Author: Kris Dixon
Edition: Model Aviation - 2014/07
Page Numbers: 137

District V — Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, US Virgin Islands

Kris Dixon Vice President

Southeast Electric Flight Festival (SEFF)

I attended the 2014 Southeast Electric Flight Festival (SEFF) in April. In its 13th year, the event was held at Hodges Hobbies Field. Pilot registration was 353—slightly down from last year—but the flying action was extremely high. Again highlighted by Mac Hodges flying his fantastic B-29, the noon demos ran just under two hours.

AMA’s education assistant, Jessy Symmes, and the AMA RC Mobile Flight Experience Trailer were there, and the simulators were in constant use. It was an enjoyable week for everyone, and I am looking forward to next year.

Want to put on a show like this? Here is a picture of the Fayette Flyers staff and workers who put together this top-notch event.

Local highlights while attending SEFF

When I decided to go to SEFF, I researched some interesting historic sites to visit while I was there. I stayed in a beautifully restored 192-year-old hotel in downtown Americus, Georgia. The floors creaked when you walked, and I was told there are a few ghosts who run around the hotel. Within walking distance are numerous small shops and some of the best food I have ever had.

The Andersonville Confederate Prison is approximately 8 miles away, and if you ever get a chance, it is a must-see site. Souther Field Airport is here; this is where Charles Lindbergh bought his first airplane and soloed after nine hours of instruction. Contests and events are great to attend, but take the family and enjoy the areas around the towns you go to as well.

Lake City RC Club — Open House and Fly-In (report from Associate Vice President Andrew Griffith)

Lake City RC Club of Lake City, Florida, hosted its first open house and fly-in on March 12, 2014. Norman Green, club vice president, put the event together with the backing of the board and membership.

  • Promotion: In addition to advertising on RC forums, Norman got the local radio stations to run spots inviting the public to the "RC Airshow."
  • Participants: Pilots and a variety of airplanes were invited to show what the sport is all about and to hopefully attract new members to the small but growing club.
  • Attendance: The event attracted 20 registered pilots and many spectators.
  • Activities: Variety was the order of the day — small electric foamies took center stage for a last-man-down combat flight, followed by a glider aerotow demonstration.
  • Reach: Participants came from Tampa, Jacksonville, and Valdosta, Georgia.

The club hopes that word of mouth will make next year’s open house even bigger.

Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.