After a discussion with some friends one day, I did a quick check to see how many multi rotor-only clubs were in District VI. I could only find six, but the bigger shock was that there are two of them in my backyard—right here in Kansas City, Missouri. This intrigued me so I contacted the presidents of each club. Following is a short blurb about each club.
Oh also, Happy Father’s Day. It’s a great day to take a kid flying!
KCFPV
In 2015, Kansas City FPV started as a group of people meeting together to race. Throughout the years, the club has grown to be a consistent group of roughly 20 dedicated members who brave all kinds of weather for the sheer enjoyment of racing and camaraderie.
In the fall of 2017, club members took the steps necessary to advance to a Tier 1 status within the MultiGP racing organization. This put in motion the road to becoming an officially sanctioned AMA club.
The club listened to AMA’s guidance and formally established rules and safety guidelines to ensure that its fun didn’t turn into another story on the 5:00 news. Club members continue to have fun and look forward to an extremely exciting and action-packed racing season with their sister chapter, KC Multi-Rotor.
“We will show the rest of the nation that Kansas City is full of dedicated pilots who love to fly!”
Kansas City Multi-Rotor
Kansas City Multi-Rotor was formed by longtime AMA members in early 2017, with the goal of forming a racing club that recognized the need for insurance, a set of standards, and the ability to demonstrate safety and responsibility at its events. This has allowed the club to develop good relationships with local municipalities and to secure a permanent, dedicated flying field for multi rotor freestyle and racing where members are welcome any day of the week.
The members bring their families out to the races and encourage their kids to get involved. They try to set a good example for the kids by educating them about the technology being used and promoting good sportsmanship between pilots. If someone is having a bad day, members do whatever it takes to keep him or her in the air—loaning spare parts, tools, or charging batteries.
This club has brought people together from all walks of life. People who normally would never have crossed paths are instead forming lasting friendships that bring them together as often as the races do. The camaraderie that develops from building, flying, and crashing together is what has propelled this club forward to achieve Tier 1 status in MultiGP and it continues to do great things in 2018.
If you enjoyed this month’s submissions and would like to see an event from your own club here, email me a short write-up with the word “magazine” in the subject line, and attach a few high quality digital pictures!
Gary Himes
Vice President District VI