District IX—Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming
District Vice President
Jim Wallen Vice President [email protected] 7322 W 82nd Way, Arvada, CO 80003 Tel.: (303) 421-9061 www.amadistrict-ix.org
The Omahawks Radio Controlled Airplane Club (ORCAC) in Nebraska is famous for its frequent float-flys that display some amazing aircraft and are well attended by the public and fellow fliers. Richard Behrens sent photos that are a good representation of the aircraft that were there. Thanks, Richard.
Western R/C Flyers — 23rd Annual Bud Hall Memorial Giant Scale Fun Fly (Mead, Nebraska — August 11–12)
The Western R/C Flyers club (charter number 857) held its 23rd Annual Bud Hall Memorial Giant Scale Fun Fly at its beautiful flying field in Mead, Nebraska, on August 11 and 12. The fun-fly attracted dozens of pilots from across eastern Nebraska. While the primary focus of the event was flying aircraft that met International Miniature Aircraft Association guidelines (60-inch-plus wingspan biplanes, quarter-scale or larger aircraft, or 80-inch-plus wingspan monoplanes), pilots were encouraged to fly whatever they brought to the field.
Pilots from Lincoln, Waverly, Omaha, Fremont, and Blair flocked to Mead for the weekend to enjoy great flying, great food, and great camaraderie. Western R/C Flyers club president Rick Miller manned the grill, assuring every guest enjoyed perfectly cooked bratwurst. Rick also enjoyed some spirited aerobatics with his Hangar 9 .232 ARF when not occupied with grilling duties.
Notable pilots and aircraft:
- Nelson Carpenter (Western R/C Flyers vice president) — beautiful .91 four-stroke–powered, 80-inch Piper Pawnee model, showing scale flying prowess.
- Ryan Nelson (ORCAC) — high-wing Pilatus ARF, alternating scale aerobatics with very low and slow flight both right-side up and inverted; also performed daring aerobatics with a Giant Scale Yak 54.
- John Wilman (Lincoln Sky Knights Radio Control Club) — Giant Scale Extra 330, performed beautiful aerobatics.
- Loren Blinde — 4M-scale glider, enjoyed riding thermals after being towed aloft by his Giant Scale Wilga tow airplane.
- Dean Copeland — twin-engine Grumman F7F Tigercat model, followed by scale aerobatics in a red-and-yellow Monocoupe.
- Jim Henley — Saito-powered Great Planes Super Stearman ARF and a beautiful Giant Scale Fairchild PT-19 model, enjoying both military and civilian giant-scale flying.
The weekend was a culmination of good weather and good times, with Western R/C Flyers club members enhancing their reputation as terrific hosts. There was a wide variety of Giant Scale aircraft on hand, and thanks go to the club members for making all guest pilots feel warmly welcomed to another of the club’s many terrific fun-fly events.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
