District VIII Report - 2004/04

April 2004 185
DOUG GARCIA of El Paso, Texas, sent
me the following letter and photographs
about the Celebration of Flight Fly-in in
Alamogordo, New Mexico, in November,
2003.
“I have been flying Radio Control (RC)
for 20 years and only started traveling to flyins
and other events during the last couple of
years. I didn’t know what I was missing.
“I have made several friends throughout
the Southwestern United States and have
learned a great deal in the way of aircraft
setup and flying techniques. I had the
opportunity to attend a fly-in at a very nice
facility in Alamogordo, New Mexico, on the
weekend of November 15-16, 2003. The
brief description highlights activities of the
fly-in.
“An estimated 600 spectators witnessed
100 Years: A Celebration of Flight Fly-In,
an event commemorating the 100th
anniversary of the Wright brothers’ first
powered flight. The event was hosted by
American Legion Post 34 Inc. and
sponsored by Hal’s Hobby Warehouse of El
Paso, Texas, with the help of Horizon
Hobby Distributors and the VMP Flyers
Association.
“The two-day event was held November
15-16 at the American Legion Post 34 Inc.,
Veterans Memorial Park in Alamogordo,
New Mexico. It is a nice facility with
camper hookups, electricity, covered pit
areas and 800-foot paved runways. More
than 85 participants came from throughout
New Mexico and West Texas including
Albuquerque Socorro, Las Cruces, and El
Paso.
Waiting for the fog to lift, a spectator
inspects aircraft on a portion of the
flightline.
“Guests of the event included Bill
Brundle a new member of Team JR, John
Redman from JetCat turbines and Bob
Violett Models (BVM) Jets. Also
representing Team JR was four-time
Tournament of Champions (TOC) champion
Quique Somenzini.
“Bill Brundle demonstrated the latest 1/3-
scale Almost Ready-to-Fly (ARF) from
Hangar 9: the Extra 330S. John Redman
introduced the crowd to the world of jets
with BVM Jets’ latest model the KingCat
flying with a JetCat P120 turbine engine.
This entry-level jet could scream past at 200
mph and slow to 30 mph for landing.
(L to R) John Redmon, Bill Brundle, and
“Skeeter” prepare the KingCat for its first
flight on Saturday morning. John was as
surprised as the crowd when the jet
briefly dsappeared into a low cloud.
Danny Sander, Bill Brundle, and Gene
Davis anticipate flying a new jet. The
museum-quality BVM Jets BobCat was
built by Bill.
The close-up shows detail of Bill
Brundle’s BVM Jets BobCat.
“John and Bill hooked up buddy boxes
and allowed spectators to fly both the Extra
and the KingCat, I have already ordered my
Extra but the jet will have to wait.
“The guest of honor, Quique Somenzini,
demonstrated his World Champion flying
style performing precision aerobatics with
his TOC aircraft, a Yak 54 built by Wayne
Ulery. Quique flew two demonstration
flights on Saturday and one on Sunday. The
Saturday afternoon show included his TOC
freestyle routine complete with smoke and
music. For most attendees, this was their
first exposure to extreme 3-D flying.
Quique Somenzini (L) hovers his Yak 54
for Carlos Priemer, event sponsor and
owner of Hal’s Hobby Warehouse.
“Saturday’s weather started with dense
fog that grounded all but the Electrics. The
sun broke through about 10 a.m. and the rest
of the weekend was excellent with clear blue
skies and temperatures in the upper 60s.
There was no wind on Saturday and a light
wind on Sunday.”
Carlos Priemer clocks the BVM Jets
KingCat at 187 mph.
Flying, fun, and fellowship! Sandy Frank.
Arkansas / Louisiana / New
Mexico / Oklahoma / Texas
Dr. Sandy Frank
Vice President
105 N. Brazos St.,
Weatherford TX 76086-3207
Tel./Fax: (817) 599-7131
www.AMA-Dist-8.org
E-mail: [email protected]
Associate Vice Presidents
Buzz Averill, 11608 Singing Arrow Rd SE,
Albuquerque NM 87123 Home: (505) 323-8571;
Work: (505) 298-6870
Lester L. Barry, 4808 N. Rockwell Ave., Bethany
OK 73008-5373 (405) 789-5373
Max Blose, 1001 N. Betsy, Waco TX 76706
(254) 662-5587
Bill Lee, 601 Van Zandt County Road 4815,
Chandler TX 75758 (903) 852-5599
Jim D. Marshall, Box 9092, Mission TX 78572
(956) 585-6446
Douglas E. Powell, 5218 Kingston Dr., Wichita
Falls TX 76310; (940)691-8348;
[email protected]
Randy Randolph, 4873 Fallon Pl., Dallas TX 75227
(214) 381-7624
Jim Rice, 118 E. Wright Blvd., Universal City TX
78148 (210) 945-8221
Ron Stanfield, 26 Oak Ridge Dr., Maumelle AR
72113-6846 (501) 851-1697
Charles Stevens, 226 Delta St., Pasadena TX
77506 (713) 473-4995
Ward Watts, 13415 Joor Rd., Baton Rouge LA
70818 (225) 261-5974
Frequency Coordinator
(North): Joe DuMond, 6731 Bridge Street, PMB-
224, Ft. Worth TX 76112 (817) 457-6685
(South): Gene Kent, 2811 Cork Cove, San Antonio
TX 78230 (210) 308-8043
AMA Display Coordinator
Karen Hopkins, 5515 Bridgeton Avenue, Arlington
TX 76018 (817) 467-9211
District VIII Report