District X - 2010/08

ON SATURDAY, April 24, the Sonoran
Desert Flyers, Inc., an electric RC club from
Oro Valley, a northwest suburb of Tucson,
Arizona, participated in the Oro Valley Parks
and Recreation Fair at James D. Kreigh Park.
The club was invited by the Oro Valley Parks
Department because it is a licensed user of
the Oro Valley’s Naranja Park.
Four model flight simulators were set up
under a tent and 12 electric RC model aircraft
were displayed. Eight club members
attended. They demonstrated flying model
aircraft on the simulator and helped the kids
and their parents try flying the airplanes on
the simulators. The eight had a static display
to show off their airplanes, too.
The fair was well attended and the
Sonoran Desert Flyers’ booth was popular.
Several families joined the members at their
field the next day for buddy-box flying. Some
parents even seemed to be under pressure to
get their kids into the hobby!
The first annual Willie McCool Regional
Park Open House was held Saturday, May 8,
2010, in North Las Vegas, Nevada. The event
was sponsored by the PropNuts R/C Club and
the Rebel Squadron club that coordinated
with the City of North Las Vegas Parks and
Recreation Department to use the park.
The open house was to thank the
neighborhood adjacent to the park for sharing
the area with the modelers from both clubs.
They felt it would be good for area families
to see what goes on and get a chance to meet
the modelers. This was important because of
the proximity of the neighborhood to model
operations. An estimated 100 guests came.
The Rebel Squadron and PropNuts take a
break for a group photo.
The open house started at approximately
8:30 a.m., featuring models on static display,
two computer flight simulators, flying
demonstrations—jets, warbirds, aerobatic,
and electric models—and three trainer
aircraft with instructors staffed by Rebel
Squadron club members.
Anyone who participated in either
simulator or trainer aircraft flying received a
free raffle ticket. The raffle prizes were two
RTF trainers complete with radios. A free
hotdog and hamburger lunch was grilled on
site for everyone.
Neighborhood participation was steady
throughout the day. Children were
particularly attracted to the simulators and
many went on to fly the trainer aircraft as
well. The Rebel Squadron trainer pilots
worked hard throughout the day to give
everyone who signed up a chance to fly an
RC model.
The flying demonstrations attracted much
attention from the visitors especially when
the turbine jet modelers from Pahrump,
Nevada, flew their demonstrations several
times in short succession. Several adults from
the neighborhood thanked the modelers for
sponsoring the event and expressed their
support for the modeling activities that take
place at the park regularly.
The raffle winners were two children from
the adjacent neighborhood.
A first-time pilot his gets final flight brief.
From the modeler’s perspective, the
McCool Regional Park RC model aircraft
open house was successful. From the onset,
the goal was to foster a good relationship
with the neighborhood. This was important
because the RC modelers who use McCool
Park have successfully worked with the City
of North Las Vegas to halt efforts by a very
vocal minority wanting to close McCool Park
to RC flying activities.
Sponsoring the open house and witnessing
the visitors’ enthusiasm confirmed the longheld
belief among modelers that a majority of
the neighborhood does not have a problem
with the model-flying activities taking place
at McCool Park.
Should any further conflict over model
flying at McCool Park arise, the PropNuts
and Rebel Squadron RC clubs will be able to
rely on support from the neighborhood.
Members of both RC clubs put a great
deal of work into the planning and execution
of the open house event. Their collective
efforts benefit everyone who enjoys McCool
Park and they are to be commended for
volunteering their time on everyone’s behalf.
Seeing the positive expression on the
visitor’s faces as they participated in the open
house activities was ample payment for the
effort put forth. Finally, the look of
enthusiasm on the faces of the two children
who came forward to claim their raffle prizes
made the entire event worthwhile.
—Greg Thomas
President, PropNuts R/C Club
District X
Mike Brown, District X Vice President; [email protected]
Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii, Nevada, Utah
Mike Brown
Vice President
Box 69,
Bella Vista CA 96008
Tel. (530) 440-8732
[email protected]
www.ama10.org
Associate Vice
Presidents
Tim Attaway, Chula Vista CA
(619) 427-6392
Denny Baker, Brentwood CA
(925) 513-1224
Darwin Barrie, Chandler AZ
(480) 946-8955
Greg Clemensen, Las Vegas NV
(702) 870-6242
Wayne Hamada, Honolulu HI
(808) 521-7733
Kevin Houser, Oro Valley AZ
(520) 490-7657
Marc Karpowich, Logan UT (435)
232-1873
John Lockwood, Clovis CA
(559) 298-1606
Rick Maida, Morgan Hill CA
(408) 778-6885
Scott Malta, Merced CA
(209) 723-4202
Bill Malvey, Ladera Ranch CA
(949) 481-8624
Jerry Neuberger, Santee CA
(619) 258-4477
Jon Wilson, Ryde CA
(916) 776-2797
Contest Coordinators
Ellis Hall, Fair Oaks CA (North);
(916) 217-6302; [email protected]
Tim Attaway, Chula Vista CA;
(619) 427-6392;
[email protected]
Wayne Hamada, Honolulu HI;
(808) 521-7733;
[email protected]
Roxanne Cottrell (Utah and
Arizona only), Mesa AZ; (602) 321-
7955; [email protected]
District X Volunteers
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