Contests:
“Everyone” builds and flies a Skokie – and they win with them. I think there are two reasons for this: 1) it is a good flyer, and 2) a kit is available (Easy Built Models). Personally, I like the Sky Raider – it is similar to the Skokie, but slightly larger (and you can see, it wins, too).
But here are the top three finishers (as reported by Tom Hallman) at Wawayanda:
Granted, the flight times are nothing exceptional, but that matters not – a contest was held and these models won. Here are photos of the winners, taken by Karin Escalante and grabbed from Facebook.
I believe this is Mike Escalante’s battle-worn Blue Flash
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Vance Gilbert and his “transportized” Jimmie Allen Special. Note the spoked wheels!
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Matt King and his rarely-modeled Yellow Jacket – with yellow jacket insect markings
IMPRESSIVE!