District VII—Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin
Tim Jesky
Vice President
timjesky@charter.net
2886 E. Country Ln., Monroe MI 48162
Tel.: (734) 384-6085;
www.amadistrict-vii.org
Happy New Year! It’s my sincere wish for a happy and healthy 2017 to you all. Before we move on with this column, I ask that we take an extra moment to remember our modeling friends who took their final flight this past year. The Final Flight list is the first order of business at AMA’s Executive Council meetings, where a moment of silence is held in their honor. It’s my hope that you consider doing the same.
Next, I’d like to welcome all of the new incoming club officers and to thank you for your service, as well as thanking those who are leaving office. As you know, or will soon find out, clubs don’t run by themselves.
Please take some time to visit AMA’s website at www.modelaircraft.org to check out some of the benefits and services that are available to your club and its members. You’ll find information about Flying Site Improvement Grants, Take off And Grow, scholarships, AMA Flight School, Know Before You Fly, and a wealth of other items out there to better assist you. I promise it will better prepare you for the year ahead.
Last, and certainly not least, I enjoy hearing from you. If your club held an event that you’d like to share in words and photos, please pass them along for consideration to be published here on this page. Given the many different types of aeromodeling activities we involve ourselves in, you might even pick up some new followers along the way.
If you’re looking out your window now and the wind is howling and the snow is knee deep, take a little comfort in reading about this event I was able to attend last summer. The report was submitted by Joe Fialka.
High wind couldn’t diminish the fun and adventure of the 2016 Pontiac Miniature Aircraft Club (PMAC) Warbird Festival at the Pacific Theater in White Lake, Michigan, on June 11, 2016.
Warbirds of all shapes and sizes flew and many people enjoyed the hospitality of the event. PMAC provided some special themed touches, including a luau-style dinner with selections that included pulled pork, barbecued chicken, grilled pineapple, and Spam and pineapple Hawaiian sandwiches. A Kona Ice truck arrived to keep the 90° heat at bay. Each pilot received a free Kona Ice treat and lei to complement the Hawaiian shirts that most of the pilots wore.
Spectators got to see World War I, World War II, and jet aircraft performing scalelike maneuvers and formation flights. The styles and types of aircraft flown were diverse, and the pilots put on a great show.
The PMAC Warbird Festival was a unique event because it was held in the evening. This allowed a full view of the airspace with the sun behind the pilots. The later time frame provided a great presentation for photos and viewing in general. The evening setting also allowed a unique dinner event feel and an overall relaxed presentation.
Pilots’ Choice and Contest Director’s Choice awards were given out to various aircraft. Asian Pacific dancers performed while the Pilots’ Choice ballots were tabulated. The dancers performed both hula and Tahitian dances that wowed the crowd. The dancers were available for photos with pilots, airplanes, and spectators alike.
With all of these special touches, the primary focus of the event was still plenty of free airtime. The special festivities only took about half an hour from the 4-9 p.m. time allotted for flying. Period music, which included Pacific themes, island sounds, and newsreels from the WW II Pacific Theater made the event feel authentic.
The PMAC Warbird Festival is a special addition to any warbird flier’s calendar! Visit https://youtu.be/JvZRj1PLxLE for more coverage.
Associate Vice Presidents: Bruce Baier, Oshkosh WI; (920) 233-1127; buzssr@gmail.com; Lee Frederickson, Ada MI; L1520@comcast.net; David George, Riverview MI; (734) 284-9017; indiancity5129@yahoo.com, Randall Gibson, Lansing MI; (317) 698-4346; rgibson@mmrcha.org; Bud Gorman, Knife River MN; (218) 834-5797; bgorman@frontiernet.net; Don Held, Elmira MI; (231) 584-2662; edge540m@gmail.com; Noel Hunt, Shelby Twp. MI; (586) 677-1540; hunt4it@comcast.net; Bob Johnson, Fond du Lac WI; (920) 922-6705; bobj54935@yahoo.com; Mark Robotti, Lindstrom MN; (651) 257-6792; mgrobotti@frontier.com; Marc “Doc” Shelstrom, Lancaster WI; (608) 732-4077; shelstrm@uwplatt.edu; Kent Woods, Ames IA; (515) 232-8180; woods229@msn.com. Contest Coordinators: Wayne Yeager (RC Michigan), (517) 260-0132; yogi1931@comcast.net; Michael J. Haller (RC non-Michigan), Fond du Lac WI; (920) 979-9452; mrhaller2460@att.net. Frequency Coordinators: Al Schwartz, Roseville MN; (651) 633-2286; alberts@comcast.net; Pete Waters, Northville MI; (248) 924-0223; petewaters@charter.net.
