Author: Jim Wallen
Edition: Model Aviation - 2012/10
Page Numbers: 151

AMA News District IX - 2012/10

Jim Wallen Vice President

Warbirds Over Denver

Submitted by Bruce Ream

This year was Jefco Aeromod'lers' 8th annual Warbirds Over Denver. Each year the event has gotten bigger and better. The weather smiled on everyone.

We had more than 80 pilots and roughly 150 airplanes. This year brought several jets and some outstanding airplanes and pilots who know how to fly them.

We had a visit by a group of veterans from a veterans' home who told us how much they look forward to this event every year.

We started Saturday morning with a flyover of a full-scale AT-6, a flag-raising at 9 a.m., and the pilots’ briefing. Flying lasted until sundown. During lunch, CD Lora Knowlton arranged for a singing trio that imitated and dressed as the Andrews Sisters and sang songs from World War II.

On Sunday, flying stopped at 2 p.m. and the awards program got underway. Several people were recognized for their volunteer work and then pilots and their airplanes received awards. This year’s awards were special and unusual. Lora and Doug Knowlton attended the 70th reunion of the Doolittle Raiders and, through a connection, were able to get several cowl flaps from B-25s. These cowl flaps were engraved with the award information and handed out to the winners.

If you love warbirds, don’t miss next year’s event.

2012 Colorado Pattern Challenge (CPC)

Submitted by Joe Pirozzoli

The CPC is an annual two-day, AAA RC Aerobatics (Pattern) contest hosted by the Arvada Associated Modelers. It is the only Pattern contest in Colorado and one of only a few in the surrounding states. Sixteen competitors participated, including two from Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The 2012 CPC was a fantastic success because of the teamwork that went into it. This was our third CPC since 2009. I want to acknowledge the tremendous support and assistance from Co-CD Lanny Hansen, and our chief judge/flightline organizer, Dan Underkofler.

Another important ingredient of a successful event is sponsorship. This year’s sponsorship amounted to nearly $1,700 in merchandise and gift certificates. Sponsors included:

  • HobbyTown
  • AeroWorks
  • Plus RC
  • Action RC
  • Thompson’s Hobbies
  • Heli-Port Hobbies
  • Smart-Fly
  • Horizon
  • APC
  • Atlanta Hobby
  • Graph Tech
  • Castle
  • Tower Hobbies
  • Radio South

The classes broke down to six in Sportsman; four in Intermediate; four in Advanced; and two in FAI/F3A. Electric airplanes are decidedly the norm in Pattern these days, but there were still four glow-powered airplanes. Included were two old-school airplanes (60-sized, ballistic-style). Lanny Hansen flew a scratch-built Bridi Escape, and Henry Butler flew a Phoenix 7 (a Don Lowe design) ARF by Hangar 9. The Hangar 9 Phoenix 7 has become quite popular in Classic Pattern circles.

The Andrew Jesky–designed Osiris by 3D Hobby Shop was a popular airplane. The model is economical and has emerged as the airplane of choice at the entry point into Pattern.

The latest thing in Pattern is the Contra Drive System. The Contra System has dual, contra-rotating propellers which are designed to minimize the issues of torque and P-factor. Dan Underkofler had a Contra Drive in a unique airplane, the Cation, designed by Chip Hyde.

Thanks to everyone who helped make the 2012 CPC such a huge success. See you next year!

Results

Sportsman

  1. Lanny Hansen
  2. Steve Naler
  3. Bill Grey

Advanced

  1. Joe Pirozzoli
  2. John Gayer (NM)
  3. Jim Rogers

Intermediate

  1. Larry Ott
  2. Kent Paul (NM)
  3. Keith Holub

FAI/F3A

  1. Dan Underkofler
  2. Chuck Shone
  3. N/A

Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.