District XI - 2011/02

February 2011 169
THE BLACK FRIDAY Snow Fly at the
Mann Lake flying field near Lewiston,
Idaho, was attended by fliers Mike Marsh
and Don Hart. Walt Rozelle came as a
spectator.
The road around the lake was snow
covered and slippery (four wheel drive
recommended). Flying conditions were
overcast and cold with a light breeze out of
the east.
Mike flew his CG SR Falcon on floats.
Don flew his Razzle Stik on skis. There
was two inches or so of snow on the
runway with small drifts, making takeoffs
and landings interesting. Both the floats
and skis worked very well.
Mike made three flights and Don made
two before giving up because of the cold
and the fact that Mike had a float mount
failure when his airplane skidded into a
drift.
Here are pictures commemorating the
event:
Mike Marshs CG SR Falcon on floats.
Don Hart’s Razzle Stik on skis.
Mike with the Falcon.
Don flying the Razzle Stik.
The Razzle Stik makes a fly-by.
Gayle H. Fixsen, the secretary of the Magic
Valley Aeromodelers Club (MVAC) in
Twin Falls, Idaho, had never belonged to an
RC club before moving to Twin Falls four
years ago. He produces the club’s newsletter
and compiled a synopsis of the club.
“We currently have 35 members in our
Twin Falls club and our neighbor, the Snake
River Flyers Club, has 23 in Hazelton, Idaho.
We represent south-central Idaho. We join
together for many events. Our club has one
couple and the rest are generally older guys
who have flown for years.
“Over the years I had thought about model
airplanes and had a yen to build one again,
and after a 66-year gap, my wife encouraged
me to build a couple of planes. At 81, I am a
beginner pilot and have my pride and joy, a
1/5-scale Cessna 182, that I spent a winter
building.
“Past member, Gus Williams, who passed
away two years ago, told a story about a plane
that the club members built during WW II. It
was quite a large plane and took them two
years to finish and get it ready to fly. They
had to build their own radio transmitter and
receiver. The receiver had a little metal
chassis and used tubes and two batteries.
“They had checked and double checked on
the ground and the controls worked fine.
Finally they were ready. The plane took off as
planned and was climbing nicely when they
discovered they couldn’t turn it. Several
members hopped into their model A Fords
and gave chase. They never did find the plane.
“Our club held a Fun Fly Day on August
28 and our annual Demo Day on September
11. This year, to raise money, we sold raffle
tickets for two planes and two helicopters.
Tickets are sold over a four-month period
with the drawing on Demo Day.
“We sell paint balls for a paint ball shoot
at one of our planes, and have a planned twohour
program of planes and helicopter flying
for the public each day.”
Fifteen carpet topped tables firmly anchored
to heavy conveyor belting donated by the
local cardboard box plant.
Left: Kelly Fairbanks
putting on a show
with his Trex 700.
Right:
The
paint
ball
target
airplane
took a
few hits
but kept
on
flying.
District XI
Bruce Nelson, District XI Vice President; [email protected]
Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington
Bruce Nelson
Vice President
807 E. Vicksburg St.,
Spokane WA 99208
Phone: (509) 467 8348
[email protected]
Associate Vice
Presidents
Rick Allison, Issaquah WA;
[email protected]
Darrell Anderson, Great Falls MT;
[email protected]
Bryan Batch, Spokane WA
[email protected]
Al Culver, Wilder ID;
[email protected]
Bruce Harlow, Myrtle Creek OR;
[email protected]
Jerry Holcomb, Vancouver WA;
[email protected]
Gene LaFond, Wenatchee WA;
[email protected]
Reeves Lippincott, Wasilla AK;
[email protected]
Mike Mosbrooker, Oak Harbor
WA; [email protected]
Claude Tanner, Boise ID;
[email protected]
Frequency Coordinator
Phil Tallman, Medical Lake WA;
(509) 299-5102;
[email protected]
District RC Coordinator
W.T. (Bill) Smith, Seattle WA;
[email protected]
Web site: www.amadistrict11.org
District XI Volunteers
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