AMA District News January 2016

AMA District IX — Wyoming, Nebraska, North Dakota,
Kansas, Colorado, South Dakota

As published in the January 2016 issue of Model Aviation magazine.

May the joys of the new year follow you through 2016.

This report on the Kansas State International Miniature Aerobatic Club (IMAC) championship, which I had the pleasure of attending, comes from Troy Hamm.

On the weekend of October 10, 2015, the RC Barnstormers hosted 18 pilots for the Kansas State IMAC Championships. Seven competitors were RC Barnstormers club members, and the rest came from South Dakota, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and Arkansas.

Tom Burndrett Sr. did a great job as the event’s contest coordinator. Club member Kevin Schmidt treated everyone to some of his fantastic Kansas City barbecue. You can see the competition results posted on the District IX Facebook page. With a good turnout from the Barnstormers and from outside our area, this event bodes well for the future of IMAC in our area.

I flew in Basic with seven others who were soundly beaten by 19-year-old Cale Speiser (first) and 14-year-old Travis Truitt (second). That is certainly a good sign for this competition.

Nebraska Associate Vice President Ed Paasch sent these notes and a picture of the Omahawks Auction put on by the Omahawks Radio Controlled Airplane Club in Omaha, Nebraska.

The annual Omahawks auction was held at Millard Social Hall in Omaha, and was a resounding success. Always a popular event for RC pilots throughout Nebraska, the event once again attracted pilots from as far away as Grand Island, Fremont, and Lincoln. There were 148 customers (buyer/ sellers) bidding on 495 items. That’s roughly 70 items more than we usually receive. The bidding went on well into the evening for those who chose to hang on until the bitter end.

Thanks to all of the Omahawks who came and helped run computers, handle sale items, and serve as auctioneers and concessions sales. Volunteers included Dennis and Pat Bender, Fred Wilke, Ed Paasch, Rick Miller, Bernie Baker, Tom Floyd, Chuck Inserra, Mikey Furrow, Helen Paasch, Bob Wheeler, Ron Pacana, Roland Lyons, and many others.

At this time of year, I have a little space to publish things that would not fit in previous columns. I want to mention a young AMA member, Evan Gaston, whom I met at the Scale Nats last summer in Muncie, Indiana. I was impressed with the skilled competition flying of the 12-year-old. He finished eighth in Fun Scale, competing against some Scale heavyweights such as Terry Nitsch and Mike Barbee.

Evan told me this was his fourth appearance at the Nats. He told me he had been flying for roughly 10 years. This young man has a great AMA future.