The Decatur Model Airplane Club was organized on February 24, 1937 by the Senior students of Decatur High School. Originally called the Austinville Model Airplane Club, sometime between 1937 and the 1960s the club was renamed to its current name, Decatur Model Airplane Club, or DMAC for short.
It's the second oldest model airplane club in the United States of America and the third oldest club in the Academy of Model Aeronautics (Club #102).
To view the full history of the club, the Academy of Model Aeronautics hosts the document about the history HERE.

The mission of the club is to promote interest in model aircraft and aviation.

Club Officers

President
Jim Forthman ([email protected])

Vice President
Mark Blaske

Secretary
Carl Grover ([email protected])

Treasurer
Ken Piper

Flight Instructors

Mark Blaske
Jim Forthman
Danny Girodo (Mode 1)
Mark Mullen

Webmaster / Media Coordinator

Ken Piper
G. Patrick Helpingstine ([email protected])

Member Dues

All members are required to have a current membership with the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) valid through at least December 31st of the current year.

Regular Members: $50.00/year
Junior Members (Age 18 or younger): $12.00/year
Beginner Members (Valid for first year): $24.00

Rules and Regulations

All members must abide by the FAA Rules for Recreational Fliers, the AMA Safety Rules, and club-specific rules, detailed below:

I. SAFETY REQUIREMENTS
  1. AMA (Academy of Model Aeronautics) Safety Rules shall be followed in all instances.
  2. Taxiing in the pit area is forbidden.
  3. Flying over the pit area, spectators, and parking area is strictly prohibited.
  4. Maneuvers and low-level flights over the runway are prohibited, except when club functions or activities call for this type of runway use.
  5. Flying directly toward the pit area is prohibited.
  6. A pilot must inform other fliers before doing a "touch and go".
  7. When crosswind conditions exist, pilots must agree to a common take off and landing direction.
  8. All fliers must consider the safety of spectators before starting an engine in the pit area. When starting the engine, the nose of the plane shall be directed toward the runway. Starting and adjusting the engine is to be done only in the pit area or on the taxiways (if applicable).
  9. Spectators, for their own safety, are not allowed in the pit area or on the runway.
  10. Small children and pets shall be kept away from aircraft and the pit area. An adult shall always accompany children. Spectators shall be made aware of this rule if children are present.

II. MEMBER RESPONSIBILITIES
  1. To ensure that all individuals using the flying site observe the Field Rules and Regulations.
  2. To tactfully control the activities of spectators and children.
  3. To ensure that only DMAC members or AMA member guests fly at the site. Guests must be AMA members and must be accompanied by a current DMAC member. Visiting fliers are allowed three (3) visits as non-members.
  4. Any flier who violates the Field rules and Regulations will be warned for the first offense. A second violation will be grounds for immediate temporary suspension of flying privileges by Safety Officers.
  5. Each flier is responsible for any damage they cause at or surrounding the flying site.
  6. A beginner (Yellow card) who has not mastered radio control flight must have Instructor(s) help until an understanding of safe operations and overall flying competency has been demonstrated and is subsequently formally approved by their Instructor(s) for transition to a regular member (White card).
  7. Instructors are not responsible for aircraft damage during training sessions. Members are responsible for cleaning up their trash at the conclusion of a flying session.
  8. Keys for the field shall not be loaned out or duplicated.
  9. The last DMAC member leaving the field is responsible for ensuring that the gate and frequency control box (if applicable) are locked.

III. FREQUENCY CONTROL FOR LEGACY 72MHZ FM-BASED CONTROL SYSTEMS
The following rules in this section apply to models that make use of legacy FM-based analog control systems that typically operate in the 72MHz frequency band. These rules are not intended for modern digital control systems that employ FHSS and similar technologies.
If you are unsure of your control system type, an Instructor will be able to assist you in determining if the following rules apply to your model.
  1. No transmitter may be operated for any reason without the frequency or channel being identified.
  2. The use of wide band transmitter or receivers shall not be allowed.
  3. There shall never to be more than four (4) fliers using legacy control systems in the air at any one time.

IV. MISCELLANEOUS RULES
  1. No engine shall be run for any purpose prior to 9:00 AM Monday through Saturday or 11:00 AM on Sunday. The club can approve exceptions for special sanctioned events.
  2. Effective mufflers or silencers are required on two-cycle engines with greater than 0.09 cubic inches displacement.
  3. The retrieval of downed aircraft from neighboring property is allowed only with the property owner's permission.
  4. Aircraft using gasoline shall not be fueled on the taxiways or runway.
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