In January, I attended the AMA Expo and Executive Council meetings in Ontario, California. As a born and bred Midwest guy, I wouldn’t have bet money that the temperatures in much of my district were warmer than they were in southern California while I was out there. Talk about being lucky, huh?
Along with the council meeting, there was a general membership meeting and also an open forum teleconference with Jim Williams, leader of the FAA’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) integration office, to take questions on UAS in the National Airspace System.
Also at the event were guest speakers covering a variety of modeling topics, and there were more than 100 exhibitors displaying and selling modeling products. If you plan on traveling to southern California next January, stop by and check it out. Expo is a great show and a great time!
While still on the subject of hobby shows, on April 5-7 the modeling world will be coming to Toledo, Ohio, for the 59th edition of the Weak Signals R/C Expo. This is the show that bills itself as the largest of its kind in the world, and features world-class model displays, symposiums, the famed Friday night auction, and the latest modeling products displayed by exhibitors from around the globe. Whether it’s your first trip or your 59th, I promise that “The Toledo Show” won’t let you down. I hope to see you there.
The next report comes from District VII Associate Vice President Marc “Doc” Shelstrom, who returned to his childhood hometown of Dubuque, Iowa, this past summer.
The annual Tri-State Modelers (AMA Club #1173) fun-fly was held Sunday, July 15, 2012, in Dubuque. Mike Anderson and Jerry Anderson had organized the event for 10 years but felt it was time to turn over the job to someone else. Adam Eikamp agreed to take on the responsibility, and everything went smoothly, especially for his first year.
Prior to the day’s event, members spent a weekend trimming tree branches, cleaning underbrush, and re-grading the road to the field to improve access for large vehicles and trailers.
Roughly 20 pilots from Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin paid a $10 entry fee to participate in the fun-fly. All pilots were required to be AMA members.
The day’s events included aerial golf, flight drill, ground handling, juicy loop, blackjack, and Fast/Slow Pylon. The winner of each event received $10. The winners were:
• Rick Haney, aerial golf, 47 feet, 8 inches from the pin.
• Kris Ennis, flight drill, 11 seconds.
• Adam Eikamp, ground handling, 57 seconds.
• Mark French, juicy loop contest, 13 seconds.
• Garret Schroeder, black jack, score of 21 and a coin toss tiebreaker.
• Mikael Wolke, Fast/Slow Pylon, with a difference of 13.97 seconds.
A silent auction of donated items—including a FlightStar 40 trainer, a Moki 135, a Sig Four-Star 120, a Sig Four-Star 60, a Sig Somethin’ Extra, field boxes, and field equipment—was held to raise money for the club.
Club member Kris Ennis generously provided pizza and beverages at noon. Later in the afternoon, he arranged for an ice cream truck to provide free treats to approximately 50 spectators and pilots.
Club officers are currently planning for the July 2013 fun-fly. Hope to see you there.
[Photo: Picture 1]
At age 12, Trevor Ennis was the youngest pilot at the fun-fly.
[Photo: Picture 2]
Club president Mike Anderson readies his U-Can-Do for an event.
[Photo: Picture 3
Many took advantage of a cold ice cream treat on a hot Sunday afternoon.
[Photo: Picture 4]
These pilots enjoyed competing in the day’s events.
Submitted by Marc (Doc) Shelstrom
