One of District IX’s early season events is the Lamar Steen Memorial International Miniature Aerobatic Club (IMAC) Challenge, organized by the Miniature Aero Sportsters (MAS) in northeast Denver, Colorado. MAS has hosted this low-key competition four years running and it was my second year attending.
This well-organized, two-day event was capped by wonderful spring weather and—believe it or not—almost no wind. These people know how to do it right. What a great time. Good friends, good flying, and well run.
One particular bright note was Chris Phillips. Chris is a high school student and hot-shot pilot who took second in Basic in his first competition. I see a great flying future for this young man.
As for me, about the only good thing my flying did was give a bunch of people the right to say they beat the district vice president (VP).
My thanks to Larry Ott and Dan Underkofler for organizing the event, all of the MAS members for their hospitality, and a special shout out to whomever made those wonderful pulled-pork sandwiches.
If you want to see some value in your AMA membership, think about all the ideas and ingenuity there is in our members. I watched this project unfold in the pages of the Probable Cause newsletter of the Rocky Mountain Aeromodelers in Arvada, Colorado. Tony Livaudaus, the club vice president, filled in the details.
To be able to fly Navy Carrier events at the club’s grass CL field, the members manufactured 12 sheets of oriented strand board (OSB), and engineering pins that hold the sheets together and also hold it to the ground. A second set of pins allows the quick installation of arresting lines.
Their work makes a sturdy Carrier deck that can be quickly assembled and when not in use, stored under a donated pickup topper near their circle.
It was a great project that turned out well.
At the AMA Open Membership meeting Thursday evening of Joe Nall Week, I was pleasantly surprised to see District IX well represented. Many of you stopped to talk and share that wonderful Joe Nall experience. Thanks so much for that.
I never cease to be amazed at growth of that flying event or the generosity of Pat Hartness, the host. Turn any direction and find neat airplanes and interesting, friendly people who are more than willing to share information about them.
There was a little rain this year, but it didn’t seem to dampen anyone’s spirits. The noon shows were something to behold. Make sure you put this event on your bucket list.
For more pictures or information on any of these stories, visit District IX on Facebook at www.facebook.com/amadistrictix][Can you make this into a link in the electronic version that goes to our Facebook page?]
[Pictures:]
[Lamar Steen 2: ]
District IX VP Jim Tiller (center top) presents the Lamar Steen IMAC Challenge Top Guns. Standing: Mark Siemen, Dan Uunderkofler, Scott Schutz, Cliff Slinker, and Jack Karst; kneeling: Mike Hurley, Chris Phillips, and Jim Ziegler.
[Lamar Steen 3: ]
MAS President Larry Ott presents Chris Phillips his second-place trophy at the Lamar Steen IMAC Challenge.
[Stowing the Deck, Taking Up the Deck: ]
Leroy Fuehrer, and Jerry Chambers take up and store the new CL Navy Carrier deck at the Rocky Mountain Aeromodelers CL field.
[9963:]
The noon show at the Joe Nall 2014—yes, there is a 50% Pitts Challenger somewhere in all that smoke.
