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

This month’s column is dedicated to those whose live where it is always sunny and warm. Here in District IX, we celebrate all four seasons. If you’re not from around here, it’s really cold in the winter. December usually puts a severe cramp in our flying activities, but not always.

This year, early December was unseasonably warm and dry. Around the area, fliers enjoyed 70° days and

Man flying a model aircraft on a snowy field

If you want to see how cold it was, watch this video from South Dakota with Associate Vice President Arend Schuurman (bit.ly/NewYearSD).

were able to stretch the flying season to more than a month past what they normally do.

Then the bottom dropped out. Christmas and New Year’s found Mother Nature trying to make up for the gift she gave us earlier. Most of District IX plunged into below zero temperatures and blowing snow.

Here is a summary we’ll call “December Flying in District IX.”

Man preparing a glider for launch in snowy conditions — From the Longmont Area Electric Flyers (LEAF) in Longmont CO, Mark Hertz gets his glider ready to launch at LEAF’s annual New Year’s Frozen Fun Fly on January 1, where it was -3° with some snow.

From the Longmont Area Electric Flyers (LEAF) in Longmont CO, Mark Hertz gets his glider ready to launch at LEAF’s annual New Year’s Frozen Fun Fly on January 1, where it was -3° with some snow.

Three fliers watching a model aircraft — At the Beresford Area Radio Flying in Beresford SD, Roger Lang (flying), Gary Guthmiller (L), Andrew Jensen enjoy some really nice early December flying.

Man posing beside model aircraft equipment — Many of the Wyoming fliers, including John Saulsbury of the Casper Air Modelers in Casper WY, have taken on the all-season flier challenge this year in pursuit of the coveted patch offered by the AMA. Early December weather made this pretty easy.

At the Beresford Area Radio Flying in Beresford SD, Roger Lang (flying), Gary Guthmiller (L), Andrew Jensen enjoy some really nice early December flying.

Many of the Wyoming fliers, including John Saulsbury of the Casper Air Modelers in Casper WY, have taken on the all-season flier challenge this year in pursuit of the coveted patch offered by the AMA. Early December weather made this pretty easy.

Man holding a colorful foam board airplane in snow — Ed Ratliff is flying one of his foam board airplanes on New Year’s Day at the Sage Hoppers RC airfield in Gillette WY.

Ed Ratliff is flying one of his foam board airplanes on New Year’s Day at the Sage Hoppers RC airfield in Gillette WY.

Two people holding model aircraft in a snowy field — Brian Dorff and his father fly at the Red River Flyers field near Fargo ND.

Brian Dorff and his father fly at the Red River Flyers field near Fargo ND.

Man operating a model aircraft transmitter in winter — Darren Schwede of the Rapid City Propbusters RC Club in Rapid City SD, is one of the “I flew at -2°” club at the Frost Your Buns fly on January 1.

Darren Schwede of the Rapid City Propbusters RC Club in Rapid City SD, is one of the “I flew at -2°” club at the Frost Your Buns fly on January 1.

Associate Vice Presidents: Brian Blois, Winter Park CO; (720) 333-2720;@brian.blois@outlook.com; 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; Josh Nelson, Casper WY; (307) 277-3110; huntwy@ymail.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