Whittier Narrows

Last week I was fortunate enough to visit the Whittier Narrows Recreation Area. It is the home to two AMA chartered clubs, the Knights of the Round Circle (KOTRC), and the San Gabriel Valley RC League (SGVRCL).

The Thursday morning group of the KOTRC consisted of from left to right John Wright, Joel Chesler, Steve Harris,Andy Borgogna, and AMA Hall of Fame member Larry Renger.

Here's Joel helping Steve start up his Nobler.

Steve brings in the Nobler for a perfect landing.

Andy is getting set up to fly the pattern. The KOTRC's have a fantastic flying field. In addition to two paved aerobatic circles they have a caged speed circle, and two grass circles where they teach new control line pilots and hold combat competitions. Their field also has one of the last tether car tracks in the country. All in all a great club.


Now all of the AMA members who live in the area are lucky to have a second club side by side with the KOTC's. The San Gabriel Valley RC League has developed an outstanding field right in the heart of a community park.

The SGVRCL President Paul Timpano is shown here taxiing out his Spitfire. Paul told me he likes to fly at two speeds full power and idle. He really loves to go fast.
Ted Holdredge the club Secretary scratch built this beautiful yellow model of his own design. It looked like it was a lot of fun a real floater.

Here Ted brings it in for a nice slow landing.

Which nicely contrasted with Paul's Spitfire. I had a great day at both fields. In addition I stopped off at the Santa Fe Dam Modelers but we had such a nice visit and lunch I forgot to take any pictures. I'll have to make up for that next time I'm in the area.

Lawrence Tougas
AMA District X Vice President

AMA Expo First Day Photos

The AMA Expo began yesterday and I took a couple of photos that I want to share with you.

Aeroworks had their usual array of top notch aircraft on display

Castle Creations displayed this electric ducted fan model of the German ME-262. Each motor put out 15 lbs. of thrust.


Joe Bock one of our featured speakers displayed his 50% scale Hughes H-1 racer. Joe will fly this aircraft at the AMA's 75th anniversary celebration in Muncie this July.


Great Planes had a full compliment of their wares on display.

As did Horizon Hobbies.

The following two photos are examples of Naval, Marine and Coast Guard aircraft that members brought to display in support of the Navy's 100th anniversary of flight.








I want to close by introducing Tim Johnson. Tim is our newest District X Associate Vice-President. Tim will cover the area south of Los Angeles and north of the San Diego area. Tim is a dedicated scale modeler and will bring a lot of enthusiasm and experience to the position. Please join me in welcoming him.

Lawrence Tougas
AMA District X Vice-President

AMA Expo Starts Today

That's right the AMA Expo is starting at noon. I'll be there and I would love to meet you. So if you're at the Expo come by the AMA booth and say hello.

Check back here tomorrow for some photos from the first day.

Lawrence Tougas
AMA District X Vice-President

Get Togethers in Southern California

On Thursday January 6th I will be at two locations in Southern California. The first will be the Whittier Narrows Recreation Area where the San Gabriel Valley RC League, and the Knights of the Round Circle fly. I'll be there from 8:00 A.M. until 11:30 A.M. if you're in the area please stop by and say hello.

Here's a map to the field;


View Larger Map

Just click on the, "view larger map" link to get a page you can put your starting point at and receive driving directions.

At noon I'll be at the Santa Fe Dam Radio Control Modelers. Again if you 're in the area or visiting for the AMA Expo please stop by I'd love to meet you. Here's a map to the field;


View Larger Map

Again click the, "view larger map" link to get directions. The gate must be kept locked so if you're there just call 707-480-2053 and we'll have someone let you in. Hope to see you there.

Pomona Valley Model Airplane Club Meeting

This Wednesday January 5th the Pomona Valley Model Airplane Club will be hosting a special meeting for its members.

Horizon Hobby will be hosting a seminar. Speaking at this seminar will be

David Eichtedt - Aircraft Product Development
Pete Goldsmith - Team Horizon Air Team
Jeff Cash - Spektrum Radio DX8 New Products

I'll be there to enjoy the seminar and to announce our latest Associate Vice-President for District X. If you will be in the area you should make plans to attend.

The meeting will be held at the Chino Airport from 7-9 pm.

The Chino Airport is here;


View Larger Map

Click on the, "view larger map" link to insert your start point and receive driving directions. A map to the hanger on the airport property is here.

I look forward to seeing you there,
Lawrence Tougas
AMA District X Vice-President

Happy New Year

Welcome to 2011 and a new District X website! My goal with this website will be to deliver timely and interesting news to AMA members everywhere. It will be growing and developing over the next few weeks I hope you find it a resource you enjoy and benefit from.

I will be depending on all of you for the content for our website. The best way to promote events your club will be sponsoring is to make a write-up about it. Send it to me in advance of your big day and I will get the word out to the 23,000 modelers in our District. Then after the event send me another write-up describing all of the great things that happened to let the folks who couldn't make it know what they missed and get them thinking about attending the next event you will have.

We have a lot of excellent club newsletters in the District, if your club newsletter has a story that other modelers could benefit from send it to me and I will share it with our Brother and Sisters from Utah to Guam along with giving your club all of the credit it deserves.

This year is going to be a busy one. We will likely see the FAA's proposal for rules that will for the first time be binding on modelers. We will have to act in concert to achieve the best possible outcome in this area. AMA members are responsible safety conscious individuals and together we will prevail.

I am looking forward to our District sponsored fun-flys this year. These events will allow members from the four corners of our district to gather together for Friendship, Flying and Fun; those are goals I know we can all get behind.

I want to close by wishing you all the very best possible 2011. I hope you got out and flew today because if you fly on New Year's Day you'll have good luck all year long.

Happy New Year,
Lawrence Tougas
AMA District X Vice-President