Happy New Year! It is the start of building season once again. I cannot believe we are already into the new year. I hope that 2021 will be a much better year than the last!
It’s time now to sit around the fire and enjoy the following stories from when it was still warm outside! First this month is Phil Freeman.
The Southeast Missouri Modelers Association’s asphalt runway had needed to be replaced for several years. Our field is located at Galaxy Park in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. It was determined that the most cost-effective surface for the new runway would be Petromat, laid over a level and packed fine-gravel base. The necessary prep work was started early in the summer of 2020.
The project’s final stage, installing the Petromat surface, took place with the help of several club members on Saturday morning, July 18. We want to thank the members of Midwest Airwing in Pontoon Village, Illinois, for their technical assistance and the knowledge that we needed to understand how to install the Petromat.
The next submission is by Mike Morton of Henderson Radio Control Model Airplane Club in Robards, Kentucky.
Jax Nickelson, 9, is the club’s youngest member. Jax was one of our previous Take off And Grow (TAG) students and is pictured here with a used E-flite Cub that he won at the club’s Fall Fly-in, held in September.
He had just completed his first three flights with his new airplane, including takeoffs and landings. I don’t think we can get that smile off of his face anytime soon. He has become an accomplished quadcopter flier and has also been flying a mini Spacewalker and a mini Cessna outdoors at home for a few months. This Cub is his biggest airplane to date.
This submission is by Bob Gautreaux.
On saturday October 3, 2020, the Sedalia RC Flyers Club, in Missouri, hosted a sanctioned fun-fly/toy drive event. There were 12 pilots attending, which was a very good turnout for the club.
The weather forecast was not favorable, but everyone stuck it out, and the day ended up being a great day to fly model aircraft. Several visitors stopped by to watch. There is nothing better than having fun and giving to a worthy cause. The club raised $90 in donations, and members donated approximately $500 worth of toys.
The last submission is from David Lindley, president of the National Free Flight Society.
October 10-12 was the date of the Bong Eagles Columbus Day Indoor Contest. This event is held at the Rantoul National Aviation Center 6 in Rantoul, Illinois. Indoor flying always draws a large crowd at this spacious facility. AMA Executive Vice President Randy Cameron attended the event and stated that he is always amazed at these lightweight models.
If you want 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 a few high-quality digital pictures! This is the time of year when submissions are few, so get writing!
Please take the time to introduce someone to model aviation!
Gary Himes
Vice President District VI