There are several events in western
Washington each year that are worth
attending. One of these is the Bell Air
Big Bird in Bellingham, which has been
held 22 years and will happen again
this year on June 2 and 3. This event is
sponsored by the Bell Air R/C Flyers.
Mark Metge was the CD last year,
and with the help of many club
members, put on another event
enjoyed by many. Pilots from across
Washington and some from Canada
came together and enjoyed two
beautiful days of flying. The sunny
weather also encouraged large crowds of
spectators to enjoy the airplanes, noise,
camaraderie, food, and flying.
Twenty-six pilots displayed more
than 50 large sport, aerobatic, and Scale
airplanes with wingspans of up to 12
feet. Special flights were highlighted
by Snoopy’s doghouse flown by Jerry
McLean to the background music of
“Who Let the Dogs Out.”
A little farther south, in Coupeville,
Washington, many jets can be heard
each year in late August. The Jets Over
Whidbey (JOW) event is sponsored
by the Whidbey Island Radio Control
Society and takes place at the Navy
Outlying Field with a runway that is
roughly 5,500 feet long and 250 feet
wide. The event has been held for 21
years and is named after the island on
which it is held. It will take place this
year from August 24 to 26.
Last year, Al Watson was the CD
and had plenty of member assistance.
Twenty-seven pilots with 39 aircraft
from across the US and Canada
attended. There also were national
officers from the AMA and Model
Aeronautics Association of Canada
(MAAC) including Mark Smith,
then-AMA executive VP; Ron Dodd,
MAAC president; Al Watson, Jet Pilot’s
Organization (JPO) VP and JOW CD;
Bob Brusa, JPO District XI Rep.; Paul
Dries, JPO Canada Rep.; and Carol
Brusa, JPO Secretary/Treasurer.
Awards were presented at the
Saturday night banquet. Best Scale Jet
went to Dan Avilla’s P-80; Best Flight
was awarded to David Phillips, flying
an F-4; Best Sport Jet was taken by
Bob Wonitoy’s BVM Bandit; and the
Top Gun Award went to the event
coordinator, Tom Berry.
Mark Smith took his maiden turbine
flight, while connected to the buddy
box and instructed by Dean Wichmann.
Saturday’s noontime lineup on the field
drew a crowd to view the airplanes and
talk to the pilots.
Associate Vice Presidents: Rick Allison, Issaquah WA; [email protected]; Darrell Anderson, Great Falls MT; [email protected]; Bryan Batch, Spokane
WA; [email protected]; Chuck Bower, Langley WA; [email protected]; Al Culver, Wilder ID; [email protected]; Bruce Harlow, Myrtle Creek OR;
[email protected]; Jerry Holcomb, Vancouver WA; [email protected]; Reeves Lippincott, Wasilla AK; [email protected]; Chris Rankin, Bend OR; (541)
593-3294; [email protected]. Frequency Coordinator: Phil Tallman, Medical Lake WA; [email protected]. RC Coordinator: Steve Cook, 500 E. 7th Ave.,
Apt. 10, Ellensburg WA 98926-3195; [email protected]. FF/CL Coordinator: Dick Salter, 3126 184th Ave., SE, Tenino WA 98589-9524; [email protected]. Webmaster: Chris
Rankin.
District XI—Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington
Edition: Model Aviation - 2012/06
Page Numbers: 153
