Monday, 07 November 2016 00:00
 We meet again at MASM flying field Saturday, December 3, 2016 with Toys for Tots. Bring a unwrapped two toys (one for girl and one for boy) between 9am and 2pm with you and fly your plane. If weather does not cooperate and does not permit, flying bring a toy anyway. Rex Williams will be there rain or shine from 9am until 2pm collecting toys which will be donated as Christmas gifts to needy children in the community.
Contact Rex Williams Jr if you have questions (
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
). Click here to download the official MASM 2016 Toys for Tots flyer. Click here for more information about the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation.
Thursday, 07 July 2016 00:00
 I just wanted to give you a heads up. I have run into three snakes at the field; one was a rattler who is no longer with us. I have been going to the field around 9AM on Mondays and Wednesdays lately. The snakes are using the telephone poles that are lying there on the gravel to stop the cars as a "highway". Since it is shady they follow the telephone poles and the shade from one side of our field to the other. That means when you step over the telephone pole there may be a snake on the other side traveling the "highway". It happened to me twice; the third snake I encountered was by the garbage can.
I just thought I might want other members to know.
Saturday, 18 June 2016 00:00
Hello fellow members, I'm writing to let you know that MASM Flying Field regulations and operation rules has been changed last week. We all should be familiar with the latest rules for our safety and safety of others. Please check MASM field regulations and MASM Field Operational Rules. Among other minor changes there are some important new requirements or restrictions: 1. FAA introduced new law regarding aircraft model operations early this year. If you don't obey it you might get into real trouble with authorities. See FAA website for detail information http://www.faa.gov/UAS/REGISTRATION/, and http://www.faa.gov/uas/model_aircraft/ : - You must have a current FAA sUAS Registration Certificate in your possession to be permitted to fly.
- All aircraft must have visible markings of the FAA sUAS registration number.
- No flying when a TFR (Temporary Flight Restriction) is active. 2. The area west of Eagles Nest Rd is now off limits for model aircraft activities. Historically we have this area available for hand launched gliders, even I don't remember anyone using it. Now, because this area is dedicated as a protected species preserve, we no longer can use it. 3. "First Pilot View" (FPV) and pre-programmed or automated flying (aircraft with "mission" programmed into GPS) is banned. We fly "by hand" looking from the ground and constantly controlling our aircraft. On board cameras or video recorders are still allowed as long as they are not used for any means of controlling the aircraft. 4. Multi rotor aircraft (also known as "drones", "quads", "sextas", "octas" etc.) are banned. We, as AMA charter club, are interested in "scale aircraft" flying. Traditional looking helicopters are still welcome, but (no offense) flying "Christmas tree stand" is not allowed in our field. 5. The 400ft vertical limit is still in place and it is now enforced by FAA. Under any circumstances do not fly higher than 400ft above the ground. This is the law. 6. Be always aware of the surrounding airspace, and always watch for full scale aircraft. Our flying field is 2 miles from Mather Airport runway and just below the downwind leg of their traffic pattern. Be specially alerted to low flying helicopters. They may cut through our flying field as low as 500 ft above the ground (yes, legally they can fly that low here). 100 ft vertical separation is very close for full scale aircraft and it is called "near miss", which must be reported to FAA. We do not want that. Please, please, please, read these documents. If you do not understand, or you do not agree with something let our officers know. We will explain so it works out for you. We are working with Mather Airport to obtain Letter Of Agreement (FAA recommended document when flying field is close to an airport) which will define "rules of engagement" for our flying without need to notify airport every time we want to go out. Without such Letter OF Agreement we would be required by FAA to call Mather Airport every time we want to fly. It is not practical for us and for Mather Tower. We can expect that Letter Of Agreement will have the similar restrictions as we have now in our updated Field Regulation and Field Operational Rules. Now after reading this long letter and making sure we read and understand both documents let's go flying safely. -- Ryszard Malinowski,
Mather Aerospace Modelers, Inc.
Webmaster
Tuesday, 10 May 2016 00:00
MASM Armed Forces Day Static Display is held at California Aerospace Museum, 3200 Freedom Park Dr., McClellan, CA on Saturday, May 21, 2016. We will have Airplanes for static display and RC Flight Simulator Programs. The museum will open at 10am and we will be there till 5pm. DIRECTIONS: From highway 50 take WATT AVE NORTH until you get to FREEDOM PARK DR. Turn left (WEST) to the museum. Or Goggle map quest: California Aerospace Museum,3200 Freedom Park Dr., McClellan, CA.
Rex Williams Jr. Download the official flyer.
Monday, 08 February 2016 00:00
Merwin Ranch Memorial Fun Fly is April 15-17 2016 at MASM Flying Field.
(Gates will open Friday 8:00am for RV parking) Pilot registration $30.00 includes dinner, raffle ticket, T-Shirt or Mather Club polo
(Extra Dinner $15.00, Lunch available for purchase $10.00. Additional T-Shirt $10.00) Open to all flyers (AMA required): Must have current AMA
All planes (NO FPV, NO MULTI-ROTOR), turbines welcome
Night Flying Friday & Saturday night
After 5:00 pm open flying for registered plots
RV camping included (First Come First Serve)
Newly extended 475’ runway
Pilot Raffle for all: Sunday Drawing CD's: Norman Poynter and Keith Fick. Contact phone numbers in the official flyer. MASM field is located in Sacramento County, California just north of the intersection of Eagles Nest Rd. and Kiefer Blvd. on the former Mather Air Force Base (about one mile south of Mather Golf Course). Click here for information and location of Mather Aerospace Modelers Flying Field.
Thursday, 08 January 2015 00:00
Merwin Ranch Memorial Fun Fly is April 04-05 2015 at MASM Flying Field. Pilot Fee $25.00
Food Provided by Mather Bar~B~Que
(Additional Dinner Ticket $10.00)
Lunch will be available Saturday and Sunday for purchase for $8.00. Open to all flyers (AMA required): Must have current AMA
All planes & helicopters, turbines welcome
Night Flying Friday & Saturday night
After 5:00 pm open flying for registered plots
RV camping included (First Come First Serve)
Newly extended 475’ runway
Pilot Raffle for all: Sunday Drawing CD's: Norman Poynter and Keith Fick. Contact phone numbers in the official flyer. MASM field is located in Sacramento County, California just north of the intersection of Eagles Nest Rd. and Kiefer Blvd. on the former Mather Air Force Base (about one mile south of Mather Golf Course). Click here for information and location of Mather Aerospace Modelers Flying Field.
Wednesday, 12 November 2014 00:00
 We meet again at MASM flying field Saturday, December 6, 2014 with Toys for Tots. Bring a unwrapped two toys (one for girl and one for boy) between 9am and 2pm with you and fly your plane. If weather does not cooperate and does not permit, flying bring a toy anyway. Rex Williams will be there rain or shine from 9am until 2pm collecting toys which will be donated as Christmas gifts to needy children in the community.
If you cannot make to the field that day, bring your donated toys to our Christmas Dinner. Rex Williams Jr will be collecting toys there too. Contact Rex Williams Jr if you have questions (
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
). Click here to download the official MASM 2014 Toys for Tots flyer. Click here for more information about the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation.
Thursday, 26 June 2014 00:00
June 23,2014 FAA published the Press Release - FAA Offers Guidance to Model Aircraft Operators. On June 25, 2014 we (MASM) have received the following inquiry via our website: RE: FAA Guidance, June 23, 2014 “Special Rule for Model Aircraft”
http://www.faa.gov/news/press_releases/news_story.cfm?newsId=16474&omniRss=press_releasesAoc&cid=102_P_R
Hello MASM,
As a local member of Flight Club and active RC and FPV enthusiast, we are reaching out to all our local clubs and companions in the field of model aircraft regarding the devistating "clarification" submitted by the FAA yesterday. We're hoping to partner and join together to address this draconian designation and we'd like to work together.
If you dont mind, please advise regarding the use of FPV at your field? Is your field FPV friendly? If you have enthusiasts, or any other issues with the FAA law and would like to help, please contact us and join the fight.
Thanks for your consideration, and we look forward to working with you.
jeff Below, here is my response to that inquiry which is in line with the position of our club in that matter: Hi Jeff,
I'm a member of MASM and AMA since 2001. I'm flying all kind of model airplanes excluding turbine powered jets and FPV (First-Pilot View). I also carry a Private Pilot License with Instrument rating and I actively fly small GA planes (full scale) for pleasure. From these facts you may understand my position on the FAA publication.
I don't see any "devastation" or "draconian designation" in FAA publication. Comparing it to current AMA Safety regulations there are two new limitations imposed by FAA on model flying:
1. It cannot be commercial, what simply says, you can't take money for your service. I don't believe it is in any way related to sponsored flying (like many modelers currently do), but rater it is about flying as a service, for example taking aerial photos or videos, advertising, transporting products etc. That limitation does not affect any modeler for whom the flying is a hobby.
We need to understand that commercial flying brings more risk than hobby flying. I am not talking about the quality and reliability of the equipment or training and experience. The commercial flying adds a "human factor" to the equation. Commercially flying pilot has additional stress of "commitment" to get the job done and he/she is more inclined to take extra risk when the conditions are less than perfect. Additionally commercial flying is usually performed over the populated area and that brings additional risk in case something goes wrong. This is why in the wold of "full scale pilots" there is a distinction between "commercial license" and "private license".
2. Contact the airport or control tower when flying within 5 miles of the airport. This was never in AMA regulations or recommendations. I don't see this to be practical to call the tower every time the flying field is active. It may be practical if the field is holding a special event that would result unusual activity (amount of flying, flying higher that 400 ft etc.). It should be enough the notify the Tower about the field location and let the "Tower" decide if they want to have a call every time someone is going to take off.
Regarding the flying FPV AMA published it's regulations years ago. Especially regarding flying withing LOS (Line Of Sight). This is the only way we can assure that the model "does not interfere with and gives way to any manned aircraft". The first and primary rule in flying is "see and avoid". When this is impossible (for example because of IMC) then the flying is coordinated by ATC. Neither of these two applies to flying FPV beyond LOS. Being on the other side of the windscreen (flying a full scale plane) I don't want to take a risk of colliding with other "out of control" plane, especially the one I can't see. Just a "bird strike" can be deadly but even birds try to get out of the way. Hitting a model plane is like taking a shrapnel - mostly deadly experience.
The rest of the text follows all AMA Safety rules, so I don't see anything new here.
Mather Aerospace Modelers is AMA chartered club. Our flying field is located 2.5 miles from the runway of Mather Airport (KMHR) just bellow the traffic pattern for runway 4R/22L. Traffic patter altitude at KMHR is 1000ft AGL what means at our location the full scale planes may fly relatively low altitude. We have a mutual agreement with Mather Tower that we do not need to notify tower personnel every time we fly. They are aware of our field location and our frequent activities.
Flying model airplanes at MASM field is limited to maximum altitude 400ft. When a full scale plane is spotted and seen to arrive near our field at low altitude (near pattern altitude), model airplane must land or fly as close to the ground as practical.
Our field is "friendly" to all kind of model flying with the exception of turbine powered jets in the summer time because of the fire hazard. All pilots must adhere to AMA Safety rules and MASM field regulations (published on our website). That also means pilots flying FPV must also fly within LOS and must utilize a spotter.
Regards,
Ryszard.
Saturday, 29 March 2014 00:00
 Fun Fly & Swap Meet April 12-13, 2014
at High Desert Radio Control Club
Tiger Field Airport Fernley, Nevada,
3 miles south of town on hwy 50 Saturday, April 12, 8 a.m. until late night
- Open Flying
- Swap Meet
- Bar-B-Q
- Raffle
- Spot Landing Contest
- Night Flying
- Static Displays
- Free dry camping Sunday, April 13, 8 a.m. until midday
- Open Flying Pilot fee $5.00 Open to the public AMA required for pilots
Free dry camping
Sellers bring tables (table setup fee $5.00)
Event details at https://www.facebook.com/hdrcc Click here to download the official flyer.
Tuesday, 25 March 2014 00:00
 3rd Annual Warbirds Over Roseville is June 14, 2014.
AMOS Flying Field – East Catlett & Fiddyment Rd, Lincoln, CA 7:00 am.......................................................................Gates Open
8:00 am.......................................................................Registration
8:30 am.......................................................................Pilots Meeting
9:00 am.......................................................................Flying Pilot fee $15.00 includes one meal and raffle ticket
(All skill levels welcome) Any Size Warbird
(Scale/Semi-Scale Allowed, All Propulsions) World War I thru Current - WARBIRD Colors ONLY RV Parking (no hookups) Available by reservation only
BBQ Raffle (Must Be Present)
Awards for Best Show in Each Class (WWI, WWII, Jets); Best Cockpit; Best Twin Engine PRE-REGISTRATION AND VOLUNTEER SIGNUP AVAILABLE AT WWW.RCFLIGHTDECK.COM Website www.amosrc.com or Mike Haston @ (916) 801-1362 Click here to download the official flyer.
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