Special Note from Dave Shema, the Club President:
As many of you know, I've been bugging the Company to help us find and secure a flying site for the Collins Model Aviators for about three years now. The budget requests raise some eyebrows at the RCCLB meeting level, and I presume at the VP of HR level.
Since it is most likely that pigs will fly long before the Company provides the requested assistance, an Interim Plan to secure a flying site for CMA has been introduced. The CMA will simply use the existing CR Skyhawks site just north of Rockwell on C Avenue. That sounds simple, but there is a small catch -- in order to use THAT site, you MUST be a member of the Skyhawks, and that will cost you an additional $50 ($35 if you're a "Senior" citizen). The Plan is for CMA to reimburse you for half your Skyhawk's dues for 2010.
The "official" address for the Skyhawks' site is 3125 C Avenue.>
Here is the official Plan to allow CMA members to use the Skyhawks site:
1. You MUST join (or renew) your CMA membership for 2010. That will cost you $20.
2. Fill out a CR Skyhawks membership application, and get it to the Skyhawks with your $50 ($35) membership fee for the Skyhawks. A form can be had by going here:
http://www.crskyhawks.org/joinpage.htm
3. Congratulations, you have just become a member of the Skyhawks, giving you full access to the field and its facilities.
4. When you get your Skyhawks membership card, send a copy of it to Lloyd Swanson (MS 130-112), along with a note telling him what amount you paid ($50/$35) for their dues.
5. The CMA will reimburse you for half your Skyhawks membership dues for 2010. The CMA essentially pays part of your membership dues for the Skyhawks for 2010. (Lloyd will need to know your address so he can get your reimbursement $$$ to you).
Things to keep in mind:
1. You MUST be a current member of the Academy of Model Aeronautics to use the Skyhawks site. That should be no big deal, as you MUST be an AMA member to join the CMA.
2. You MUST follow the posted rules at the Skyhawks site. No IFs, ANDs, or BUTs. Remember -- one stupid act can lead to immediate loss of that flying site. The site that the Skyhawks use is leased from the City of Cedar Rapids.
The two most important rules are A) NO FLYING AT ANY TIME BEHIND the FLIGHT LINE, and B) OBSERVE THE POSTED HOURS of operation. Don't fly BEFORE or AFTER the posted times.
The flight line is the WEST edge of the petromat runway. All flying MUST occur EAST of that line. Some bozos earlier this year were flying over C Avenue, and over the house on the property (apparently early in the morning to avoid having the sun in their faces as they flew). These people could have caused that site to be shut down permanently.
Pay attention to and USE the Frequency Control board -- even if you are a 2.4 GHz radio user. Remember -- If you shoot someone down on your frequency -- you just bought a new copy of whatever it is you shot down. You just won't get to enjoy flying it, as it won't be yours!
3. Participation in this program is voluntary, you don't NEED to join the Skyhawks to be a CMA member, but you DO need to join the Skyhawks if you intend to use their site. You DO need to join the CMA for 2010 to take advantage of this offer.
This plan gives you a great place to fly from, gives you access to the Skyhawks' instructors, and it gives you access to the CMA trainers and buddy boxes, and it is CLOSE to town. What more can you ask for?
Consider this to be a sale on 2010 Skyhawks' memberships. Join CMA, get half off your Skyhawks dues..... :)
This offer is for CMA members ONLY.
David Shema