District XI 2014/04
Contact
Mike Mosbrooker Vice President [email protected] 533 Birch St., Oak Harbor, WA 98277 Tel.: (360) 679-9139 Website: www.amadistrict-xi.org
This month I have two reports regarding 2013 jet meets. It wasn't that long ago that, when jets were mentioned, we were talking about a reciprocating glow engine turning a fan inside the fuselage of an airplane. In 1983 a model powered by a small turbine flew in England, and in 1988 one was flown in the U.S. By the mid-1990s one could buy a turbine for a model; it came with ground-support equipment needed to get it running and later to shut it down. By 2004 most of the ground-support items were onboard the aircraft. Four or five years later many jet modelers returned to ducted fans powered with electric motors, made feasible by the energy density available in batteries.
Jets Over Whidbey (Tom Berry, contest coordinator)
The 23rd annual Jets Over Whidbey took place August 23–25, 2013, at the Navy Outlying Field in Coupeville, Washington. Twenty-seven pilots from the Western U.S. and Canada brought 38 turbine and ducted-fan airplanes for three days of flying in perfect weather to impress about 600 spectators.
Contest Director Bill Broderick, assistant CD Behzad Pakzad, and a large crew of volunteers from the Whidbey Island Radio Control Society kept the event running smoothly. On Saturday evening the event moved to the Navy Chief Petty Officers' Club in Oak Harbor, where guests enjoyed a dinner. Following dinner, Bill and Behzad presented awards and prizes.
Plans were already underway for a bigger and better 24th annual Jets Over Whidbey during the last weekend in August 2014. Mark your calendars.
Fly-a-Ways' Jet Rally (report forwarded by Chris Rankin from Ivan Castellanos)
After an initial rainout and cancellation, the Fly-a-Ways' Jet Rally was hosted on October 5, a few miles northwest of Portland, Oregon, on a perfect fall day. Eight registered pilots brought nearly two dozen jet-powered models, prepped, polished, and ready to fly—well, most of them. More than 40 spectators attended, including Fly-a-Ways members and members of nearby clubs.
From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the sky was filled with the sounds of screaming ducted fans. The Blue Angels routine was a crowd pleaser as they executed synchronized aerobatics set to music. Aerodynamics and power were on display as the F-100 Super Saber and two Habus shot through the sky at top speeds.
Highlights and participants:
- Chris Benke’s larger-scale jets, including an F-18 Hornet and a twin EDF MiG-29, and Dave Hicks’ Typhoon provided impressive eye candy.
- Mark Gordon offered cold beverages and grilled hot dogs and burgers.
- Special thanks were extended to Tammy's Hobbies and Hillsboro Hobby Shop.
- Prizes were awarded for People's Choice, Top Speed, and a luck-of-the-draw raffle.
Event results:
- People's Choice: 1st — Me-262, flown by Dennis Laughlin (outstanding appearance and flight characteristics); 2nd — F-16, flown by Fred Irvine.
- Top speed (high-speed pass): 1st — F-4 Phantom, flown by Ivan Castellanos, clocked at 137 mph; 2nd — Me-262 at 100 mph.
- Fred Irvine also won the final gift certificate from the event raffle.
After a successful event and much positive feedback, this may go down in history as the inaugural Fly-a-Ways Jet Rally and set the stage for many years to come.
Chris and Ivan included a link to a great video made by a club member. Visit YouTube and search for "Flyaways Jet Rally."
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
