Earning an All Season Patch

[bill marvel]

The Lafayette Esquadrille Control Line Club in St. Louis makes an effort each year to encourage members to earn the AMA patch or numerical patch for putting in at least one real control line flight each month.  In St. Louis, we must struggle with ice, snow, rain and especially Midwest wind in December through March.

The club has another fun tradition.  When you fly at the club site in Buder Park, you use a piece of chalk to record the date and name of those who flew (or even pitted).  Steve Smith and I were able to get our January flight in on January 26th.  It was cool with temperatures in the low 40's but a wind-chill of below freezing.  Winds were 10-15 mph but with gusts of 30+ mph.  We were proud to have gotten engines started and a January flight flown.

Today turned out to be better but Steve couldn't make it.  It was a good thing we flew yesterday.

regards,
bill marvel

[Paul Taylor]

Way to go Bill !!!!

I would like to do the same, but it is hard to get out to the field.

Paul

[Paul Taylor]

Maybe a section could be setup here on the forum to document this event? Kind of a pilot report card for those that want to attempt the all season patch. Include photos if able.

Just a thought,
Paul

[Andrew Hathaway]

When we lived in Topeka we did the all season flyer thing several years in a row.  In South Dakota it was hard to get out at all, much less once a month year round.  Now that we're back in Kansas I haven't missed a month since May.  We got out a couple weeks ago, and again yesterday.  It was warm but windy... Got some more time in on the Bi-Slob.  Got some killer touch n goes, some good hovers, and at one point I landed and taxi'd to a stop and waited for dad to turn the needle in a bit so I could get off the ground again.  The only bad part is all the loose grass sticking in the castor oil.  It's a nightmare cleaning all that oil off all those surfaces.

[Bob Reeves]

Wasn't even aware of an all season patch, takes a new airplane to get me out when it's below 60. This was yesterday just before putting the first flight on my Ringmaster 576. Only one flight, too cold for messing around very long.

[Andrew Hathaway]

The patch and the 2nd year, 3rd year, etc tabs are sold by the AMA.  You can find them on the website, the information required to obtain the patch is listed there too. 


"To fulfill the requirements of this patch mail in a typewritten, or handwritten copy of your declaration (see below) with your club secretary's signature. If you do not belong to a chartered club, include another active adult AMA member's signature with AMA number. DECLARATION: I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT WHILE A DULY ENROLLED AMA MEMBER, I HAVE PERSONALLY CAUSED A MODEL AIRCRAFT TO BECOME AIRBORNE OUTSIDE AT LEAST ONE OCCASION DURING EACH MONTH OF THE APPLICABLE CALENDAR YEAR."

If the AMA products catalog allows direct links, this should go right to the patch. http://www.modelaircraft.org/shopama/product.aspx?id=F99F2C38520345B6B0773AF4ADA0FC1D&d=F99F2C38520345B6B0773AF4ADA0FC1D

[Dan McEntee]

Ha, ha. From reading that, one could just toss a hand launch glider into the air and forget about it.    Walk out side, toss it and run back inside.    Don need  no stinkin engine. 

   Hello Ty;
  We have an honor system in the Esquadrille! It has to be a C/L model, and I always get at least two flights, not just one. I got mine today, as I had two cars with bad thermostats and oil changes due that got all of my attention yesterday. I have a small park near my house that I go to for a quick flight or two when needed. Or I head down to Buder if I know others will be there and put my name in chalk also. I think with last year figured in, I've gone seven or eight years straight now. It's a simple, easy goal that gives me the drive to at least get a handle in my hand each month, as work and life in general keep getting in the way of me having fun!
   Type at you later,
   Dan McEntee

[Terry Bolin]

Bob, Very Nice Ringmaster, good color combo.
Take a picture of the release stooge and post it. I am intrested in what the two wires do that go forward from the metal plate, since there are two verticals that hold the stab.

[Bob Reeves]

The stooge belongs to Elwyn Aud, he reciently posted a couple photos of it in one of the forums but can't remember which one or what thread.. Maybe he will see this and either provide a link or re-post the photos.

[Dave Nyce]

The metal plate looks like the stooge that I bought from Brodak.  In the photo, it looks like the verticals are probably hinged at the bottom so that they fall forward when the stooge is released?

Dave

[Elwyn Aud]

The wires attach to small bracket at the base of each upright arm of the stooge.