Did anyone get a chance to fly this year? I've remodeled a kitchen, bathroom, and living room. My old club had to move our flying field (for some reason the state didn't like our idea of closing down their new highway on Saturdays so we could use the southbound lane as a run-way!). I've almost forgotten what flying was like!

Thank God for the Rally of the Giants in Muncie, hosted by The Central Indiana IMAA and the Henry County Wright Flyers. There were 152 registered pilots, with over 300 aircraft with 17 vendors on site. They really saved my summer. Our VP, Corky Heitman even let me bunk in his camper when my power steering pump died in my camper. (But the snoring! Bush was bad, but never that bad!) In addition to the clubs, I'd also like to thank Ron Pierce, Steve Darlington, and the AMA's Steve Kaluf for helping to make a great Rally!

At the summer Board meeting I appointed a new membership committee with the goal of opening local events to more pilots, expanding Highflight to include all Giant Scale events, and giving everyone who joins a $500.00 internet shopping spree! Remember though, that no matter how much the Board does, the responsibility for the IMAA is ultimately the responsibility of each member. The Board is not the IMAA, the members are!

The IMAA's 25th Anniversary will be held in Danville, VA. In this edition of Highflight you'll find an ad for the 2005 Rally of Giants. It's being sponsored by Flights Unlimited Air Shows, Chap. 734. Jeff Phillips is the contact. For more information, write Jeff at: jeffsphillips@mindspring.com. Their field is receiving numerous upgrades. There's a paved lane into the field, paved parking lots and more room for vender and pilot set up. Also all of the hotels and shopping are right across the street from the site. I hope you will come and experience this Grande event.

The IMAA Giant Scale hand book will go on sale this fall. There is an order form in this issue of Highflight. It will also be on sale at your local hobby dealer. Please contact Taylor Collins for details. His address is P.O. Box 10189 Albuquerque, New Mexico 87184-10189, Phone: 505-792-4458, and Email: HighFlight@fly-imaa.org.

Finally, I am really excited that our IMAA 25 year history book will soon be available too! Tell your spouse that they would make a great Christmas gift. They can be purchased through Turner Publishing Company P.O. Box 3101 Paducah, KY 42002-3101. Attn: Eddie Sheridan.

Until next quarter remember, BIGGER IS BETTER! Safe Landings to You All!

In Memoriam....
In this photo by Ted Brindle, that "Energizer Bunny" of the I.M.A.A. Merlyn Graves is pulling most of his famous Avro Vulcan bomber out to the flightline at the Summer Rally for what, very sadly, was to be its last flight. As aviation pundit Jim Simpson often said...."The Earth tilted, and he ran into it...." Being the amazing gentleman that Merlyn is, he was smiling and waving his hat to crowd when he rode back into the pits with the shattered wreckage filling the back of a golf cart.