IMAA closing shop?

[Mitchell Baker]

Email from Roly would indicate that IMAA is closing down. Nothing official from the IMAA web site, but here is what the e-mail said...
From: Brian Wattie
Sent: August-14-14 10:15 AM
To: Martin & Sherry Passfield; Mark Winstanley; Fred Zufelt ; Tom Russell; Chris (Sparky) Jones; Roland Worsfold; Dave Penchuk
Subject: IMAA the end of an era
 
                Unfortunately, I have the sad news to announce that IMAA has ceased operations. Declining membership and high costs of publishing have resulted in insufficient funds to continue.
                The Fall edition of HighFlight is at the printer now, and will be mailed to the members as planned.  The Fall digital edition will also be available on the server, as it joins the three previous digital editions for our electronic subscribers. 
                Unfortunately, this will be the last issue of HighFlight Magazine that will be published.  This marks the end of a 34 year history of the International Miniature Aircraft Association. 
                I have been proud to represent District XII for 19 years on the board of directors and can assure you that over these years we have done everything possible to avoid this end. I am sure however, that you will continue to foster giant scale events within MAAC and promote this hobby that we all enjoy.
                Please pass on this information to all the members in your area.
 
Brian Wattie
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[Mitchell Baker]

Update, got this e-mail forwarded to me.
To our valued IMAA members,
 
For the first time in its 34 year history, the IMAA is facing a serious financial challenge – a challenge grave enough that we must cease publication of both the print edition, and the digital edition, after this Fall issue of HighFlight Magazine.
    
IMAA is a non-profit organization and, as such, relies on member dues and donations to operate. Over the years, IMAA membership has slowly declined. At the same time, print and production costs have steadily increased so that the print version of the magazine has consumed more and more of our resources.
This Fall issue will now have to be the last printed version that we produce. The digital edition will also be released as scheduled,through the NXTBook.com server.  
HighFlight Magazine has been the only publication available exclusively devoted to giant scale news, technical information, and product reviews. The IMAA Board and Officers have worked hard to find a resolution to the challenges we faced, but the bottom line is that we simply do not have the funds to continue.

In years past, the Board has made every effort to make IMAA membership, and HighFlight Magazine as affordable as possible.  It appears that the Board was too successful in that effort, and the savings to the members resulted in the organization's undoing. We ask for your understanding and support, as we wind down the organization.
We are confident that the traditions established by the IMAA..... the definitions of what constitutes a "Legal" Big Bird ... and the planning and promotion of Big Bird events will continue.  Although HighFlight Magazine will be missed, in its history of over one third of a century, we have seen the hobby grow from its simple, do-it-yourself roots, to the highly sophisticated level that we enjoy today.

Readers of the first issue of HighFlight, in 1980 were taught and encouraged, with articles on how to modify chain saw and weed whipper engines to a form that could be used on a giant scale aircraft.  There were instructions on how to build your own, semi-scale Cub type landing gear... bandsawed from plate aluminum, as there certainly were no "off the shelf " landing gear available at that time.  Another article in that first issue detailed how to apply Ceconite (full scale aircraft covering) to our models. There was a section of that Volume 1, Number 1 issue with some proposed by-laws for the new organization, and an invitation to meet at the upcoming Toledo Trade Show to discuss forming a new giant scale organization.  Yes..... There was an issue of HighFlight, BEFORE there was an I.M.A.A.
And there was a listing of "Sounding Board" Contacts, off of whom you could bounce ideas ... or ask questions.  And many of those folks, including Don Godfrey, Dave Platt, Corky Heitman, Wendell Hostetler, Jerry Nelson, and Lee Taylor are still active in the hobby today.  That first issue of HighFlight included an aircraft inspection check list, and a preliminary list of safety rules and procedures.  The I.M.A.A. has always championed good safety practices, and as a result, by working with the A.M.A., we were able to get governmental approval to fly larger and larger Big Birds at our flying sites.

Obviously, over a third of a century, a lot has changed in our hobby.  Big Birds are probably more the norm, than the "Giant Oddity" that they were in 1980.  One of the first "Giant" kits that became available was the Bud Nosen J-3 Cub.  At 1/4 scale, it spanned 109 inches, and everyone was in awe of that "Huge" model.  Today, it is the same size as the Aeroworks CubCrafters Sport Cub S2 that is featured in this issue.  Today, this is a plane that is regarded as somewhat small, but manageable.
Today, you can walk into any hobby shop, and find a huge array of giant scale engines, airframes, hardware, and servos, and even completely assembled "Bind and Fly" aircraft that are I.M.A.A. legal.  Everything you need to get started with a Big Bird is right there on the shelf....with no grinding of engine castings required.

I'm sure that I speak for all of the I.M.A.A. Officers and Board members, when I say that it was a very sad day when they had to formally, finally shut down the organization.  But I also know that they are proud of the contributions that the I.M.A.A., and HighFlight Magazine has made in the hobby.   Big Birds truly DO fly better, and they will continue to fly better for a long, long time.  Thank you to the members for your support along the way.  Fly Safely, and Have Fun!  It's been quite a ride!

-Taylor Collins, Editor

    &
The Officers and Board of Directors of  the I.M.A.A.
 
P.S. - Wil Byers, the publisher of RC Sport Flyer Magazine has graciously offered a free, one year subscription to RC Sport Flyer, to any of our members who are reading this message.  If you go to https://kionasubscribe.com/rcsubscribe/  and enter the promotional code IMAA-Mems you will receive a one year subscription to that fine magazine.  Thank you, Wil, for your kind support of our members....  You can learn more about RC Sport Flyer at http://www.rc-sf.com/