HI FOLKS! Wow, has this ever been a busy
time for AMA. Our Park Pilot press
conference went well at the 2008 AMA
Convention and now it’s time for us all to dig
in and help establish the park flyer fields.
Please make sure your local hobby shop
has the AMA license station on its counter. If
not, ask why! I really appreciate each of you
who have agreed to be mentors for a newbie
park flyer.
Finally, please let the AMA staff know if
you want the Park Pilot Manual, which will
aid you in securing a park-flyer field.
Remember, the program’s target is to turn our
declining numbers around and we need
everyone to support it!
For more information, visit the AMA
Web site at www.modelaircraft.org/
parkflyer.aspx.
I have some interesting events to share with
you this month, beginning with a FF event.
Mike Basta sent in this report from here in
the Kansas City area. Mike, I’m sorry this
report is so late, but better late than never!
“On Father’s Day weekend 2007 (June
16-17), 20 competitors gathered at Kansas
Speedway for the Sixth Annual Heart of
America Free Flight Association (HAFFA)
Spring Contest. Fliers came from across
Kansas and from Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana,
Missouri, and Oklahoma to compete for
National Free Flight Society (NFFS) National
Cup points and for bragging rights in the
Society of Antique Modelers (SAM), FAI,
and Flying Aces Club (FAC) events.
“Light southeast winds and 90º
temperatures spawned frequent thermals
leading to multiple max flights on Saturday.
By Sunday afternoon, higher winds led to
longer chases and only a few competitors
launched flights after 2 p.m.
“NFFS Events: Mulvihill competition was
fierce with all competitors achieving maxes
every flight. Winning came down to who
launched the most flights, led by Lynn
Chaffee with seven flights. Second place was
finally determined by a coin toss.
“Hand-Launched Glider was notable
because two of the entrants flew Discuslaunch
models. P-30 and Catapult Glider each
had six competitors and included multiple
max flights. Dan Berry won first with three
maxes in P-30. Dan also won the Catapult
Glider competition.
“FAI Events: F1G, usually the most
popular event, suffered because of high winds
on Sunday. Paul Masterman from Porter,
Indiana, prevailed by putting up all five
flights (three maxes)
for first place.
George Avila took
first in F1H.
“SAM Events:
SAM events were
popular. Jeff Englert
took first in Old-
Timer Hand-
Launched Glider.
Bill Schmidt won
small rubber
cabin/stick honors,
and Abe Gallas took
first in .020 replica.
“FAC Events:
Carl Perkins took
first place in Jimmie
Allen competition.
Jeff Englert won the
Golden Age mass launch on Saturday.
Sunday’s World War II mass launch was
scratched due to high winds.
“HAFFA wishes to thank to all the
participants for making this a memorable
contest.”
Don Thun, one of our most active modelers
in the district, sent in this report of his event
in Topeka.
“The Blue Sky Chapter #291 of Topeka,
Kansas held its annual International
Miniature Aircraft Association (IMAA) Fly-
In September 22-23, 2007. The event was a
benefit fly in for Wednesday’s Child, a
private organization that helps to place older
foster children in permanent homes.
“Thirty pilots from as far away as
Lincoln, Nebraska, registered for the two-day
event held at Dee & Mee Hobbies flying site
southeast of Topeka. In addition to T-shirts,
door prizes, and drawings for three airplane
kits donated by Dee & Mee Hobbies, the
pilots enjoyed a Saturday night dinner and
were entertained by a country music show
complete with country singers Tracy Imes
and Mike Gowen. Our IMAA event
coordinator, Bruce Sisson, showed us his
talents in that area as well.
“Several local corporate sponsors, along
with Horizon Hobbies, helped to make the
event a financial success. Hundreds of
spectators came out to enjoy the show and
helped by buying concessions and raffle
tickets. More than $2,000 was donated to
Wednesday’s Child. We hope to raise even
more next year for the organization.
“The airplane that stood out from the rest
was a 40% scale model of a homebuilt
Breezy built by Ken Bina of Topeka. The
Breezy took Ken two years to complete. It
has a 14.5-foot wingspan, weighs 47 pounds,
and is powered by a G-62. Snoopy, the
beagle made famous by Charles Shultz, pilots
the aircraft.
“While Ken handles the Breezy, a copilot
works the controls for Snoopy who nods and
shakes his head at the crowd. The public
could get their picture taken sitting with
Snoopy in the Breezy for a $2 donation to
Wednesday’s Child.”
That’s it for this month. Next month, I’ll fill
you in on some additional trips I made
around the district and keep you posted on
our Park Pilot Program’s progress.
Until then, have fun and keep in touch!
Mark.
Mark Smith
Vice President
14632 W. 50th St.,
Shawnee KS 66216
Tel.: (913) 248-9191
www.amadistrict-ix.org
Associate Vice
Presidents
Fred Hildebrand, Casper WY;
[email protected]
Troy Lapp, Bismarck ND;
[email protected]
Ward Neesen, Omaha NE
[email protected]
Brenda Schuette, Auburn KS;
[email protected]
Mike Tallman, Wichita KS; miketallman@
webtv.net
Jim Tiller, Rapid City SD;
[email protected]
Jim Wallen, Arvada CO
[email protected]
Webmaster: Jim Shaw,
[email protected]
Contest Coordinator:
Judy Gerken, Denver CO;
[email protected]
Frequency Coordinator: Steve
Mangles, Denver CO;
[email protected]
District IX Volunteers
District IX
Mark Smith, District IX Vice President; [email protected]
Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming
Ken Bina’s Breezy, with Snoopy piloting the airplane, was the
most popular model at the Blue Sky’s IMAA Fly-In
178 MODEL AVIATION
Edition: Model Aviation - 2008/04
Page Numbers: 178