District V

District V

Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, US Virgin Islands

Welcome back to District V!

I recently visited the Imperial RC club in Mulberry, Florida, for the Florida E-Jet Fest International event. Imperial RC is known for manning the flightline and security at the Florida Jets and Top Gun events, but the club has a great field just east of Lakeland and runs many fine events. Contest Director Jerry McGhee has grown the E-Jet Fest during the last few years, and attendance this year was more than 50 registered pilots.

Jerry runs a great event. There’s good-natured competition for Scale jets (static and flight judging by Top Gun judges), speed runs (fastest foamie and composite), longest flight, and, of course, best crash. My Habu was beaten by Rob Lynch in the composite jet speed runs, where his 14S BVM Bandit flew nearly 240 mph!

Woman and two children at the Florida E-Jet Fest — I ran into these delightful grandchildren (and AMA youth members!) of Jim Mahoney at E-Jet Fest. Tallest to smallest are Joseline, Angel, and David.

Closer to home, I had a good time at the February Fun Fly (FFF) hosted by Gateway RC in Jacksonville, Florida. John “The Grizz” Odom did a great job and the weather turned out better than the forecast.

Two people standing with a model jet — Lori and Wesley Miller, from the Merry Boozers (named after a World War II bomber crew) RC channel at the Florida E-Jet Fest. Their channel is worth checking out.

Lori and Wesley Miller, from the Merry Boozers (named after a World War II bomber crew) RC channel at the Florida E-Jet Fest. Their channel is worth checking out.

Two young men with model aircraft at the Florida E-Jet Fest — Evan Brewer (L) and Gavin Street, two nice young men from Titusville FL, attended the E-Jet Fest with their E-Flite F-16 Thunderbirds.

Evan Brewer (L) and Gavin Street, two nice young men from Titusville FL, attended the E-Jet Fest with their E-Flite F-16 Thunderbirds.

Two judges examining a model F-4 Phantom — Top Gun judge Bob Curry (L) is doing the scale judging on John Burdin’s F-4 Phantom.

The theme for the pictures this month, for the most part, is AMA youth members with whom I had the pleasure of hanging out at events. The future appears to be in good hands.

Father and young son with a model aircraft — Alan Talher and his son, Nathan, from Chickamauga GA, were at the Gateway RC FFF event. Nathan is 3-1/2 years old and an AMA youth member who is already taking flying lessons with his dad.

Alan Talher and his son, Nathan, from Chickamauga GA, were at the Gateway RC FFF event. Nathan is 3-1/2 years old and an AMA youth member who is already taking flying lessons with his dad.