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

Happy holidays to all of you. Best wishes for the New Year from my wife, Judi, and me.

Most AMA districts have an annual fun-fly where all area modelers are invited. In District IX, with our large geographic area, this is an insurmountable challenge. During the last three years, we have made the District IX Fun-Fly part of one of the area’s long-standing events. This year, the Flying Cowboys’ Annual Fly-In in Sheridan, Wyoming, was chosen as the District IX Fun-Fly venue.

Jim Tiller presents a prize to Gary Pfaff. — VP Jim Tiller presents the District IX Fun-Fly prize to Gary Pfaff of Casper WY.

The Sheridan event, with its great reputation, is always a big draw. Fliers come hundreds of miles to attend and many camp on-site for the entire week. This year, with all of the fires in Montana, the skies were hazy with smoke, which made for some beautiful sunsets over the Big Horn mountains. Wyoming Associate Vice President (AVP) Josh Nelson and I were glad to be part of the 50 or so registered pilots who filled the air with all kinds of flying vehicles.

The Saturday night fire-roasted prime rib was a big draw for the pilots. We had a chance to field questions from the assembled AMA members. We also gave away an Escapade ARF to Gary Pfaff of Casper, Wyoming, whose AMA number was pulled from our drawing.

The Sheridan Flying Cowboys were great hosts. Thank you all.

If you would like your club’s event to be site of next year’s District IX Fun-Fly, sent me a note.

One of the best parts of being the District IX Vice President (VP) is being the one who presents awards.

This past summer, fliers from Omaha, Nebraska, and Council Bluffs, Iowa, through the stewardship of Jack Wilhelmi, organized a tribute to Bud Kilnoski.

Model airplane flying at sunset. — Below: All the fire smoke from fires in Montana made for spectacular sunsets over the District IX Fun-Fly in Sheridan WY.

Below: All the fire smoke from fires in Montana made for spectacular sunsets over the District IX Fun-Fly in Sheridan WY.

Three men at Bud Kilnoski’s award presentation, with an award plaque. — Nebraska AVP Tyler Brown, Bud Kilnoski, and District IX VP Jim Tiller at Bud Kilnoski’s award presentation.

People serving themselves food at a buffet. — Nearly 100 people attended Bud’s award presentation.

The area fliers put through the paperwork and the AMA Executive Council approved the Lifetime Achievement award for Bud. In September, Jack masterminded a surprise dinner for Bud and roughly 100 members of the local flying community attended the presentation.

Bud’s contributions to flying in that area are legendary. Hobby shop owner, great pilot, and event organizer—Bud left his mark a multitude of area fliers. I was one of those whose flying career he touched along the way.

Thanks to Jack Wilhelmi, Nebraska AVP Tyler Brown, and all who helped to make this tribute happen.

Congratulations Bud!

Young flier beside a model airplane. — A young AMA flier, Michael Crothers, had a little wheel problem at the District IX Fun-Fly in Sheridan WY.

Associate Vice Presidents: Tyler Brown, Lincoln NE; (402) 617-0444; tylerzx9@yahoo.com; Paul Frankum, Lenexa KS; (912) 856-6372; paulf1524@yahoo.com; Troy Hamm, Gardner KS; (913) 744-5745; funflyr@juno.com; David Koch, Mandan ND; (701) 471-9575; 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; huntwy@aol.com; Arend Schuurman, Elkton SD; (605) 695-2122; arend.schuurman@gmail.com.

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