AMA District VI—Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri
As published in the November 2015 issue of Model Aviation Magazine.
Hello everyone. I hope your flying season has been good so far. I’ve been having a lot of fun. At the beginning of August I spent a couple of days in Muncie, Indiana, during the International Radio Control Helicopter Association (IRCHA) Jamboree, and was able to watch a little FPV racing as well.
The IRCHA Jamboree is a large, impressive, well-run event. FPV racing is remarkable to watch and fun to fly. You feel as though you are virtually sitting in the cockpit of the aircraft while flying with goggles or a video screen.
This area of multirotors is really taking off, and I believe it will grow to become as competitive as Pylon Racing is today. If you haven’t seen it online or watched it in person, FPV might be a new aspect of the hobby that you’d like to check out.
Twenty-six clubs in District VI signed up to participate in National Model Aviation Day. National Model Aviation Day was established three years ago to help clubs and modelers gain positive news media. We’ve accomplished this by holding events, inviting the public and news media to our fields, and have suggested clubs hold a fundraiser at the same time.
For the most part, money raised has gone to Wounded Warrior Project, however, if you have a local charity you would prefer to support, that is fine as well. I’ve heard of some very successful events and I hope everyone had a good time.
Weather across the district during this year’s National Model Aviation Day was better than last year. The Black Sheep Squadron in Danville, Indiana, raised more than $5,870; the Deep River R/C Flying Club in Hobart, Indiana, raised $422; the Paducah Aero Modelers in Paducah, Kentucky, raised $3,378.22; and I heard that the Kansas City Radio Control Association in Missouri, raised more than $2,000, and is still working to improve that amount at another event. The Ozark Mountain Barnstormers in Springfield, Missouri, raised $1,540, and the Kansas City Northern Knights in Missouri raised $1,400.
As of this writing, $14,610.22 has been collected in our district to support Wounded Warrior Project. I will post the final numbers when I know them. Great job to everyone involved.
I was invited to attend the inaugural Redwing RC’s Show Me 3D event held at the St. Louis Radio Control Flying Association’s flying site. Approximately 45 pilots signed up with a large range of airplanes. It is a very friendly group. Everyone there was nice and welcomed my wife and me to the event.
Bob Scheppele got us a prime spot to set up. Alex Acevedo and his family were next to us with his Redwing RC 50cc Slick 540. I also enjoyed visiting with Jerry Smith, the national fun-fly champion, who was in attendance. There are some great people in District VI.
Happy flying!