District IX—Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming
Jim Tiller
Vice President
jtiller@hotmail.com
Box 828, Custer SD 57730
Tel.: (605) 390-3878
www.amadistrict-ix.org
www.facebook.com/amadistrictix
If you have not already traveled to an event this season, I encourage you to do so. I know many of you like to fly with your buddies, but taking part in another club’s activities is a great adventure.
I had the privilege of visiting several clubs this past year, and I can tell you that there is unmatched hospitality and great spirit among the fliers in District IX. I have enjoyed these jaunts and I know you will too. Hope to see you out there. Road trip!
This report comes from Tom Neff, Colorado associate vice president (AVP).
Below is the latest group graduating from our workshop at the Colorado Academy, a charter school in Denver.
This workshop was put together through a program called Innovation Laboratory. Instructor Chris Roads and I collaborated on the course syllabus. Students range in age from 15 to 19.
As the six-week class progresses, all of these young builders become members of the AMA. We worked approximately one month constructing the students’ individual aircraft and this picture is of the day that the new airplanes were flown. All of the new models were successfully flown and they had great flight characteristics.
During the construction phase, students practice on flight simulators, so most solo soon after the class ends.
To quote one student, “I finally found something I enjoy and I’m really good at.”
Kansas AVP Paul Frankum sent these notes about an interesting project put together by club members.
The members of Jayhawk Model Masters of Lawrence, Kansas, have been dreaming of upgrading their noisy generator at Clinton International Model Airport for as long as anyone can remember. After months of planning and fundraising, that dream is becoming a reality with the installation of a solar photovoltaic power system designed and installed by Cromwell Solar of Lawrence.
The 1-kilowatt off-grid installation will provide power for a public address system, webcam, and weather station, as well as a charging station for receiver and flight batteries. The four 255-watt panels charge a pair of Concorde sealed batteries, and AC power is provided by a 3,500-watt inverter.
Members trenched and installed conduit for the supply cables and designed and installed the charging station. Cromwell Solar technicians are volunteering their time on weekends to install the system.
Thanks to the generosity and the hard work and dedication of our members, clean solar energy will soon be powering our events and electric aircraft.
I will leave you with a cool link to Jack Steinhauser’s Super Viper at Cherry Creek Park in Colorado: https://vimeo.com/126069678.
Associate Vice Presidents: Norm Berger, Parker CO; (732) 763-0301; acedrummond@gmail.com; Paul Frankum, Lenexa KS; (912) 856-6372; paulf1524@yahoo.com; Brandan Koch, Bismarck ND; (701) 471-9575; kochbrandan471@gmail.com; Rick McCaskill, Longmont CO; (303) 682-0440; candymantom@q.com; Tom Neff, Aurora CO; (303) 829-5416; candymantom@q.com; Steve Spier, Cheyenne WY; (307) 630-2066; steve.spier@gmail.com; Mike Tallman, Wichita KS; (316) 524-4004; miketallman90@yahoo.com; Kendal Baerg, Brookings SD; (605) 690-8352, kendal_baerg@yahoo.com; Ed Paasch, Omaha NE; (402) 321-3781; bigedmustafa@hotmail.com. Webmaster: Norm Berger, acedrummond@gmail.com. Contest Coordinator: Mac Strader, Overland Park KS; (913) 642-7697; mstrader@everestkc.net
