District XI - 2012/09

The Bell Air R/C Flyers Club of
Bellingham, Washington, hosted its
23rd Annual Big Bird at Bell Air event
June 2 and 3, 2012, as reported by CD
Gerry Becker. The two-day event had 22
rIt looked like a Le Mans start with
everyone scrambling to get airplanes
checked out, assembled, and engines
warmed up. Soon, there were four
airplanes flying at a time—to the delight
of the 500 to 600 spectators who
showed up each day.
Jeff Mullen put on a great halftime
show with a 3-D demo flying Dave
Boyd’s 10-foot wingspan Cessna AG
Wagon powered by a Moki five-cylinder
engine. The smoke system wowed the
crowd.
Snoopy and his flying dog house,
flown by Jerry McLean, thrilled the
youngsters. Dennis Adams provided
a great 3-D demo on Sunday. Lloyd
Marold showed how easy it is to mow
your lawn with his RC flying lawn
mower.
Renney Stefani made several
parachute drops and Kevin Klocke
organized four helicopter pilots to put on
a 20-minute demonstration that had the
crowd cheering and clapping.
The Heritage Flight Museum of
Bellingham presented the event with
a full-scale P-51 Mustang flyby and a
formation of two British Spitfires and a
P-51 Mustang.
Club members directed traffic and
parking, operated the concession stand,
sold T-shirts and hats, conducted raffles
and pilot-prize drawings, and helped
with event cleanup.
Spectators donated more than 300
pounds of food to the Bellingham
food bank. Event sponsors included
Performance R/C of Burlington,
Hobbytown USA of Bellingham,
Hobbico/Tower Hobbies, and the
Heritage Flight Museum of Bellingham.
Photos courtesy of John Vanderhage.
Bill Lee of the Northwest Fireballs sent
me a report on the Northwest Regionals
held in Eugene, Oregon. The report is
from the Flying Lines website edited by
John Thompson. This website contains
more information than I have room for
here. Please visit it at http://flyinglines.
org/nwregionals.12.html.
The CL model airplane contest
wrapped up on the Sunday afternoon of
Memorial Day weekend 2012.
Forty-two separate events were
successfully completed. One hundred
and thirty-two trophies were awarded,
$1,500 worth of prizes claimed, and
hundreds of flights made.
Attendance was approximately the
same as last year, with 82 competitors
registering and 77 actually flying. Field
setup work began under the direction of
Eugene Prop Spinners president Mike
Denlis.
Among the work crew were Mike
Massey, Brian Massey, Tom Kopriva,
Gene Pape, Jim Corbett, Mike Hazel,
Dave LaFever, Dave Green, Gordon
Rea, and quite a few contestants who
pitched in. Registration was directed
by Kathy Thompson with help from
Barbara White, chief stunt tabulator, and
Annette Johnston.
Commemorative shirts featured the
Jester stunt airplane flown by Regionals
contestant Bruce Perry.
Donating or sponsoring prizes
were Eugene Toy & Hobby, Brodak
Manufacturing, and Mike Conner. A
silent auction sold a Ruffy Classic Stunt
airplane built by Don McClave, and
a Navy Carrier kit donated by John
Lickley.
Trophies were sponsored by Jim
Aron, Burt Brokaw, Karl Caldwell, Mike
Conner, Don Chandler, Eric Conley,
Dave and Angela Gardner, Dave Green,
the Northwest Fireballs, Jim Rhoades,
Howard Rush, Reno and Sparks
Aeromodelers, Paul Walker, in memory
of Wayne Spears, and by one anonymous
donor.
The 2012 Regionals marked the
successful return of AMA Fast Combat
to the schedule, and also the return of
Scale entries. Gordan Delaney of Layton,
Utah, won the coveted Concours d’
Elegance award.