District VIII - 2006/09
Jr. Aero Tow Sailplane Event
The Jr. Aero Tow sailplane event took place May 31–June 4, 2006, in Monticello, Illinois, at the Monticello Airport. Michael Sieniarecki (908 S. Walnut St., Mahomet, IL 61853; (217) 861-3445; E-mail: [email protected]) was the CD of the event.
The primary sponsor was Horizon Hobby Events Corp. This meet attracted fliers from throughout the country, including District VIII, and it is rapidly gaining quite a reputation.
The following photos are from the event.
Futaba Extreme Flight Championships (XFC)
The fifth annual Futaba Extreme Flight Championships (XFC) was June 16–18, 2006. The three-day contest took place in Troy, Ohio, at the Waco Airfield.
As the first-ever invitational event of its kind, the XFC brought together the top fixed-wing and helicopter pilots from around the world for a freestyle competition. The entries at the XFC were original and creative.
Called 3-D because the intent of the stunts is to exploit the capabilities of the aircraft on every axis and in every direction possible, many maneuvers are far beyond the limits of full-scale aircraft. The XFC was geared specifically toward entertaining the spectator and challenging the pilot. It was a great adventure in watching models fly at the extreme.
Winners:
- Helicopter: Scott Gray, first; Alan Szabo, second; Jason Krause, third.
- Airplane: Jason Noll, first; Quique Somenzini, second; Gernot Bruckman, third.
I extend a huge thank-you to Horizon and Futaba for their sponsorship of these two great events! Well done!
Editorial: Safety and Fellowship
Better safe than sorry. When possible, never fly model aircraft alone — you never know when another set of eyes might come in handy or be a lifesaver. A lone modeler has been robbed when his full attention was on his airborne model; someone got the drop on him while he was otherwise occupied.
If possible, have a spotter or assistant with you on the flightline. One never knows when a midair collision could be avoided or when a low-flying full-scale craft might stray over your flying site.
Last but not least, if someone on the flightline yells “Look out! Heads up!” with the assistance of a spotter, you could be saved. This is an extra set of eyes whose attention is focused on the rest of the world while you are busy watching your model. Is this common sense? Yes. Is it required? No. Flying with an assistant or a spotter is cheap insurance when and if needed.
AMA is the glue that bonds modelers together. Flying, Fun, and Fellowship.
Sandy Frank.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
