Every Year 48

[Chuck Feldman]

Here it is December 1st and I just completed my AMA renewal. Each year it grinds me to have to do this. You would think that after all these years of membership and having reached the age of 75 that the AMA would grant a free membership. LOL that will never happen. Another never happen will be for me to like the AMA. No sense of bashing it I have done that before. Control Line Forever  AMA never

Chuck

[john e. holliday]

I have never let my membership lapse since my first one in 1956.  Had to get it to fly in my first contest in which I was disqualified for loss of wheel during qualification flight for Rat Race.  I do get a dues decrease for my age though.  And my issue is wrapped in plastic for being part of a rules board. 

[Bill Johnson]

I think a lifetime membership would be a great idea but that probably won't happen either. We tried to get another organization to go that way, the Cast Bullet Association but they don't make as much money and with a limited membership, they can't afford to loose that much.

I haven't been active in the AMA for about 30 years but will be back in the first of the year.

[john e. holliday]

Well way back when I became an Open member I could have gotten a life time membership.  But, at that time I didn't have that kind of money. 

[peabody]

The "other" AMA (motorcycle) awards a life membership (free) after 25 years, I believe. They have a towing policy that is pretty good and to Life members it's around $35......

Have fun

 

[FLOYD CARTER]

On the AMA membership renewal form, there is a box to check if you want the senior rate.  So if you do not check this, they will bill you for the full amount.

Floyd

[Steve Helmick]

I know that our Academy of Model Aeronautics had a Lifetime membership not all that long ago. There was an 'installment plan', but I never had the coin to do it, or was too old when I found out about it to make it a wise investment.

If you want to get membership cheaper, you can become a Contest Director and then CD a contest or fun-fly every year. Most clubs need more CD's, but no, you don't have to be in a club!   Steve  

PS: Remember that AMA Insurance doesn't kick in until after your Homeowner's Insurance has maxed out. It's called "Secondary" Insurance. Apparently, homeowner's insurance covers your baseball if you hit a home run out of your backyard and through the neighbor's windshield. Or that old tree of yours falls on your neighbor's house when you're sawing it down or the wind blows it over. Same deal, covers you while you play with your toys. It does seem weird, when you could be thousands of miles from your house while flying your toy airplane.

[rustler]

You would think that after all these years of membership and having reached the age of 75 that the AMA would grant a free membership.

At the rate we're all going, members would all be free, and AMA no income.   

[peabody]

Steve....
I know of several instances where the AMA insurance was used as a primary.....including personal injury to a member....

I also know that there is far more coverage than what is published....

Have fun

[55chevr]

I would love to get my first number back from 1958. I have had 3 .... I found the card from the second number that I had in 1975. 

Joe

[Don Hutchinson AMA5402]

If you have anything from those first days such as an old rulebook, airplane photo or magazine with the AMA number in the address label, contact AMA and you may be able to get the old number back. I got my old, from 1948, number back after a gap between 1970 and 1988.

[55chevr]

Don,


Long gone.   I was 16 when I stopped flying the first time.  My interests changed to cars and girls.   If I knew the number or if there was an alpha list I would go to Indiana and research it or pay someone there ...
Joe

[rustler]

I would love to get my first number back from 1958. I have had 3 .... I found the card from the second number that I had in 1975.  Joe

My SMAE (Brit) No. is quite low, but I too would love to get my first even lower No. back. I lost it when I was suspended from membership for a year! Unfortunately neither the SMAE nor my club has any record of it.

[Chuck Feldman]

Interesting comments;   I to once had a lower number. The AMA wanted CD's to have low numbers so they asked the CD's of that time to request a new number. Mine became 650. So as time went by and I didn't renew until I retired I found out that I couldn't renew at that number nor even be a CD with out going through a process that they now use. So I looked through old photographs of the past and found about six numbers that where connected to me as my sons and some friends had AMA numbers back then. I sent that list to the AMA and they awarded my current number to me (15850) So that is how I got that number. On the issue I raised about complimentary membership, There is no doubt that that the AMA would grant any such request in my mind. I raised the issue because I believe it is a good point. Apparently some of you do also. The AMA is a big problem for me because the total cost of flying without contests is much less with out them. I would like to belong to Pampa and subscribe to Flying Models, Control line world. What I do is take my subscription to CLW because I like it. Flying models and Pampa I do not. I would like very much not to be a member of the AMA but am FORCED to belong because I like to make a contest every once in a while. I detest there magazine. Every copy they send me just makes my dislike for them stronger. This time I elected to get it digitally. Here again this, I believe saves them money but they do not pass any of that savings on to us. It would be nice if we did not need the AMA but like everything else it is easier to go along with what we have than try to replace it. OK that pretty much states how I feel about this matter. OH one more thing. I do not like being told that the AMA number must be on my model in one form or another. I think it serves no real function. I would prefer that my models have no number. Then it would also eliminate the name of the model to on the inside wing. Can you imagine what real aircraft would look like if they did these things.

Chuck Feldman

[Mike Scholtes]

About 15 years ago I contacted the AMA to ask if I could have my competitor's number from my first NATS in 1963. The six-digit number that I had was a pain to cut out of Japanese tissue for my free flight wings. No problem. I became AMA 1096 from that point forward. Try it yourself and see what they say.

And by the way "real" planes all have registration numbers on them, usually in foot-tall numbers that can be read through binoculars from the control tower. I got special dispensation to use smaller numbers on the vertical stabilizer of my 1943 Taylorcraft L2M when restoring it to military livery, instead of on the fuselage sides.

[john e. holliday]

I am keeping my number that I got in 1956.  Had a chance to change it when I got my CD license.   But, I had so many planes with my number on them.  Also the stensils I use.   

[Leo Mehl]

I have a free life membership for the Fireballs club for all the work I have done over the years. So I rub it in every year that dues are due

[FLOYD CARTER]

I have paid my AMA dues every year, although I didn't have to when I was CD for "WWI Jamboree" (R/C scale contest).

They gave me a new AMA number in 1975 with my application for CD status, although I didn't ask for it.

Floyd

[Mike Keville]

When I became a CD in 1971 they dropped the first two digits of my then-number, and I ended up with AMA # 325.  Carried that three-digit number 'til 1978 when I went to Saudi Arabia for a year.  Since I couldn't CD a contest that year, figured that was the end of that.  Dummy that I was, did not know that all I had to do was pay the fee in order to retain that low number.

Dropped out for a number of years, then re-joined in the '80s - when I was issued a six-digit number.  I then asked the late Bev Wisniewski if I could get my original (1951-52) number back (AMA # 14220).  She made it happen.

[George Hostler]

I know that our Academy of Model Aeronautics had a Lifetime membership not all that long ago. There was an 'installment plan', but I never had the coin to do it, or was too old when I found out about it to make it a wise investment.

According to http://www.modelaircraft.org/membership/membership/programs.aspx#lifemember.htm, AMA still has it and it is now $1,500. At current annual price of $58 that is 26 years worth of membership. It drops to $48 for seniors 65 and older. I'd be 90 years old by the time it paid off, so inflation excepting and who knows if I will live that long, it's not worth it at my age.

For someone younger who is seriously into model plane flying, say age 50 and under should go for it. I should have went for it when I was younger. Having joined AMA in the mid 1970's, I guess I have paid that already by doing the yearly installment plan.  

[RknRusty]

I renewed mine yesterday for $58. I thought I remembered it being $50 last year, but could be mistaken. I have 7 digits, the longest number I've ever seen, the price for being a noob I suppose. I guess I'll have to stick to bigger planes. A 1/2A with 7 digits on the wing doesn't need as much tip weight.
I'd like to join PAMPA too, for Stunt News if nothing else. But I have to cut the cost somewhere. I agree, Model Aviation is generally useless. I have to have AMA for my club field, and for any contests.

Rusty

[Steve Helmick]

Steve....
I know of several instances where the AMA insurance was used as a primary.....including personal injury to a member....

If there is no Homeowners or Renters Insurance, then of course AMA insurance takes the brunt of the attack. I believe there may also be some coverage on club equipment...maybe even on the club's flying field. No doubt would have to be an AMA Chartered club (everybody has to be an AMA member).  Steve

[Hoss Cain]

If there is no Homeowners or Renters Insurance, then of course AMA insurance takes the brunt of the attack. I believe there may also be some coverage on club equipment...maybe even on the club's flying field. No doubt would have to be an AMA Chartered club (everybody has to be an AMA member).  Steve

AMA Chartered Clubs can get some AMA help on repairing a facility and/or after a storm or burglary does its thing. Individual member AMA Liability Insurance is there for when you create an injury to a person or property. Your other liability insurance policies have to pay their way before AMA kicks in. That is why AMA insurance is so cheap. It just may be the only liability insurance you have.
Facts: Your AMA insurance does NOT require you to be flying on an AMA Charter Club property, nor does it require you to be any Club Member. IMO, the big part of AMA Liability Insurance is knowing if you ARE flying with AMA members and one creates an incident that harms you, then that person does have some insurance to assist your recovery. If you fly with non-AMA fliers, then that person may not have any form of insurance to apply to your hurt. If a non-AMA homeowner, or renter, is flying near you, you DO NOT KNOW WHETHER his/her INSURANCE IS IN EFFECT THAT DAY OR NOT! Your gamble. 

Personally, I do not care to fly around any place where non-AMA members fly, and so I don't.

AMA L-93

[john e. holliday]

You know, if you check the cost of magazine subscribtions which most do not have insurance.  I think the AMA membership is pretty low priced compared to the magazines we subscribe to.   Even though most people don't take time to read about what other modeling venues are going on.  I am reading about the free flight world championships and am amazed at the technology that is in play.  Far from the stick and tissue rubber powered planes I used to play with.  My license also allows me to fly in any sanctioned meet in this great land of ours. As long as it is not a club event which is usually closed to non club members.

[Lynn Weedman]

Chuck,
Just got my new card in the mail it'a a small price to pay for the thing we love to do, and insurance too!!!!