MARC KARPOWICH, associate vice
president (AVP) in Utah sent in the following
report:
“Where did the summer go? As I am
writing this, it seems as though we just left
winter behind and now Labor Day is but a
week away.
“This flying season has been a whirlwind
of events in the great state of Utah, kicking the
season off with the Desert Helies April Fool’s
Day fun-fly. The event was held north of Saint
George, Utah, at a private turf farm. This was
an ideal location other than the removal of the
turf before the event. More than 30 pilots
attended, many with two or three helicopters.
“Thanks go to Doug Reese and his wife
for putting this fun-fly together.
“I always wanted to fly myself to some of
these contests or fun-flies and I had the chance
to fly down to Price, Utah, to the Desert
Wings R/C club and deliver its Leader Club
award. Rich Hanson flew up from Scottsdale,
Arizona, to be present at the occasion.
DWRC members (top L) Pete McLaughlin,
Russ Jensen, Ray Ariotti, Paul Cook, and
president Chris Rigert with VP Rich Hanson
and AVP Marc Karpowich. Photo by Tyson
Bryner.
“This club has a fantastic flying site with
the continuing help of the county/city.
Christopher Rigert did a great job getting the
information together to claim the award.”
AVP Wayne Hamada, with help from
Rodney Sato, reported on Hawaii’s Paradise
Flyers:
“Like the mythical Phoenix, the Paradise
Flyers RC Club (PFRCC) evolved after the
original club lost its flying privileges at the
Marine Corps Base Hawaii (MCBH) in 1999.
It was shortly thereafter that the Leeward
Aeromodelers RC Club also lost its Ford
Island flying site.
“Both clubs joined forces to find a new site
and eventually obtained permission from the
Bellows Air Force Base (BAFB) Command to
fly from an abandoned runway. The clubs
chartered as the born-again PFRCC.
“Today, the MCBH is home to roughly
16,000 Marines, sailors, family members, and
civilian employees. It maintains key
operations, training and support facilities, and
provides services that are essential for the
readiness and global protection of ground
combat forces and aviation units.
“With the Koolau Mountains as a
backdrop, the PFRCC flying site provides
virtually unlimited airspace adjacent and away
from the base’s active runway. The field is an
inactive runway that provides an excellent
platform for a wide variety of aircraft.
“A typical day at the field usually finds a
large contingent of turbine-powered models,
which has arguably positioned PFRCC among
the largest turbine clubs in the US.
“Because MCBH is an active military
base, the majority of PRFCC’s membership
must be active-duty military, dependents, or
otherwise associated with the Department of
Defense. Formal dues are not collected from
the 70-plus membership, but the members are
assessed from time to time to cover club
expenses.
“The club is authorized to fly on Sundays
and federal holidays only, and is occasionally
grounded when full-scale operations are
conducted on the active runway.
“In 2004, the PFRCC and AMA’s Birds of
Paradise Airshow Team performed during the
MCBH’s Blues On The Bay Airshow that
featured the Blue Angels, Patty Wagstaff, and
other aerobatic performances. The Blue
Angels will return in October and the PFRCC
plans to attend.”
Members enjoy virtually unlimited runway and
unobstructed air space.
Popularity of turbine models is apparent
among PFRCC’s members.
Tim Chrismer, flying Duke Chung’s turbinepowered
F-16, has been flying since he was a
teenager and is an avid RC modeler. A few
years ago he lost the use of his left arm in an
unfortunate motorcycle accident, but this did
not dissuade him from enjoying the hobby.
Tim continues to be an active and skilled
member of Hawaii’s aeromodeling
community.
Until next time ... Keep ’em safe and Keep
’em fly’n.
District X
Rich Hanson, District X Vice President; [email protected]
Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Utah
Rich Hanson
Vice President
Box 3312,
Scottsdale AZ 85271
Tel./Fax: (888) 899-3548
[email protected]
www.ama10.org
Associate Vice
Presidents
Darwin Barrie, Chandler AZ
(480) 946-8955
Greg Clemensen, Las Vegas NV
(702) 870-6242
Jim Giffin, Redding CA
(916) 760-8291
Don Goeschl, Lancaster CA
(661) 940-6066
Don Gulihur, Santee CA
(619) 449-8397
Wayne Hamada, Honolulu HI
(808) 521-7733
Marc Karpowich, Logan UT
(435) 752-3639
Bill Malvey, Ladera Ranch CA
(949) 481-8621
Jerry Neuberger, Santee CA
(619) 258-4477
Bob Reynolds, Tucson AZ
(520) 296-8183
Frequency Coordinators
George Steiner, Sacramento CA
(916) 362-1962
Eloy Marez, Santa Ana CA
(714) 540-4935
District X Volunteers
164 MODEL AVIATION
Edition: Model Aviation - 2007/11
Page Numbers: 164