Merry Christmas, and please remember the real reason for the season! This year has been a tough year for all of us with social distancing, wearing a mask wherever you go, canceled events, and on and on. I pray that 2021 will be better for all of us and our families! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to each of you and your families.
The first report this month is from Ed Miller about the Woodland Aero Modelers that hosted a local Boy Scout Troop. The Scouts had camped the previous evening at Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve. The following morning, the club members assisted with flight instruction. Many of the Scouts were completing their Aviation Badge. Featured club members included Rich Magin, Ed Miller, Stan Warden, and Tony Mataitis.
I owe this club an apology because it was sent to me before but I missed it. Sorry!
The next report is by Mike Morton from the Henderson R/C Club.
September 10-12, 2020, was the date of our Annual Fall Fly-In. We had 53 registered pilots.
Because of administrative regulations, we could not advertise the event as open to the public for visitors and concession sales, but several spectators showed up at the event. The Peller family—Heidi, Joey, and Joseph—came out late on the last day of our event and were interested in learning about and possibly getting into RC flying.
We gave them a couple of demonstration flights with the club’s Apprentice trainer. They discussed the how-to and where-to of getting into the hobby and becoming RC pilots, joining the AMA, and joining the Henderson R/C Club. Joey is currently pursuing becoming a full-scale pilot, and the family thinks that we look like a good group to join.
This report came from Doug Brindle. Drawn together by the need to fly, a brotherhood of flying buddies gathered at the Jack Charlier flying field in Evansville, Indiana, on the weekend of September 26, 2020, for RonaBro 2020. The club members graciously welcomed pilots from Indiana, Tennessee, Missouri, Ohio, and Washington state to their first-class flying facility that includes a concrete runway and taxiways, shade-covered pits, two clubhouses, restrooms, electricity, and multiple large worktables and chairs.
Many pilots invited others to fly their airplanes. Some didn’t even bring an airplane to the event, yet managed to get in dozens of flights. It was invigorating to see two talented young pilots, ages 10 and 18, at the event. The weekend concluded with hundreds of flights, a couple of hard landings, and lots of fellowship and good fun.
Associate Vice President Craig Greening reported that he attended the 2020 Champaign County RC Club’s Barnstormers Over Champaign event. Pictures can be found in the digital version the magazine.
If you want to see your club mentioned in the magazine, simply 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. Attach a few high-quality digital pictures! Please take the time to introduce someone to model aviation!
Gary Himes
Vice President District VI