AMA News District IX - 2010/03

152 MODEL AVIATION
I WAS LOOKING over my fleet of aircraft
the other day and an interesting fact jumped
out at me. More than half of my collection is
now electric!
I have a great mix of big and small, fast
and slow, helicopter and fixed wing. With the
new electric technologies as well as the
developments that seem to be just ahead of us,
the electric world has brought us a totally new
venue for enjoying our hobby.
Some months ago, AMA Executive Vice
President Mark Smith gave me a shout and
suggested I put the second annual Central
Plains E-Fly Spectacular on my calendar. The
event was held at the spacious 93,000-squarefoot
Century II Expo Hall in Wichita, Kansas.
Wichita is the Air Capital of the World
and represents the manufacture of more than
half of the world’s general aviation light
aircraft and business jets as well as being a
major supplier to the builders of commercial
airliners. It is also a hot bed for enthusiastic
and devoted RC fliers.
I attended the three-day event and had
some great memorable experiences. Ken Stitt
is the driving force behind the event and is
assisted by Kim Walker who leaves no details
to chance. The pair provided the best of
organization and hospitality.
Ken said, “Our main goal is to host topnotch
events to showcase local and national
pilots flying their RC aircraft in wide open
spaces. We consider it an honor for pilots to
fly at our events and we work hard to ensure
they have a great time, join event contests,
win great trophies and prizes, and most of
all—have a blast flying!”
Ken Stitt, the event father and organizer.
Don Oppliger and his grandson, 13-year-old
Addison. They didn’t miss many hours of flying
during the event!
The three-day event starts early in the
morning and goes on well into the evening
hours with night flying. The spacious Expo
Hall provides plenty of room for vendor
booths, spectator seating, and the pit area.
The flying space was divided into four
separate areas to accommodate micro fliers,
competition flying, open flying, and
helicopters. Bob Wilder was the “Micro
Manager,” as many pilots of all ages took part
in daily contests which included Micro Vapor
and Helicopter Landings, Vapor Pylon Races
and Micro Helicopter Races. Clearview Field
awarded E-Fly medals to the Micro
Champions.
Castle Creations was E-Fly’s premier
sponsor with very generous donations of
speed controllers that were given away often
during E-Fly. Clearview Field and other
sponsors donated remote-control airplanes,
helicopters, supplies, caps, shirts, etc. for
raffle and pilot drawings.
Ken thought it would be fun to have a
large hoop drop from the ceiling at
unexpected times and the first airplane to fly
through the hoop would win a prize. The ring
got smaller as the day went on and it was fun
seeing the high altitude pilots try to fly
through the ring.
Packed crowds in the spectator area and
pilots were wowed by Jamie Robertson and
Brandon Chitty’s spectacular airplane and
helicopter demonstrations. We heard many
spectators rave about the unbelievable flights.
Pilots designed and flew some amazing
aircraft at E-Fly. At any given time you could
see flying pizza boxes, remote-control air
cars—RC cars that would zoom around on the
floor then take off straight into the air. There
were flying surfboards, rubber band airplanes,
air current airplane flights (not sure what this
is officially called), and all sizes of airplanes
and helicopters. Dan St. Louis, a pilot from
Wichita, Kansas, designed the air car.
Do yourself a favor and put the 2010
Central Plains E-Fly Spectacular on your
event calendars for next this year. Check
www.clearviewfield.com for information
about this year’s event.
Adam Dreher with Mario. Mario drives on
turf, flies, and climbs walls!
Ken Allen giving you a reality check. Which is
the electric? Ken fabricated the exhaust
system on this beautiful aircraft.
Jerry Combs, flight contest director from
Oklahoma, was a great competition pilot.
Keep the sunscreen on to keep the cancer
off! Till next time.
Jim Wallen
Vice President
7322 W. 82nd Way
Arvada CO 80003
Tel.: (303) 421-9061
www.amadistrict-ix.org
Associate Vice
Presidents
Steve Culver, Omaha NE;
[email protected]
Fred Hildebrand, Casper WY;
[email protected]
Zac Heskin, Garrison ND;
[email protected]
Bruce Ream, Highlands Ranch
CO; [email protected]
Brenda Schuette, Auburn KS;
[email protected]
Mike Tallman, Wichita KS;
[email protected]
Jim Tiller, Rapid City SD;
[email protected]
Webmaster: Jim Shaw,
[email protected]
Contest Coordinator:
Mac Strader, Overland Park KS;
[email protected]
Frequency Coordinator:
Steve Mangles, Denver CO;
[email protected]
District IX Volunteers
District IX
Jim Wallen, District IX Vice President; [email protected]
Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming
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