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Kai Jensen, AMA District X AVP, owner of
Hobbies of Reno, leading member of the
Reno Radio Control Club (RRCC), and a
dear friend passed away August 9, 2003.
On Sunday, September 21, members of the
RRCC, family, and friends gathered at the
club field to honor Kai’s memory.
ON AUGUST 9, 2003, AMA District X lost
a longtime Associate Vice President (AVP).
After many months of failing health, Kai
Jensen of Reno, Nevada, passed away.
Kai was a dear friend and valued member
of the District X staff, but he was probably
best known as the owner of the Hobbies of
Reno and a friend and mentor to anyone
interested in model aviation.
Prior to his retirement from the Air Force
in 1985, Kai’s last duty station was San
Antonio, Texas. While there, he was
president of the Tri City Flyers. He also
served as a coordinator for the 1981 Nats held
in Seguin, Texas, along with his friend and
flying buddy Jack Maddox.
After retiring and moving to Reno, Kai
served the Reno Radio Control Club for
many years. Kai’s hobby shop, Hobbies of
Reno, continues to be a gathering place for
members of the club and modeling
enthusiasts throughout northern Nevada.
Kai was the local event coordinator for the
1988 AMA National Fun-Fly in Reno and
served as an AVP for three District X vice
presidents. He was the founder of the Reno
Unlimited Model Air Race Association
(RUMARA) and event director for Giant
Scale races at Stead Airport in 1993 and 1994.
Mac Douglass,
club president
(R), Jerry Kunze,
and members of
the Reno Radio
Control Club
pay tribute to
Kai by posting a
plaque inscribed
with his name in
a place of honor
at the RRCC
flying site.
On Sunday, September 21, members of
the Reno Radio Control Club, family, and
friends gathered at the RRCC flying field to
remember, honor, and say goodbye to Kai.
“Fly high,” my friend. You will be missed
and remembered always.
(Special thanks to Larry Krutz and Mark
Carey of the RRCC for helping make this
tribute possible.)
Kai’s wife, Russe Jensen (pictured holding
the plaque), graciously greeted everyone at
the field and thanked the many modelers
and friends for sharing in this day of
remembrance. Russe was presented with
AMA’s Distinguished Service Award in
Kai’s name for his many years of service to
the Academy, the RRCC, and his fellow
modelers. Members of the Jensen family
present were Kai’s daughter Corei Jensen
(upper left), Jerry Aaron, Russe’s sister,
Sunya Aaron (lower left), Russe’s mom,
Zara Badeaux, Russe, and Kathryn Bower.
Also present but not photographed was
Kai’s daughter Shannon.
In a ceremony on August 30, 2003, the
Academy of Model Aeronautics designated
the Torrey Pines Gliderport (TPG), located at
La Jolla, a community of San Diego,
California, as an AMA Historical Model
Aviation Landmark. This dedication gave the
TPG cliff the distinction of becoming the first
such site to be so designated by AMA.
Model Sailplanes have flown at Torrey
Pines for more than 50 years and the
gliderport has been the site of numerous
historical and record setting achievements.
Torrey Pines is located atop a cliff, dropping
some three hundred feet to a white, sandy
beach and the blue Pacific Ocean.
Larry Fogel, his son Gary Fogel, and the
Torrey Pines Gulls Radio Control Soaring
club hosted the dedication event. AMA was
well represented by Executive Director Joyce
Hager and Western Regional Flying Site
Assistance Coordinator, Wes De Cou.
Members of the Torrey Pines Gulls, the TPG
Regulars, local modelers, and Soaring
enthusiasts from around the district shared in
the celebration.
A dedication letter was read by Sheri
Lightner, a representative from the La Jolla
Town Council, which was then presented to
Joyce Hager on behalf of AMA. After the
ceremonies ended, the flying began. To
watch these aircraft take wing is surely poetry
in motion.
—Don Gulihur, District X AVP
Joyce Hager, AMA Executive Director (L),
received a Certificate of Appreciation on
behalf of the AMA from Sheri Lightner of
the La Jolla Town Council.
Larry Fogel (L) and his son Gary lead the
effort to have the TPG site recognized as a
federally registered historical site and an
AMA Historical Model Aviation Landmark.
AMA District X’s Web page has been
redesigned and
restructured under a
new domain name,
www.ama10.org.
A key
component of the
revamped site is
the District X Event
Calendar, which
contains information
about AMA-sanctioned contests and
nonsanctioned local events.
Information, flyers, and Web links can be
sent to Betty Bliss at [email protected];
8051 Michigan Ave., Whittier CA 90602;
(562) 696-4145.
Information received by December 31,
2003, will be included in a printed version of
the 2004 Event Calendar to be distributed at
the AMA Convention in January in Ontario,
California.
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
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 XWeb page:
Web site: www.ama10.org
District X Report
04jan.qxd 10/24/03 10:18 am Page 174
Edition: Model Aviation - 2004/01
Page Numbers: 174