District X - 2010/12
Lake McSwain Float-Fly (September 24, 2010)
On Friday, September 24, 2010, the Turlock Remote Control Club was cleared for takeoff for its 19th annual Lake McSwain Float-Fly. This year’s CD was Gary Wolz. The event was a complete success, drawing AMA members from as far south as Ventura, California, and as far east as Utah.
The Turlock club was honored to have AMA representation once again. Rick Maida and Denny Baker, both District X associate vice presidents, were present. Their interest and love of the sport and hobby of model aviation was apparent. They spent most of the three days helping others, from simply being spotters to teaching Lake McSwain’s park ranger, Jason, to fly. They placed him on a buddy box so he could experience firsthand the thrill of RC flying. Club member Tom Moore generously let Rick and Denny use his Cadet Senior float plane and buddy box for the occasion.
Three days of flying were made possible by beautiful blue skies, temperatures in the mid-to-high 90s, and water as smooth as glass.
Sponsors
- A Main Hobbies.com
- A-1 Bait Shop (Snelling, California)
- Amalia’s Cocina
- Modesto Hobby & Crafts
- Oakdale Hobby & Arts & Crafts
- ProTek RC
- RC Country (Sacramento, California)
- ReadyHeli.com (Florida)
- Snelling 76 Gas and Mini Mart (Snelling, California)
We extend our gratitude to each of these companies for their generosity. In addition, we thank Marion, Lake McSwain, and the Merced Irrigation District for allowing us to use their facilities. A special thank-you goes to Bob Hallinan for his time and effort in printing the welcome and sponsor banners, the dinner tickets, the pilot badges, and for donating the float-fly hats and logos.
The Turlock RC Club’s annual Lake McSwain Float-Fly is usually held the last week in September at Lake McSwain. We all look forward to seeing you and flying again next year.
Take Flight for Kids (September 25, 2010)
I have one more event to report on this month: Take Flight for Kids, held this year on September 25 at the Reid-Hillview Airport in San Jose, California. This is the biggest, most fun, hands-on, science, arts, do-it-yourself, free festival in Northern California. There were nearly 200 booths with various aviation, science, and art themes and roughly 10,000 kids and adults in attendance.
My wife and I staffed one of the district’s booths. We brought:
- four tables
- a sun shade
- 250 balsa gliders
- approximately 200 foam FP-9 gliders
- plenty of handout material
The South Bay Soaring Society (SBSS), an AMA-chartered club, was there with a very nice booth. Club member Noel Eberhardt had precut more than 450 FP-9s, and another SBSS member brought 150 foam gliders that were distributed as well.
For more information about this great event, see the sixth issue of the District X newsletter on the District X website: www.ama10.org. You can also e-mail me to request that I send you the newsletter.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
