District VII—Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin
Things sure have changed since I discovered model aviation. My first experience goes back to when I was roughly 5 years old. One summer evening, I heard a strange noise that turned out to be a glow engine. I followed the sound that eventually led me to my church’s parking lot where a teenage boy was flying a Control Line model.
Several years later, while bike riding with childhood friends, we found an RC field just past the edge of town. Those two chance encounters set the stage for a lifelong fascination with things that fly.
Keep in mind that both of those experiences were only possible because the locations were fairly close to home. It’s not hard to imagine that many of you—especially those of us who fall into the baby boomer age group—discovered the hobby under similar circumstances. Fast forward to today, with many of our flying fields pushed out farther and farther away from populated areas, the chance for a kid to stumble upon your field is a heck of a lot less likely than it was in my day.
What’s the solution to introducing younger people to our hobby? Reaching out to schools, youth groups, and churches have produced some promising results, but I believe there’s an opportunity to cast a much larger net by engaging in social media outlets.
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other platforms have huge youth followings. Although it’s easy to understand that these methods of applying new technologies in our hobby and our lives push many of us far out of our comfort zones, it’s also critical to understand that change is as certain as the sun coming up tomorrow in the east.
Before signing out, I’ll leave you with a little food for thought … Willie Sutton, a notorious bank robber from the early 1900s, was asked when he was arrested why he robbed banks. He replied, “Because that’s where all the money is.”
You might want to apply that same principle if you’re looking to add some youth to your club membership.
The following event report comes from Terry Wiles.
The 7th Annual CornHuckFest was held in Council Bluffs, Iowa, on June 22-25, 2017. The event was hosted the Flying Boys of Iowa (F.B.I.) group at the Twin Cities Eagle Squadron. This event is annually attended by as many as 75 pilots from 13 states.
This event has become known for welcoming anyone and any type of flying or skill level. During the day, open flying with lots of 3-D and Precision flying is typical, but you never know when a warbird gaggle, fast foamie gaggle, or foamie combat will spontaneously break out!
Everything from small electrics up to 60%-size airplanes are piloted by friends from as far away as California and Florida. Most days, the flying lasts well into the night with construction lights on. Flying models in 35% to 50% scale are an awesome sight to see.
The F.B.I. is a group founded by Pete Rosas. After traveling with a group of great guys—or misfits as Pete describes them—to fun-flys for a number of years, Pete coined the group the F.B.I. As Pete said, “I would like to say the rest is history, but in fact, the rest is a mystery fits better.”
The F.B.I. group has grown in numbers, but still travels today to support events across the Midwest. The main goal of the group is to support and stay focused on airplanes, fun, and friendship. The group’s goal is to promote all facets of the hobby to people young and old.
The Twin Cities Eagle Squadron includes Pete Rosas, dictator; Phil Eason, vice dictator; Randy Fahn, safety director; Dave Karls, secretary; and Bob English, contest director.
Take a kid flying.
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; 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; Peter G. Van Heusden, Bloomfield Hills MI; (248) 515-1071; petervh@malibutech.com; Kent Woods, Ames IA; (515) 232-8180; woods229@msn.com. Event Sanction Coordinators: Wayne Yeager (RC Michigan), (517) 260-0132; yogi1931@comcast.net; Michael J. Haller (RC non-Michigan), Fond du Lac WI; (920) 979-9452; mike.haller60@gmail.com Frequency Coordinators: Al Schwartz, Roseville MN; (651) 633-2286; alberts@comcast.net; Pete Waters, Northville MI; (248) 924-0223; petevwaters@charter.net.
