Author: Tim Jesky
Edition: Model Aviation - 2012/11
Page Numbers: 142

AMA News: District VII — 2012/11

District VII — Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin

#### Tim Jesky Vice President

Vice President’s Message

By the time you receive this issue, many of your local clubs will be selecting new officers to serve for the upcoming year. This message is for all of you who have not yet taken a stab at running for office or taking on a leadership role in your club. Don't be deterred by lack of experience or by being a newer member. Those who have served before you will be happy to help you with your new duties.

As often happens, solutions to problems and new ideas come from the perspective of a fresh pair of eyes. To become a leader in your club is an honor far more rewarding than you may have imagined. Go ahead—take the leap.

WATTS over Owatonna — Event Report

This month's event report comes from Steve Mills, the event director of WATTS over Owatonna, presented by the Southern Minnesota Model Aircraft Club (SMMAC). WATTS is fast becoming one of the premier electric events in the Midwest and a great place to fly model aircraft and enjoy our hobby.

WATTS over Owatonna was the place to be the weekend of July 27–29. This all-electric fly-in, held at the SMMAC field, drew more than 150 pilots from 10 states who enjoyed three days of flying, food, and fun. Both Great Planes and Sig had teams on-site, flying the companies' latest offerings and giving many pilots a chance to fly factory aircraft. The vendors stayed busy selling new airframes and gear.

AMA Executive Director Dave Mathewson and AMA President Bob Brown were on-site Friday and Saturday to fly and mingle with pilots. The weather was great, with daytime highs in the low 80s and winds under 10 mph for most of the weekend.

SMMAC does a great job hosting more than 150 pilots and approximately 1,500 spectators. Food was available throughout the day:

  • Pancake and sausage breakfast
  • Burgers and pork loins for lunch
  • Dinner at approximately 6 p.m. each day

For families, there is a full playground on-site. Camping is encouraged—once you arrive, there is no reason to leave.

Event and field features:

  • 650-foot heavy fabric runway surrounded by more than 1,200 feet of grass runway
  • Six pilot stations on the main flightline with a team maintaining safety and smooth operations
  • Main flightline activity included sport flyers, helicopters, and 3-D flying
  • A separate park flyer flightline on the west side of the field for smaller and slower aircraft (micro airplanes, small helis, and 3-D foamies), which helped keep more people flying throughout the weekend

Saturday night highlights:

  • Big ribeye steak dinner with baked potatoes, sweet corn, and bread—plenty of food for everyone
  • Awards ceremony recognizing pilots who brought something special or put on a good show. Awards included:
  • Best Scale
  • Best Sport
  • Pilots' Choice
  • Best of Show

SMMAC members host a great event with a relaxed atmosphere, and even with more than 150 pilots, everyone appeared to have a good time. Most attendees commented that they couldn't wait to come back next year. Keep an eye on www.watts2013.com and make plans to be there as well.

Take a kid flying.

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