174 MODEL AVIATION
SUMMER IS upon us and everyone in the
district is busy with flying and building.
I have done more flying in the last month
than I normally do in three months! I had
my grandsons here in San Antonio, Texas,
for spring break and they had great days of
flying.
The oldest, Ian, is flying an Astro-Hog
and he asks everyone to fly it. The rules are
that others can fly it but he has to do the
takeoff and landing. He let a new-found
friend fly it in the picture at the top of the
next column.
Three of my grandchildren posed with a
beautiful airplane built by Bob Sawyer of
San Antonio. The airplane is a 40%
Aeroworks Extra 260 that weighs slightly
less than 28 pounds and is powered by a DA
100. Yes, it is 40%!
Bob did everything possible to get the
weight down including using a soda bottle
for a fuel tank and a lot of carbon fiber
where he removed wood. The airplane is a
superb performer and amazes everyone who
picks it up.
Ian Black (L) from Lake Jackson, Texas, lets
friend Brian Strachan of Seguin, Texas, fly
his Astro-Hog while I look on. Both are
accomplished pilots and neither is a
teenager yet!
Bob Sawyer’s Extra with Ian and Devin
Black and Kinley Rice.
Bob with his immaculate and super
lightweight Extra.
The Kerrville RC club hosted its first
annual Big Bird Fly-In at the Comfort,
Texas, airport March 31 and April 1. The
record rains preceding the event nearly
washed it out but 35 pilots attended with
more than 100 airplanes.
There was superb flying and great
fellowship. Plan to attend next year if you
can!
CD Randy Brown is conducting the pilots’
meeting at the Big Bird Fly-In.
Speaking of record rain, Les Barry,
Oklahoma associate vice president, is
checking out the OKC west side field while
standing on corn stalks that floated in. The
lake you see is really the runway.
The Take Off and Grow clubs have been
selected for this year. Congratulations to our
five District VIII recipients: 114th RC Aero
Squadron, Greater Southwest Aeromodelers,
Jetero RC Club, Texarkana RC Flying Club,
and the Texoma RC Modelers Club.
We are looking forward to great reports
and increased membership in the near
future. There is a lot of work to do now,
folks!
The District VIII Web site continues to get
increased activity as the flying months
approach us. Visit www.ama-dist-8.org for
immediate news and updates.
Have fun and fly safely. See you on the
flightline! Jim
District VIII
Jim Rice, District VIII Vice President; [email protected]
Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas
Jim Rice
Vice President
118 E. Wright Blvd.,
Universal City TX 78148
Tel.: (210) 213-0299
(evenings)
www.AMA-Dist-8.org
Associate Vice
Presidents
Buzz Averill, Albuquerque NM;
(505) 298-6870
Lester L. Barry, Bethany OK;
(405) 789-5373
Max Blose, Waco TX;
(254) 662-5587
Bill Fulmer, Gretna LA;
(504) 392-3620
Bill Lee, Chandler TX;
(903) 852-5599
Jim D. Marshall, Mission TX;
(956) 585-6446
Douglas E. Powell, Wichita Falls
TX; (940) 691-8348
Ron Stanfield, Maumelle AR;
(501) 851-1697
Pat Willcox, Kingwood TX;
(713) 358-1750
Frequency Coordinator
North: Joe DuMond, Ft. Worth
TX; (817) 457-6685
South: Gene Kent, Tomball TX;
(281) 255-4805
AMA Display Coordinator
Karen Hopkins, Arlington TX;
(817) 467-9211
District VIII Volunteers
Edition: Model Aviation - 2007/06
Page Numbers: 174