Dear fellow model airplane flier,

This posting is to alert you to the upcoming 2nd Annual Ringmaster Worldwide Fly-A-Thon which is sponsored by the Brotherhood of the Ring, a forum devoted primarily to the wonderful old time Ringmaster control line model airplanes. http://www.brotherhoodofthering.info

Yes, I know that you most likely are flying RC models and you are a member of a Radio Control Model Airplane Club!! But many RC clubs have members who migrated from control line flying to RC and most likely some of those members (the older ones at least) had and flew Matt Kania’s design, the original Ringmaster S-1 or the later S1A. It is not unlikely that some of your members have a Ringmaster or two hanging in their shop.

The Fly-A-Thon is a non-competitive event to honor the plane that many of us older modelers flew back in the 50s, 60s 70s and 80s.

Simply stated, we want to see how many Ringmaster flights can be recorded over a single weekend, the first weekend in October (10/3-4). Last year we recorded 255 flights in half a dozen different countries worldwide. The simple rules are stated below and I want to direct particular attention to the last paragraph. Many younger RC pilots probably have never seen a control line plane fly nor have they attempted to fly a control line model. I think it would be great fun if someone in your club can come up with one or more flyable Ringmasters and put up some flights in a corner of your field. More fun yet if some of your members have a try at flying a Ringmaster for an initial control line solo. It does not have to be for a FULL tank of fuel – most new pilots will get dizzy after a minute or two. Any of the Ringmaster varieties can be flown for this event (S-1, S-1A, RM Junior, RM baby, RM Sportster, etc.)!!

Give this some thought. It could make for an interesting event at your club. Poll your members at the next meeting or flying session and find out what they think about this event.

Thanks for considering this event and have fun!!

Regards,
John Cralley
AMA 52183

Here are the rules and a copy of a flier for the event is attached to this email

On October 3 & 4, we challenge you to fly any one or more of the many Ringmasters, old or new, and report your flights to: ringmasterflyathon-2009@yahoo.com

Deadline for reporting is: 12:00 noon Eastern Daylight time (USA) Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Location: Wherever you are!

Please report how many different Ringmasters flew, how many total Ringmaster flights were made and the location of these flights.
You may also report how many different pilots flew, how many Ringmasters were flown at the same time and what type of Ringmasters were flown.

Also, if you get someone new to solo on a Ringmaster, that flight will count as 2 flights! The more, the merrier! Let us know how many new solo flights we have too! If this will help promote new fliers by flying the same plane so many of us started with, this would be a bonus!

See the attached Flier: