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MARCH 16, the California United Free
Flight Model Airplane Club (CUFFMAC)
held its annual awards banquet in Morrepark,
California. More than 30 representatives from
Free Flight clubs around the state met to
enjoy a great meal, catch up with old
acquaintances, and recognize their fellow
Free Flighters who excelled during the
previous year.
Junior member Brianna Keller and 2002
open-points winner Michael Thompson
display CUFFMAC’s perpetual award
trophies honoring the annual CUFFMAC
point’s winners.
The kindling of an aeromodeling
innovation … three modeling pioneers, a
table napkin, and an idea. Pictured are
aeromodeling greats Sal Taibi (L), Andy
Faykun, and Ralph Knapp.
Combat pilots gathered at Johnson Field
for the March 29 Palomar Radio Control
Club’s Spring RC Combat event in north
San Diego County. Pictured are Mike (Tex)
Willcox, Derrin Albert, Jon (Proppoy Jon)
Armstrong, David Drowns, Andy Paceno,
Victor (The Snake) Shamulus, Sean Gult,
Chris Thornton, Bob Peterson, and Butch
(The Cannibal) Abongan.
District X Associate Vice President (AVP),
Bob Reynolds, submitted the following report
on the Southern Arizona 2003 spring events.
“Three weekends with five events in
Tucson, Arizona: The Tucson Jet Rally
kicked things off March 14-16, at the Tucson
International Modelplex. Contest director
(CD) Debbie Sherrow hosted 44 jet jockeys
from all over the West.
“Most of the jets were turbine powered;
however, there was a large contingent of
electric-powered jets. With the popularity and
growth in the number of true turbine engines,
it’s becoming rare to see an internalcombustion
jet fly.
The F-100 greenhouse represented the big
turbines.
The Lear jet (above) and the Probe (below)
represented the current trend of large
electric jets.
March 15-16,
the Tucson
Radio Control
Club hosted
the Tussle
Over Tucson
RC Combat
event at the
TRCC flying
site east of
town.
“This same weekend found Top Gun
Combat taking place at the Silverbell Control
Line (CL) site at Christopher Columbus Park.
The combatants put in seven rounds on
Saturday, flying until 7 p.m. in pursuit of a
$1,000 cash prize.
“The following weekend brought the
largest CL Stunt contest in the world, the
Vintage Stunt Classic (VSC). Also held at
Christopher Columbus Park, the VSC was
hosted by the Cholla Choppers, one of the
oldest clubs in the US. Chartered in 1947, the
Cholla Choppers have been an AMAchartered
club for more than 50 years.
“Attendance at the 15th annual VSC was
down slightly due to the current state of the
economy and the growing difficulties
encountered in airline travel, nevertheless,
Saturday’s banquet still fed more than 200
participants and guests.
“One of this year’s VSC events was a
memorial to the recent passing of Ed
Southwick, one of CL’s great Stunt pioneers.
The VSC pilots took turns on the control
line handle of one of Ed’s favorite airplanes,
then looked on as the others flew.
K e i t h
T r o s t l e ’ s
magnificent
semiscale CL
Stunt F-8
B e a r c a t
painted in the
Al Williams
Gulfhawk 4 paint scheme. The model is an
Al Rabe design flown at the ’69-’70 Nats.
“March 29-30, again found the action
back at Silverbell with Cabin Fever CL
racing. The weather was a little rough on
Saturday, so retirement to a local modeler’s
house for some hangar flying was in order.
Sunday found great weather and friendly
racing.
“It was nice to talk with all of the
California, Arizona, and Texas friends and
competitors. In all, it was three great weeks
of flying in Tucson.”
Thanks, Bob. It sounds like the Southern
Arizona spring events were a big success.
’Till next time ... Keep ’em safe and Keep
’em fly’n.
Associate Vice Presidents
Darwin Barrie Scottsdale AZ (480) 946-8955
Don Goeschl Lancaster CA (661) 940-6066
Don Gulihur Santee CA (619) 449-8397
Marc Karpowich Logan UT (435) 752-3639
Dave Pinjuv Las Vegas NV (702) 656-1772
Lucky Pyatt Garden Grove CA (714) 745-4300
Frequency Coordinators
Eloy Marez Santa Ana CA (714) 540-4935
(See last month’s column for additional AVPs and
Coordinators.)
Arizona / California / Hawaii /
Guam / Nevada / Utah
Richard Hanson
Vice President
PO Box 3312
Scottsdale AZ 85271
Voice/Fax: (888) 899-3548
E-mail: [email protected]
District X Web page:
www.ama-10.com/ama
District X Report
aug03.qxd 5.23.03 9:20 am Page 166
Edition: Model Aviation - 2003/08
Page Numbers: 166