My best to you this holiday season. I have enjoyed meeting and corresponding with all of you this past year and hope to continue that journey next year. Thank you all for your kindness.
I received this account of the Fargo-Moorhead Skylarks’ 58th annual Control Line Contest from member Aimee (Olson) Bagley. Aimee’s father, Mike Olson, was one of the club’s founders and, after his passing in 2012, Aimee took over as one of the CDs for this outstanding event.
“The 58th annual FM Skylark’s contest took place July 26-27, and was a great success! We had 30-plus competitors from as far away as Kansas, Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. We have lots of events each year, including Stunt, Carrier, Combat, Balloon Bust, and a Special Slow Rat Race. We had 10 fliers in Speed Limit Combat, and everyone got to fly five rounds.
“Balloon Bust was our biggest event, with 12 pilots entering. Some carnage ensued in the balloon bust ... that pole is hard on balsa wings. Special Slow Rat Race was a blast, and almost everyone took part. On Sunday, the contest ended with a few vicious matches of 1/2A combat.
“After this long, those who come are like family. Many have known each other for years, and we have been blessed by a few new pilots joining us recently. The traditional Saturday evening picnic gives all of us a chance to reconnect. For more, our Facebook page is www.facebook.com/FMSkylarks.” (please put these in as links in the electronic version)
District IX helped the Beresford Area Radio Flyers (BARF) recognize the City of Beresford, South Dakota, for a long and productive association. In the words of BARF member Dave Larsen:
“On September 13, we presented the town of Beresford a recognition plaque honouring them for 25 years of supporting model aeronautics and the Beresford Area Radio Flyers. Kendal Baerg, AMA District IX associate vice president, made the presentation during the club’s annual family picnic. Beresford Mayor Jim Feddersen received the award.
“This long partnership has been wonderful for BARF and the area model flyers. Since 1989, when the Beresford model flying field emerged on city property, the City Parks and Recreation Department has not only seeded and mowed the field, but also provided materials so our members could put up fences, spectator benches, a sun shelter, and cement building pad. In return, the Beresford Area Radio Flyers, an AMA Gold Level Leader Club, has provided events and activities that include all city residents and makes an annual donation to a Beresford charity.”
The weekend of September 12-14 was Brian O’Meara’s annual Warbirds Over the Rockies event, this year hosted by the Arvada Associated Modelers (AAM) in Arvada, Colorado. AMA President Bob Brown and his wife, JoAnne, were among those in attendance, including the Saturday night banquet.
Through Brian O’Meara’s generosity, we were also able to set up a table to promote and take donations for the AMA Foundation. Mandee Mikulski, AMA’s director of development, took on those duties.
Friday was a little challenging weatherwise, but Saturday and Sunday more than 120 registered pilots fill the skies with all manner of warbirds. The noon show included full-scale flybys and pyrotechnics.
My hat goes off to Brian O’Meara, his staff, AAM President Jim Manley and all the members of the AAM that made this event a major success.
Look for all of Mike Cross’ great warbird pictures on our website at www.amadistrict-ix.org. (please put these in as links in the electronic version)
Captions:
Img_4552 --
Balloon bust action with eight-year-old Samuel Boser and his mom, Angela (Olson) Boser.
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Sisters Aimee (Olson) Bagley and Angela (Olson) Boser having a little grudge match.
Barf Picnic --
Beresford SD Mayor Jim Feddersen received the appreciation plaque from Kendal Baerg.
