AMA District VI—Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri
As published in the February 2016 issue of Model Aviation Magazine.
First let me say thank you for reelecting me to represent District VI for another term. The first three years have flown by quickly, with many difficult decisions made. I expect the next three years will go by just as quickly, and I don’t expect it to get any easier. I appreciate your confidence in me, and as always, I will do my best to represent our district.
This report comes from Sam Hart, John Griffin, and Tom Duncan.
On September 19-20, 2015, the skies above Rend Lake College in Ina, Illinois, became filled with replicas of airplanes from World War I through the present as the Rend Lake Radio Control Club of southern Illinois held its 22nd annual Military Fly-In.
The Rend Lake Club’s grass field was well prepared with the flightline well defined and the field closely cropped so that the smallest model could easily take off. Many hours of work by the club members was apparent. Two large tents were set up for spectators and food was prepared by club member Bill Fleri. No one went away hungry.
award plaque to Dennis Sparks.
A lot of old friendships were renewed and new ones formed at this, the largest Rend Lake fly-in to date. Pilots came from all of the neighboring states as well as Arkansas, Tennessee, Kansas, and Colorado. Sixty pilots signed up and most of them brought more than one airplane. There were more than 135 planes at the last count.
As usual, P-51s were the most numerous, closely followed by Corsairs. The variety of airplanes was almost too many to mention. There were small F-117s and Me 163s all the way up to the Giant Scale warbirds of WW I and II, and the large jets including an F-16, F9F, and F-18. One unusual airplane was a model of a German WW II Blohm und Voss Bv 141 flown by Steve Mizerany. It only has one vertical stabilizer on one side of the power nacelle with the pilot and gunner in a pod offset from the engine.
Two awards were given in honor of local men who served in WW II. One was the Lyle Endicott award. Lyle flew FM-2s off the escort carrier Steamer Bay, and, at a spry 90-plus years, Lyle was on hand to award the plaque to Dennis Sparks. Lyle also received a scale model of an FM-2 to display in his home.
The other award was given by club member Mert Thayer (in honor of his uncle, Wayne Bennett) to Lynn Elston, who flew a Ziroli P-51. This award is presented annually by Mert and he chooses the winner. The coveted Pilots’ Choice award went to Steve Forrest who flew a Giant Corsair.
The Team Scale award went to Lyle Vasser and Steve Forrest flying Giant Scale P-51s. Their formation flying had to be seen to be believed. Their section takeoff, close formation flying, the break, head-on pass, and formation landing had everyone watching in awe. They must have practiced many hours to put on a show that good. Finally, the Red Baron award went to Bill White, flying a 1/4-scale Balsa USA Fokker Dr.I.
Contest Director (CD) Phil Bean and assistant CD Tom Duncan ran a good event. John Griffin spent many hours arranging preregistration and getting sponsors for the merchandise that was given out. John and Angela Henson spent the day running registration. No one went away empty handed.
The modelers packed and headed home, tired but making plans for what model they would like to bring next year.
See more photos of this event in the digital edition.
If you are considering submitting your club for an AMA Flying Site Improvement Grant, it will need to be done electronically this year. You can submit your grant requests at www.modelaircraft.org/membership/clubs/flyingsitegrantdVI.aspx. Flying Site Improvement Grants must be submitted by March 1, 2016, to be considered.
If you have any questions about the grant process, feel free to contact me or Erin Dobbs at erind@modelaircraft.org.
Happy flying.