AMA District IX — Wyoming, Nebraska, North Dakota,
Kansas, Colorado, South Dakota
As published in the November 2015 issue of Model Aviation magazine.
I was happy to attend the Fargo Moorhead Skylarks 59th Annual Control Line (CL) Contest in Fargo, North Dakota. Fifty-nine years is an accomplishment, and this event is still vibrant and engaging. The club ran three circles to accommodate CL Aerobatics, Navy Carrier, and CL Combat. This truly is an international event with several attendees from Canada and as far away as Colorado. Many of the competitors were entered in several events.
though he’s doing well.
Pete Mazur and Roger Olson, two of the original event organizers, competed as they have most of the years of this long-running event. The other original organizer was Mike Olson, the father of Aimee (Olson) Bagley and Angela (Olson) Boser. Mike passed in 2012. Aimee and Paul Kegel now coordinate the event that Mike served as contest director of for so many years.
The 60th anniversary looks to be very special. Planning has already begun.
Many District IX clubs held a National Model Aviation Day event, including the Longmont Electric Aircraft Flyers (LEAF) of Longmont, Colorado. The event raised more than $1,100 for Wounded Warrior Project.
their meeting in CL Combat at the Skylarks
event. Note that it is dad’s airplane with all the
damage. Guess who won?
Several days before the event, Rick McCaskill, president of LEAF, joined the morning show on the Denver NBC affiliate and the publicity paid off. The LEAF club welcomed 25 pilots and more than 100 guests to its field on Saturday, August 15, 2015. In the midst of all the fun events, including limbo and balloon busting, they found time to do introductory flights for 12 novices and signed up four new members. A big pat on the back, people—outstanding!
Hats off to all of the clubs involved in National Model Aviation Day events in District IX including the Brookings Aeromates, Brookings, South Dakota; Bismarck Aircraft Modelers, Bismarck, North Dakota; Rapid City Propbusters, Rapid City, South Dakota; Beresford Area Radio Flyers, Beresford, South Dakota; Sterling Miniature Aircraft Association, Sterling, Colorado; Airpark Elite R/C Club, Strasburg, Colorado; Pikes Peak Radio Control Club, Colorado Springs, Colorado; Hastings Skylarks, Hastings, Nebraska; Derby Radio Control Club, Derby, Kansas; Foundation for Aeronautical Education, Topeka, Kansas; Capitol City RC Club, Perry, Kansas; and the Jayhawk Model Masters, Lawrence, Kansas.
District IX Vice President
jtiller@hotmail.com