District IX - 2011/04

154 MODEL AVIATION
ANOTHER AMA EXPO has passed and it
keeps getting better. Lora Knowlton does a
great job of organizing the event for AMA
and your enjoyment.
Marv White (L) from the Arvada Associated
Modelers in District IX and yours truly (R).
If you have the opportunity to attend next
year, make sure to put it on your calendar.
Ontario, California, is a great place to be in
the winter!
There are great values available everywhere
you look.
Building and flying simple airplanes is a big
hit with the kids at the AMA Expo.
John Kellogg was quick to report that Terry
Batterman, AMA 490, of the Northern Hills
RC Fliers, was the first Leader Member for
2011. Thank you, Terry, for all that you do
for your club and AMA and congratulations!
Sollie Cadman sent me some great news.
Bill Carpenter has won this year’s Carl
Goldberg Vital People Award for District
IX. The presentation was made earlier this
year and attended by family and members of
the Wyoming Modelers Park Association
(WyMoPA).
Bill graciously donated his $200 award
Check to WyMoPA.
(L-R): WyMoPA President Rich Hardt;
recipient Bill Carpenter; and WyMoPA
Safety Officer Sollie Cadman.
Jim Tiller, our associate vice president from
South Dakota, send us this article on how
people in his area keep on flying during the
winter months.
“The Black Hills area has quite a few
electric enthusiasts. With the snow and cold
here in the Outback of the US, it is nice to
be able to do some indoor flying.
“Thanks to Josh Franke of the RC Aces
here in Rapid City, we have several
opportunities for indoor flying this winter.
Josh was able to secure the South Middle
School Community Center gym for three
events in December and January.
“The first took place on Saturday,
December 18. More than 20 fliers from as
far away as Spearfish attended. Small micro
flyers, including T-28s, Cessnas, Vapors,
Mustangs, and helicopters, were the most
numerous aircraft of choice.
Perhaps the most interesting flying was
with the Battle Yaks—an original design
from Troy Lapp in Bismark, North Dakota.
These 30-inch foam profile aircraft have
caught on like wildfire up here for both
indoor and outdoor flying. These little foam
airplanes are magnificent 3-D flyers and
extremely damage resistant—hence the
name Battle Yaks.
“At one point during the festivities there
were seven Battle Yaks in the air at the same
time in that claustrophobic space, including
my own which I only saw intermittently
through the cloud of Styrofoam.”
Josh Franke, event organizer, hovers his
Battle Yak.
Battle Yaks and Battle Edges indoors at the
South Middle School.
Jim Wallen
Vice President
7322 W. 82nd Way
Arvada CO 80003
Tel.: (303) 421-
9061
www.amadistrictix.
org
Associate Vice
Presidents
Steve Culver, Omaha NE;
[email protected]
Zac Heskin, Garrison ND;
[email protected]
Fred Hildebrand, Casper WY;
[email protected]
Bruce Ream, Highlands Ranch
CO; [email protected]
Brenda Schuette, Auburn KS;
[email protected]
Mike Tallman, Wichita KS;
[email protected]
Jim Tiller, Rapid City SD;
[email protected]
Webmaster: Norm Berger,
[email protected]
Contest Coordinator:
Mac Strader, Overland Park KS;
[email protected]
District IX Volunteers
District IX
Jim Wallen, District IX Vice President; [email protected]
Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming