District VIII
Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas
Mark Johnston
Vice President
districtVIIIVP@modelaircraft.org
6608 Beck Dr. NE, Albuquerque NM 87109
Tel.: (505) 823-0158;
www.amadistrict-viii.org
I wanted to mention an event I am helping sponsor in Prosper, Texas. Wings Over Windsong is being put together with help from the Richardson RC Club, the North Dallas RC Club, the Rowlett RC Club, and the people at Windsong Ranch. Please consider coming out to help support the event and Wounded Warrior Project.
There will be food trucks on site. We will have a 60 x 700-foot grass runway, pilot prizes, and some of the best pilots in Texas, including the largest RC airplane in the state. I have asked several groups to come support the event. I hope we will see some of the bombers from West Texas and some of the Dawn Patrol pilots from Oklahoma. This would help make the lunch demonstrations even better for the visiting public.
On July 10, 2015, I attended the Dawn Patrol event held by the Oklahoma Sooner Squadron. Bill Holland was the contest director (CD) and 24 pilots registered.
The club did a great job with the event and had some newspaper coverage to go with it. It was a blast and many neat aircraft from World War I were flown. The club had access to a full-scale hangar where everyone could leave aircraft assembled so they would be ready for the 5:30 a.m. flight.
During the event, the club renamed the field Mike Harvey Model Air Park in a touching ceremony for a founding member of the Oklahoma Sooner Squadron.
Planning has already begun for next year’s event. I hope this is one I can attend every year.
Over the weekend of National Model Aviation Day, I attended two events in New Mexico. The first was a fun-fly in Farmington supporting Wounded Warrior Project and the city’s animal shelter. The club had backing from the city and the community.
Visitors came out to enjoy the flying and see all types of aircraft. The CD was Allen Prince and approximately 18 pilots registered, but not everyone was available for the group picture.
On Sunday, I went to the Rocky Mountain Flying Machine Scale Meet overseen by CD Howard Chapman. Approximately 16 pilots were present for the two-day event, which was held at the Maloof Airpark because the club field was inaccessible because rain had washed out the road again. Howard had help from club members as well as some people from another club.
On August 28-29, 2015, I attended the West Texas Warbirds event in Abernathy, Texas. The Wings Miniature Aircraft Society holds the annual event. There was a good turnout of approximately 26 pilots. Brian McLarty was the CD.
The club was out in force to support the event with help and flying. Models from World War I, World War II, and several jets, both turbine and turbo prop, were on site. Several bombers were flown together by Jimmy Cowman from Clovis and Mike Laible from Houston. The club had a barbecue vendor serving food that hit the spot.
Control Line Nats had five participants from District VIII this year: Chuck Barnes, Bill Bischoff, Mike Greb, Bill Lee, and Patrick Hempel. If anyone gets the chance to fly at the Nats in any event, it is well worth the opportunity to participate.
More photos from these events are available in the digital edition. Hope to see you all at the field!
Associate Vice Presidents: Benny Behrens, Pearland TX; (832) 499-2043; cbbehrens@comcast.net; Bill Holland, Prague OK; (405) 626-1386; Ed Kranz, Princeton TX; (214) 673-9698; ekranz@msu.edu. Jim D. Marshall, Alton TX; (956) 984-9474; Stewart Moore, Jefferson TX; (903) 665-7501; mooremas1@netscape.com; Brian Regan, Albuquerque NM; (505) 508-6693; brain23@centurylink.net; Randy Ritch, Magnolia TX; (281) 701-3121; Olen Rutherford, Dardanelle AR; (479) 229-0403; email: olenrutherford@yahoo.com; Doug Staines, Belton TX; (254) 780-3512; Cliff Town, Dumas TX; (806) 935-3063; town_cliff@hotmail.com; Ed Valls, Schertz TX; (210) 957-2152; edwarda10pilot@aol.com; Jerry Walters, Maurice LA; (337) 298-7755; jerome1w@icloud.com. AVP-Safety: Tony Breyen, Wichita Falls TX; (940) 733-2803; awb1056@sbcglobal.net. RC Contest Coordinator: Douglas E. Powell, Wichita Falls TX; (940) 691-8348; chief2@sbcglobal.net. CL/FF Contest Coordinator: Contact AMA Headquarters at cpeirce@modelaircraft.org.
