District IX Report - 2004/12

December 2004 165
NEWS FROM COLORADO: Secretary of
the Sterling Miniature Aircraft Association,
E.R. Jelniker, submitted the following report
about the club’s Combat event.
“The Sterling Miniature Aircraft
Association (SMAA) held its fifth annual
Combat competition on June 6, 2004. There
was Slow and Survivable Combat (SSC) in
the morning and Open Class B in the
afternoon.
“As with any event, it takes time in the
planning stages. In this case the weather
could be a large factor. After two days of
severe storms, high winds, and tornados in
the area, Sunday started out calm and warm
with very few clouds. Later in the day the
temperature was 95-100° with winds as
much as 20 mph.
“CD Marv Ferdig and his committee did
an excellent job getting the events underway
with advertising in the local newspaper, on a
local radio talk show, and on the Web sites
along with getting the AMA sanction. All
necessary boundries were in place and field
was curried by the grounds crew and in
excellent shape on Saturday.
“Some pilots came in on Saturday, others
by 6 or 7 a.m. Sunday. Sign-in was
completed by 8 a.m. The weigh-in of aircraft
was completed by 8:30 and the assembled
field judges met at 9:30 for instructions.
Unfortunately winds began blowing at 9 but
they were blowing away from the combat
engagement boundary.
“Thirteen pilots registered for the event.
Teams were from Longmont, Greeley,
Evergreen, Colorado Springs, and Denver,
Colorado, and Nebraska. One team flew in
from Los Angeles, California, and had time
to participate in the SCC. Launching was
done by hand and one by catapult. At times
the gusty winds caused launch and flying
problems. No impound was necessary as
there were no frequency conflicts.
“President Dennis Owen served as head
time judge at all Combat heats. Nine pilots
got the SSC contest underway at 10:10 a.m.
Flying time for each of the six heats that
were run was five minutes. Heats were run
at 15- to 20-minutes intervals. Normal,
wind-related flying problems were incurred
during heats, but the sixth heat had a midair.
“Prize money and framed certificates
were given to the first three finishers.
George Kerr from Aurora, Colorado, was
top gun in this event. The dinner committee
had set up and served a delicious lunch of
barbeque beef sandwiches, backed beans,
salad, cake, and iced tea and lemonade.
“At 1:05 p.m. Class B Open began with
the same format as SSC. Wind was not as
much a factor for this event. To start, 11
pilots took to the air. In the air they looked
like a bunch of mosquitoes after each other.
A spectacular midair occurred in the first
heat. The third heat produced two midairs
and amazingly one airplane survived and
completed the round. The sixth heat also
produced a midair.
“Midairs are something to see: the bang
of collision, the engine and fuselage coming
down, and the wings fluttering away in the
wind. Retrieval took some time as the wind
took the wings a distance from the field.
“The event was completed at 3:10 p.m.
then all pilots cleaned up and prepared to
leave. During this time, the two pilots from
California treated us to a fly-by before
heading to Los Angeles.
“Awards were presented to the first three
in this event, with Tom Neff from Aurora,
Colorado, taking top gun with more than
2,000 points. All of the pilots expressed
their enjoyment of their time here and
appreciation for a well-organized event.
“SMAA will host another Combat event
October 17, 2004, and we hope it will be as
successful as this one was.”
News from Kansas: Daniel Edwards of the
Capital City Radio Control Club in Topeka,
Kansas, sent in the following report about an
open house held at the club’s new field.
“The Capital City Radio Control Club
held an open house at its new flying field on
August 28, 2004. We had not held a fly-in at
our previous field for a number of years, so
all club members were eager to get together,
fly, and debut our new site.
“The site features a 710- x 120-foot
grass runway, and a pit area shaded by
several trees. The day dawned cool and
windy; a rainstorm had roared through just
hours before. The wind settled down, a
beautiful day emerged, and pilots and
aircraft began to arrive.
“The event was well attended, and we
heard favorable comments from our guests.
Two new members even joined on the spot!
Among Kansas cities represented by pilots
were Lawrence, Manhattan, and Eudora. We
sold burgers, hot dogs, and bratwursts, and
the concession area was busy as long as the
aromatic smoke wafted from the grill.
Darrell Colton, Jack Eighmey, and Don
Regier were the talented chefs.
“Marvin Renyer provided a public
address system, and he, Tim Kearney, and
son Patrick Kearney took turns lending their
golden voices to the mike, informing visitors
about the aircraft and pilots. Greg Inkman
and Daniel Edwards safety checked
airplanes, and took turns running the
transmitter impound. George Jones, club
president, lended a hand wherever it was
needed, and put in many flights with his
Giant Stinger. Greg Inkman tempted
potential pilots with his buddy-box setup.
“Many types of model aircraft flew, and
the talent of many of our guest pilots was
impressive. There was much 3-D flying and
pattern work! Two 1/4-scale aircraft from the
World War I era, Daniel Edwards’ Sopwith
Pup, and John Dalton’s Fokker Dr.I. were
present. They looked great parked together.
“It was a fun and successful open house.
We’re truly grateful for all the club members
who helped make this work, and are looking
forward to hosting another fly-in.”
This is the pit area of the new flying field.
The shade is great in hot weather!
John Dalton taxis his Fokker Dr.I, ready for
another flight.
Darrell Cordle lands his Pitts Special.
Associate Vice Presidents
Max Hansen, 1909 Wisconsin SW, Huron SD
57350
H. Michael Harrington, 6112 Ashton Ct.,
Ft. Collins CO 80525
Fred Hildebrand, 4015 Somerset Circle, Casper
WY 82609-3161
Nathan Lancaster, 3597 S. Kendall Street, Denver
CO 80235
Troy Lapp, 3419 Heartwood Drive SE, Mandan ND
58554
Travis McGinnis, 8027 W. 81st Circle, Arvada CO
80005
Don Moden, 410 Hart St., Salina KS 67401
Jim Ricketts, 4921 Fernwood Drive, Sioux Falls
SD 57103-5573
Jack L. Sibert, 3611 Kimberly Circle, Lincoln NE
68506-4524
Mark T. Smith, 14632 W. 50th Street, Shawnee
KS 66216
Frequency Coordinator
Steve Mangles, c/o Radio Service Center, 918 S.
Sheridan, Denver CO 80226
Colorado / Kansas /
Nebraska / North Dakota /
South Dakota / Wyoming
Russ Miller
Vice President
980 N. 3rd St.
Carrington ND 58421
Tel.: (701) 652-2321
Fax: (701) 652-2994
E:mail:
[email protected]
District IX Report