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
We all want to engage young people in our flying activities. There is no better avenue than a Take off And Grow (TAG) event. This long-standing AMA program will help your club organize and promote such an event and even give you some financial assistance. TAG grants are awarded once each year by application. The next deadline is February 5, 2016. Encourage your club to host such an event.
In 2015, District IX had only one application for this great program. The TAG event at Airpark Elite R/C Club in Strasburg, Colorado, was held in May. Here is the report from Associate Vice President Tom Neff.
What a great day. Both weather and turnout were exceptional. We
had the generous assistance of a great many members. Six AMA-certified flight instructors were doing buddy-box training using both nitro and electric airplanes. We also had a flight simulator up and running for further practice. All who stepped up received plenty of stick time. We had pilots from ages 8 to 88 at the controls. One group of very special guests included local Civil Air Patrol cadets.
Before lunch it was air show time. Lots of different aircraft flights ensued including warbirds, a Pylon racer, and an FPV drone. About the time you thought it couldn’t get much better, out came parachutes from our jump plane. Four jumpers went out. Three surrendered and one took cover and is still hiding in the field.
Just as the smell of burning nitro from the air show abated, the mouth-watering scent of hamburgers grilling took its place. Lunch is not complete without some dessert, so the jump plane switched to loads of candy dropped in front of the crowd for a sweet treat.
Happy faces and memories were created on this TAG day. The Civil Air Patrol cadets assisted with picking up the large, gear-busting rocks around the perimeter of our new runway. Don Lamb, a new member and accomplished photographer, took the pictures. Thank you to all who contributed; without you, it just would not have happened. Thank you very much for your service.
On Sunday, May 31, 2015, the Rapid City Propbusters of South Dakota held its Community Appreciation Day. This event was registered as an AMA National Model Aviation Day event.
Two activities gave winners gift cards from Who’s Hobby, a local hobby shop. One was a spot-landing contest. The second was a paintball shoot at a foamie.
Throughout the day there was a constant line behind our buddy-box-equipped trainer. Food was available on-site for a charitable donation. Who’s Hobby also donated a HobbyZone Sportsman S+.
The all-day event attracted a good public following and television and newspaper coverage. More than $300 was raised for Wounded Warrior Project. Thanks to all of the Propbusters club members who worked so hard to make this event a success. A special thanks also to Scheel’s All Sports for the loan of the paintball equipment.
