This month’s first submission is from Rafeek Besheer of the Midwest Sundowners in Crown Point, Indiana.
This year’s Chilly Fly and Swap event is the fourth one organized at the Sparta Dome by the Midwest Sundowners. The enormous 120,000-square-foot inflatable dome has a grass turf overflight area with a 70-foot ceiling.
Paul Vandenburgh offered a demonstration to guests as they walked in the dome. The halftime show included blue F-22s in a demolition derby-style demo as well as flying wings (six at a time). Tom Lustig and Scott Brownwell flew effortless and intricate maneuvers. (I cannot understand how their fingers work!)
The swap event had a variety of airplanes and essentials. Sundowners Vice President Bob Jackson sold raffle tickets for an Extreme Flight ARF Vanquish, won by Stan Zolodz III. Notice the smile on Stan’s face as he holds his prize presented by club president Tim Klein.
A video of the event, composed by 3D Dave, is on YouTube at https://youtu.be/JH9WzbIPzq8. Check us out at www.midwestsundowners.com.
Leo Rodriguez, AMA District VI associate vice president, reported on the Air Supremacy Over Goshen event, held at the Goshen Municipal Airport in Goshen, Indiana. The 2019 air show, with 112 pilots from 11 states and more than 250 scale aircraft, exceeded the founders’ expectations.
Pilots from as far as Arizona, Canada, and Florida attended the show. The airport and several local businesses did their parts to make Air Supremacy a resounding success.
“Each year, we introduce something innovative to attract new pilots,” said Chuck Hamilton. An objective is to “have Air Supremacy and Scale aircraft recognized as a legitimate segment of the aviation community. Everyone associated with Goshen Municipal Airport is testimony that we are achieving this goal.” The event has demonstrated consistent growth.
Air Supremacy Over Goshen 2020, will be held July 16-18. The complete story can be found on www.flygoshen.com.
Dale Arvin reported on youth building. AMA, in conjunction with Horizon Hobby and Sig Mfg., has put together a package consisting of a 40-size trainer airplane kit, electric motor, batteries, a charger, a Spektrum radio, and all of the building materials and tools required to build and fly the airplane.
The package is offered to EAA chapters for a fraction of the original cost then EAA partners with an area AMA club to assist Young Eagles in building and flying the airplane.
The River City RC Flyers in Louisville, Kentucky, is one of the AMA clubs helping with a project. The first building session was on January 11, 2020. Five club members and 13 students attended.
The 2-hour sessions take place every other Saturday and the young people really enjoy the building. The instructors show them what to do and the kids do the building.
The first session was building the wing, which was nearly completed in the allotted time. The airplane should be ready to fly in roughly four months.
Remember, to see your club in the magazine, send me a submission of your club’s event from this past year!
Email me at AMADistrictVI.modelaircraft.org with the word “magazine” in the subject line and attach some pictures!
Don’t forget to introduce someone to model aviation!
Gary Himes
Vice President District VI