HI, FOLKS! As you already know, I am
bullish on the AMA Leader Club program.
By completing the various points of the
program, you can help ensure the viability of
your flying site.
One of the most critical aspects of this
program is community involvement as
demonstrated by this great club that is home
to Kansas University as reported by Hank
Darnell, Parade Float Chairman for the
Jayhawk Model Masters.
“The Jayhawk Model Masters club is
proud to announce that its 2007 Saint
Patrick’s Day Parade float won first place
and more than $750 in prizes and cash in the
20th annual Lawrence, Kansas, parade. The
club participated in the parade in 2006,
placing third out of 100 floats. The prizes of
$150 cash and $200 in gift certificates and
door prizes ignited our interest to reenter the
following year.
“The parade is attended by thousands of
spectators so promoting our events comes as
an added bonus. The club members decided
that in 2007 we would make a concerted
effort to promote our club events as never
before. We decided to build a near-full-scale
airplane and really boggle their minds!
“The airplane needed to tie into the
parade theme in some way so it would make
sense to the crowd. The new Ford CEO was
announced as the grand marshal of the
parade so we decided to build a Ford
airplane.
“The Ford Tri-Motor was our first choice
but was deemed a more complicated build.
The Ford Flivver was a better choice for its
size and construction. Its one-engine
configuration was also desirable over the
three in the Tri-Motor.
Take a look at the detailed cockpit of the
Flivver.
Jayhawk Model Master Flivver float under
construction.
The completed Ford Flivver float with nineyear-
old William piloting the aircraft.
“The parade float builders gathered in
my garage to begin building the Flivver
approximately four weeks before the parade.
After more than 300 man-hours, the Flivver
emerged as an 80% scale airplane.
“The Flivver was built from stud 2 x 4s
and plywood and was covered in muslin and
a mixture of glue and water. It was painted
with silver and green paint (the green
replaced the Ford blue to honor Saint
Patrick’s Day).
“My nine-year-old son William was
chosen to pilot the airplane since he was a
near perfect fit in the cockpit. Our members
carved the propeller from a solid piece of
pine and placed it on a turn crank that
William cranked from the cockpit.
“Several neighbors thought I was
actually constructing a real flying airplane.
One neighbor pulled out her rosary beads to
pray for me!
“The Flivver was a huge success. The
float was dressed out with several models
including the Red Baron and a dog and his
airplane chasing the Red Baron. Our
number-one goal was to wow the crowd with
the Flivver replica and our display airplanes.
“We were rewarded with a first-place
trophy. What is more important is promoting
our beloved hobby to potential new
members. Club members walked with the
float and handed out 3,000 toy airplanes
affixed with club information and a calendar
of events for the year.
“What goes with out saying is without
the hard work of volunteers and donated
resources, this program would not have been
the success it was. Good times are always at
hand as a Jayhawk Model Master. Even with
the intention of promoting the hobby, a
program such as this brings existing
members closer together as in no other way.
It has created lasting friendships that will
only make the club stronger.”
The Arvada Associated Modelers invite
you to join them July 28, 2007, for the
third annual Reunion of the Vintage and
Old-Timers Fun-Fly. A map and directions
are on the club’s Web site at
www.arvadamodelers.com.
This traditional yearly and growing event
will feature model designs from the past
performing aerobatic pattern flying and
climb-and-glide events demonstrating the
capabilities of Vintage and Old-Timer
models and preserving the history and spirit
of aeromodeling as it was in the past.
The event flyer and registration forms are
available on the Web site or from CD Travis
McGinnis. Call him at (303) 422-5720 or Email
him at [email protected].
Last year we held the District IX Fly-In
at this event in Arvada. It was a great time
and I encourage you to attend!
I’m glad to report that I have a very busy
flying season planned and hope to see you at
the field. Until then, have fun and keep in
touch! Mark.
District IX
Mark Smith, District IX Vice President; [email protected]
Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming
Mark Smith
Vice President
14632 W. 50th St.,
Shawnee KS 66216
Tel.: (913) 568-4347
www.amadistrict-ix.org
Associate Vice
Presidents
Max Hansen, Huron SD;
[email protected]
Fred Hildebrand, Casper WY;
[email protected]
Troy Lapp, Bismarck ND;
[email protected]
Ward Neeson, Omaha NE
[email protected]
Brenda Schuette, Auburn KS;
[email protected]
Jerry Tuttle, Olathe KS;
[email protected]
Jim Wallen, Arvada CO
[email protected]
Webmaster: Jim Shaw,
[email protected]
Contest Coordinators:
Mike Tallman, Wichita KS; miketallman@
webtv.net
Judy Gerken, Denver CO;
[email protected]
Frequency Coordinator: Steve
Mangles, Denver CO;
[email protected]
District IX Volunteers
186 MODEL AVIATION
Edition: Model Aviation - 2007/07
Page Numbers: 186