Nearly one more trip around the sun! I cannot believe it is December again. It is the time of year when we celebrate with family and friends. I ask that we celebrate responsibly, and please remember the real reason for the season!
This year has been another tough year for us, with COVID-19 still a part of everyday life. I pray that 2022 will be better! Merry Christmas and happy New Year to you and your families.
Bill Bolz reported on the Midwest Sundowners Dawn Patrol inaugural event that was held at the club flying field in Hobart, Indiana, on Friday and Saturday, August 20-21, 2021. Contest director Ed Rogala put together this fantastic, well-attended event and procured T-shirts for those who volunteered for both of the days of the event.
Generous donations from our favorite businesses made this a successful event. Everyone walked away with a goodie bag and other merchandise. The format of this event was essentially a fun-fly, but to encourage pilot participation, points were awarded for every flight that a pilot made.
The pilots who attended logged 68 flights in the two days. At the conclusion, pilots were invited to choose merchandise based on the number of flights that they logged. A balloon bust was held on Saturday afternoon and six daring pilots participated. Prizes were awarded to the best four finishes.
A pilot-only raffle was held, and merchandise was awarded to two lucky ticket holders. Fantastic photos were taken by Lawrence McFarland. Lawrence is an Illinois state trooper who has taken up professional action photography and photographs many Midwest Sundowners events.
John Midgorden reported that the Kansas City RC (KCRC) club partnered with EAA Chapter 91 at the Lee’s Summit Municipal Airport in Missouri to provide the AMA/EAA Young Eagles Build and Fly program in February 2020. The EAA provided a nice area as a workshop to build the Sig Manufacturing trainer kit. Because of COVID-19, the building of the model was delayed and was finally finished on August 8, 2021.
Five boys spent time building the model with help from several KCRC members. On National Model Aviation Day, August 21, 2021, all five who stayed with the build part of the program were given stick time on the model.
In the original package was a fight simulator that the EAA set up in its conference room. The boys got to fly the airplane on the simulator during the construction period. Two even performed loops on their first flights. The youngsters were able to fly the model successfully.
KCRC members continue to train these youngsters and will be starting takeoffs and landings soon. The Build and Fly Program was successful. Time will tell if this introduction to RC will stick with these kids, and the club will continue to provide opportunities for these boys to continue their flight training.
In closing, take time to introduce someone new to model aviation. To see your club in this column, email me a short write-up of your club’s event to amadistrictVI@modelaircraft.org with the word “magazine” in the subject line. Be sure to attach a few high-quality digital pictures!
Gary Himes
Vice President District VI