Rosedale Flight Competition

David Musgrove, a 12-year-old youngster who attends Red House Run Elementary School, calmly landed his I 747 at McCormick Elementary school last Thursday night.

As a matter of fact it was a perfect three-point landing in the school’s gymnasium. After he and his mother emerged from the cockpit David strolled across the runway over to the table and registered for

The First Rosedale Great Paper Airplane Flying Contest sponsored by the Rosedale Compository of the Maryland Civil Air Patrol.

Flying, of course, was nothing new to David. He was once an understudy for the old Roger Ramjet cartoon. In fact, he was so good a pilot that he never applied for a license. Just last week he had entered another paper airplane contest at the school and won.

“I think this is great for the kids,” said Dee Musgrove, David’s mother. “As a matter of fact it gives David something to look forward to. He actually thinks he’s going to win,” she said, laughing slightly.

“It’s a good ideal for more boys to get interested in,” said Carol Marks, a resident of Essex whose two sons, Shawn, 14, and Ricky Brooks, 15, entered the contest. “It gives the kids an outlet to something new and unusual.”

The contest was divided into six categories: distance, aerobatics (right or left turn), aerobatic loop, design, decoration and best-in-show. There were some rigid regulations the pilots (contestants) had to meet such as being between ages 12 to 16. Each contestant could submit up to five entries and one plane could be entered in each category. However, no staples, paper clips, glue, paste, tape or any other adhesive or weight adding medium will be allowed …. except that magic marker and or felt tip pen may be used for marking and decoration. The regulations were strictly enforced by the. Federal Aviation Administration with a possibility of a
$500 fine or a year in prison.

“Regulations were-tightly enforced,” said Lt. Paul Belbot, who was in charge of the event, the first of its kind on the East Coast. “We had entries from this area and surrounding communities. We’re involved with aerodynamics and this way we figured we could promote the Maryland Civil Air Patrol.”

While some of the pilots were warming their engines others were getting mentally psyched for the task at hand. Flying in a gymnasium is not the easiest task in the world. Eight-year-old Tony Meany, a resident of Middle River, was gazing into the wild, blue yonder minutes before the contest. “I don’t think I’ll win,” he said.

“I don’t have much experience at flying,” he added, “and it took me only five minutes to build the plane. It just doesn’t fly good.”

“This contest is quite unique,” said 3-year-old Anthony Belbot. “It’s different. I entered the contest to see what I could do with a paper airplane.”

After nearly an hour of death defying maneuvers the finalists were selected. Albert Bierman won two awards, wining the aerobatic-turn and loop, Kevin Baker finished second in the turns while Anthony Belbot claimed the third position.

Mr. Musgrove took second in the loop and Mr. Baker third. Mr. Musgrove also captured first place titles in the best-in- -show and design categories. Chris Glottlieb, who finished second in the design class, won the Commander’s trophy while Jessica Eike won the most decorative entry.

In the distance throw, the highlight of the evening, Mr. Bierman finished third with a flight of 85 feet and one half inches. Mr. Belbot took second at 93 feet and five inches.

And the winner, let’s have a drumroll please, Mr. Musgrove. It was his third title of the night making him the most celebrated pilot at the contest. Afterwards he grabbed his mother by the hand,

walked across the runway back to his 747 out in the parking lot. After securing mom in the backseat, checking the temperature gauge and tightening down the hatch, Musgrove looked to the right and then to the left.

He looked straight ahead and then with sIy grin on his face he looked back at his mother as if to say, “laugh at me will ya . I told you I would win.”

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Mike Preston
Newspaper and date of publication unknown

Estimated year: 1982