District VIII - 2012/07

I attended the Big Bird Fly-In put on
by the San Antonio Prop Busters. It
is the first such event the club has
run in several years, mostly because
of the loss of its primary field and the
development of a new, smaller field.
William Wuest was the CD and the
well-run event had perfect weather
conditions. Twenty pilots registered
and everyone won a drawing prize.
Humberto Perez amazed the crowd
with his terrific 3-D flying and the
food was outstanding.
I hope this is the return of this Big
Bird event to our schedule for many
years to come!
On the way to Weatherford, Oklahoma,
Jack Matlock and I stopped in Wichita Falls to vist with
Doug “Chief” Powell and his lovely
wife, Jean. I told him I wanted to
take them to supper for all the great
work he has done over the years, but
when we got there, Jean had made a
chicken spaghetti casserole that was
outstanding.
We enjoyed the food and drink
and toured their renovated home and
Chief’s workshop. Then I surprised
him with a Distinguished Service
Award Plaque for all of his years as
an associate vice president (AVP) and
a MAD certificate for all he does for
AMA and as District VIII’s RC contest
coordinator. What a great modeling
couple and gracious host and hostess!
We made it to Weatherford Friday
night in time for a power walk from
the hotel to Braum’s Ice Cream and
back … you know Jack and I are fitness
fanatics.
We arrived Saturday at the flying
field to a nice group of folks and a
stiff breeze. By the end of our stay I
would estimate there were more than
30 pilots, 100 aircraft (helis, fixed
wing, turbine, gas, glow, and electric),
probably in excess of 120 cars, and
many spectators thanks to the good
advertising campaign leading up to the
event.
The mayor and state representative
were there for the noontime
introduction of VIPs and sponsors and
the good food ably prepared by the
president’s wife and kitchen crew.
The event was a celebration of the
completion of the club’s new Petromat
runway, which was funded by the
city. Demonstration flights of turbine
airplanes and heli and fixed-wing 3-D
routines entertained the crowd.
The runway is beautiful and the site
well-manicured. As you drive in, you
face a farm of wind turbines less than
half a mile away. Those things indicate
that some scientist believes there will
be wind across that hilltop, and there
was!
I started flying CL, FF, and singlechannel
RC in Oklahoma, so I was
able to cope with it. I presented MAD
certificates to the club’s board of
officers as well. his kind of month is what makes
being a district vice president
enjoyable! Great folks, good flying, and
support from local leadership.