Fall is in full swing, the weather is becoming crisper, and modelers across the country are starting their building seasons. We can be thankful here in District X for the ability to fly year round.
October is the time to submit applications for the Take off And Grow (TAG) program. Last year, we didn’t have enough applicants to use all of the funds allotted for District X. Let’s make sure we use the full amount of TAG money this year. Please submit your applications now.
Visit the AMA website or contact me for details.
The Fresno Radio Modelers have been active in the area since 1957 It is one of the oldest clubs in California.
Since 1989, the Fresno Radio Modelers have been flying at a field in Madera, California.
On March 22, the field was named Guy Field in honor of Madera residents Mr. and Mrs. Art Guy, who have allowed the club to use their property.
Mrs. Guy, who passed away last year, was one of the first women pilots in the Civil Air Patrol in the 1950s. Art, now in his 90s, continues his love of aviation and frequently visits the field. He enjoys watching the gas and electric models in the sky over his property. Here’s wishing the club another 57 years of success.
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AMA Hall of Fame and Life Member David Johnson passed away in May of this year. David was active in Southern California aeromodeling. He was a past president of the Hemet Model Masters, the Northrop RC Club, and the Valley Wide Radio Control Glider Club.
In 1976, David was the first person to fly an RC model over the Arctic Circle. One of his proudest achievements was developing a process to teach the hearing impaired how to fly an RC model. Our deepest sympathies go to David’s family. He will be missed.
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The Wasatch Aero Modelers (WAM) from Syracuse, Utah, successfully purchased property from two generous landowners. Fifty-four WAM members came together and donated the funds to pay for the land. New club president, Jeff Zemke, presented Cynthia Gardner and Brian Marston a large check in front of the 124-member club.
During the final stage of the land purchase, then-president Terry Pitkin passed away from cancer. Terry was a friend to all, and the WAM members renamed their flying location Pitkin Field.
Following the property purchase and field dedication, the club held a fun-fly event called Seven-Eleven, run by its vice president, Eric Winslow. When the clock started, each team had to roll a seven on the dice to take off. Once airborne, the two-person team had to roll an 11 to land and the clock stopped when the wheels touched the grass.
Six teams accomplished the feat in less than a minute. There was a tie for second place at 30 seconds and the winning team of Ron Stuart and Dennis Fox completed the entire event in 26 seconds.
Larry Smith cooked hot dogs and hamburgers, and it was a fun day for all.
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On October 19, 2013, District X lost another modeler. John Contreras, 53, suddenly passed away leaving a void in Yuma, Arizona, that could only be filled by his home club naming its flying field after him. The Yuma Aeromodelers renamed the flying site Contreras Field.
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John was active in his club and served as the secretary/treasurer for more than two decades. He participated in most aspects of model aviation, and was most noted for competing in the Masters class in Pattern competitions in the southwest.
If you ever visited the field, you would have seen him smiling and laughing, no matter the circumstances. A ceremony was held on February 22, 2014, at the field in front of his fellow modelers, friends, and family to officially name the field after him.
John will be missed and his devotion to the hobby he loved will be remembered by all who had the honor of knowing him. Godspeed, John, and happy landings!
