District IX

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

Colorado Associate Vice President Tom Neff has a longtime association with the Wings Over the Rockies Museum in Denver. The museum’s latest effort was an indoor 3-D contest in January.

The format was interesting. The four judges—Keisha Makoneese, Steve Gram, Millie King, and Bob Snyder—gave each contestant a score, “Dancing With the Stars” style, at the end of his or her flight.

Approximately 400 visitors watched 15 contestants vie for places in the categories of First Competition, Seasoned Veteran, and Over 50. What a great event with lots of young people involved.

Here are a couple of New Year’s Day events that missed last month’s deadline. What a way to usher in the new year here in District IX! The annual Frozen Finger Fun Fly is a tradition at the Beresford Area Radio Flyers club. This year the ground was frozen and terribly bumpy from an inch of freezing rain on Christmas Day, but the temperatures were in the upper 20s and the wind was light. Seven club members came and flew or ate chili.

The 95th Street Group in Kansas City, Kansas, held its annual Freeze Fly. The weather was great for January 1. It was approximately 40° with an easterly wind between 6 and 8 mph. There was a strong turnout of approximately 14 pilots and seven guests.

Man with model airplane at an outdoor flying field — Larry Rolfson got in a few flights, even with a reluctant glow motor, at the Beresford Area Radio Flyers Frozen Finger Fly.

The Rapid City Propbusters and students at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in Rapid City have joined forces throughout the years. For the last two years, students have been part of a Model Aviation Student Club (MASC) that uses the Propbusters’ field as its home field.

The university’s aero and design teams use the Propbuster facilities as they develop their aircraft. In return, Propbuster members join the students for some indoor flying at the university campus on Sunday mornings. It works out well.

This is certainly a symbiotic relationship and one that has great potential for the future. Dr. Dan Dolan is the student mentor and liaison between the club and the MASC.

Group of fliers gathered outdoors — Assembled fliers at the 95th Street Group Freeze Fly in Kansas City KS.

Indoor model airplane contest at the Wings Over the Rockies Museum — Mason Snyder flies in his first-ever contest at the Wings Over the Rockies 3-D event.

Students and instructor preparing for indoor flying — Dr. Dan Dolan (standing) and Kali Reginold, Marcus Wiebe, and Jakob Berg of the SAE team get started during indoor flying.

Young woman wearing FPV goggles, with a small inset view of indoor racing — Laina Culberson does some indoor FPV racing in the university gym.

Associate Vice Presidents: Tyler Brown, Lincoln NE; (402) 617-044; tylerzx9r@yahoo.com; Paul Frankum, Lenexa KS; (912) 856-6372; paultf1524@yahoo.com; Troy Hamm, Gardner KS; (913) 744-5745; funflyr@juno.com; David Koch, Mandan ND; (701) 472-9575; kockbrandon471@gmail.com. Rick McCaskill, Frederick CO; (303) 682-0440; rickm1947@aol.com; Tom Neff, Aurora CO; (303) 829-5416; thomas.neff@comcast.net; Josh Nelson, Casper WY; (307) 277-3110; huntwyo@gmail.com; Arend Schuurman, Elkton SD; (605) 695-2122; arend.schuurman@gmail.com.

Sanctioned Event Coordinator: Troy Hamm, Gardner KS; (913) 744-5745; funflyr@juno.com.