168 MODEL AVIATION
AS I WRITE this month’s column, there is
a slight chill in the air. It’s a reminder that
fall is just around the corner, and
unfortunately, winter as always will soon
follow. But for now that is another story.
We here in District VII have had a great
year so far. I don’t think we could ask for a
better flying season, although some days
were just too hot for me.
Other good stuff is that Hardy Brodersen
has been inducted into the Model Aviation
Hall of Fame. It is a well-deserved award for
Hardy for all his contributions.
District VII sponsored its first AMA flyin/
air show. The event was hosted at the
Radio Controlled Club of Detroit (RCCD)
flying site. RCCD put together a great team
to carry out this task.
Check out www.amadistrictvii.org for
some pictures. Both of the above items will
be covered in greater detail in a later
column.
The rest of this column is dedicated to the
youngsters who brought home the gold from
the FAI Junior Free Flight World
Championships. I am very proud of these
youngsters—especially the members of
District VII and the local Detroit Balsa Bugs
members.
For those who have never competed in
any of the venues associated with our hobby,
it may be difficult to realize what it takes to
be a champion: hard work, frustration, long
hours of practice, and the list goes on.
Thanks to Bill Shailor for supplying the
pictures and the background information.
Congratulations to one and all. It’s great to
be an American
On August 22-24, the Junior Free Flight
World Championships were held in
Cochstedt, Germany. For the first time ever
in FAI Free Flight competition—Junior and
Senior—the United States teams in Nordic,
Wakefield, and Power took gold. The award
for best overall team performance also went
to the United States. This was the first time
it has ever gone to a non-Eastern bloc or
non-East European country.
The team manager, George Batiuk, is to
be commended on an outstanding job in
getting all nine of his team members to work
together as a team.
Included on the team are two members
from the Detroit Balsa Bugs: Paul Shailor
and Evan Simon. They come from a long
line of FF modelers.
Paul’s grandfather, Ernie, was on the US
Free Flight Team that competed in Germany
in 1955. Evan’s grandfather, Paul Simon,
was Senior National Champion in 1951.
Til next time, fly safely, have fun, and take
a youngster to your field. C.A.V.U.
District VII
Bill Oberdieck, District VII Vice President; [email protected]
Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin
Bill Oberdieck
Vice President
Box 1076,
Southgate MI 48195
Tel.: (734) 283-4813
Fax: (734) 283-0650
www.amadistrictvii.org
Associate Vice
Presidents
Larry Brannan, Grand
Rapids MI; (616) 956-6012;
[email protected]
Ed Bucki, Rockwood MI;
(734) 379-4054; thebuckster@
sbcglobal.net
Bud Gorman, Knife River MN;
[email protected]
Don Held, Elmira MI;
(231) 584-2662; [email protected]
Thomas D. Lazar, Marshall WI;
[email protected]
Jon McVay, Mount Vernon IA;
(319) 895-6527; [email protected]
Tom Pierce, St. Clair MI; (810)
367-6450; tom_pierce_48079@
yahoo.com
Mark E. Robotti, North
Lindstrom MN; 76214.1624@
compuserve.com
Tom Ryan, Milwaukee WI; (414)
881-0070; tomcat@
execpc.com
Frequency Coordinators
West: Al Schwartz, Roseville
MN; (651) 633-2286
East: Pete Waters, Northville
MI; (248) 486-4800
Flying Site Coordinator
Joe Beshar, [email protected]
District VII Volunteers The Junior World Championships Team included (
L
to R) Evan Simon, Kyle Jones, Anthony
Ferrario, Bryan Bauer, Paul Shailor, Ryan Secor, Cody Secor, Taylor Gunder, and Brian
Pacelli in the front, center.
The winning F1B team (L to R) includes
Taylor Gunder, Evan Simon, and Paul
Shailor. Manager George Batiuck is on the
right.
Paul Shailor launches.
The Wakefield team on the flightline.
Edition: Model Aviation - 2006/11
Page Numbers: 168