Keeping and maintaining a flying site is the glue that holds clubs together. I have received some bad news from Jim Tiller in South Dakota.
The Rapid City Propbusters lost its field. However, it appears that the club is on track to purchase some property. In the meantime, club members have been doing some indoor flying.
Propbusters flying indoors.
Ed Paasch, one of our newer associate vice presidents from Nebraska, sent in this report.
August 26, 2012, signaled the beginning of a new era for the Don Neill Memorial Scale Contest. It was held at the Western R/C Flyers’ field in Mead, Nebraska, and was a combined Scale event for three area clubs.
The Western R/C Flyers, the Lincoln Sky Knights, and the Omahawks R/C clubs combined resources to create a large event that was enjoyed by pilots from across eastern Nebraska and western Iowa.
Combining the three events was the brain-child of Jim Henley and Dean Copeland. The pair diligently worked for months—first convincing the clubs to work together, then raising money for prizes. They also lined up sponsors to support the growth of Scale modeling in the RC community.
The contest has four competitions: Civilian, Military, Team Scale, and ARF. There were no entries in the Team Scale category this year.
The HobbyTown USA store in Lincoln, Nebraska, contributed gift cards in the amounts of $100 for first place, $75 for second, and $50 for third place in each category.
A special raffle raised prize money for a pilots’ cash drawing. Sig Manufacturing, Tower Hobbies, RTL Fasteners, and ElectroDynamics provided door prizes.
Pilots and spectators were treated to terrific flying and some amazing aircraft. Mike Crosby’s beautiful black-and-yellow Taylorcraft model was a crowd favorite and won Pilots’ Choice for the Civilian Scale category. Dean Copeland’s T-28 Trojan wrapped up Pilots’ Choice for the Military Scale category.
Mike also took first place overall in Civilian Scale. Rich Kuenning and his Sukhoi SU-26 model placed second, and Bob Roegge’s twin-tail Ercoupe earned third.
Dean Copeland placed first overall in Military Scale. Event cohost Jim Henley took second place with his Fairchild PT-19, and CD Rick Miller’s F4 Phantom placed third in Military Scale.
President of the Western R/C Flyers club, Rick Miller, competed in the ARF category with his FW-190 model. He also cooked lunch for everyone in attendance! Perhaps because of all of his other activities, Rick didn’t pull off a win in the ARF category.
Don Dickey took first place in the ARF category, and Rick Miller finished second. Pilot Ed Paasch rounded the ARF category with a third-place finish.
A check of the ARF standings on the scoreboard showed that event cohost Dean Copeland had also won the ARF category with his twin-engine Grumman F7F. Dean graciously removed himself from the standings.
Having participated in the inaugural contest, I believe Jim and Dean have created something great.
It was a wonderful day of flying, with some close competition. It was also a good excuse for friends who can’t enjoy each other’s company often to get together, fly, and enjoy some camaraderie. Good things happen when different clubs work together.
Planning for the 2013 contest is underway. I can’t imagine any pilot who participated in this not marking it down on his or her calendar.
Dean Copeland walks his T-28 to the flightline.
Rick Miller and Mike Crosby prepare Mike’s Taylorcraft.
