Edition: Model Aviation - 2022/05
Page Numbers: 102
Portrait of Gary Himes

District VI

Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri

Portrait of Gary Himes

Gary Himes

Vice President
AMADistrictVI@modelaircraft.org
5204 N. Smalley Ave., Kansas City MO 64119
(816) 550-1205
www.amadistrict-vi.org
www.facebook.com/AMADistrictVI

ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENTS

Dale Arvin, Jefferson IN; (812) 284-0162; darvin8094@aol.com
Gary Bussell, Muncie IN; (765) 288-3541; cgbussell@comcast.net
Craig Greening, Mahomet IL; 872-203-0377; servoframes@gmail.com
Len Rodriguez, South Bend IN; (724) 396-2700; lrodriguez44@verizon.net
Keith Sessions, Burlington KY; (859) 801-8182; keithsessions@hotmail.com
Bob Underwood, St. Charles MO; (636) 939-3394; bobrae53@sbcglobal.net
Donald Way, Hobart IN; (219) 614-6218; bolar36@hotmail.com

EVENT SANCTION COORDINATORS

RC/CL: Randy Cameron, flyrc@modelaircraft.org
FF: Charles Markos, 655 Carlisle Ave., Deerfield IL 60015

SAFETY COORDINATOR

Walter Voyt, Joliet IL; (815) 725-4677

FREQUENCY COORDINATOR

Mel Ziska, Naperville IL; (630) 357-7350

WEBMASTER

Donald Way, bolar36@hotmail.com

Flying season is finally here! Coming next month is the 2022 National Fun Fly, right here in our own district at the International Aeromodeling Center in Muncie, Indiana. The dates are June 24-26. There will be a large swap meet at the event.

On Saturday, we will hold the annual AMA Membership Meeting. For more information and to register, visit www.modelaircraft.org/funfly.

Roger Russell sent a photo of the Jacksonville, Illinois, Propkickers Model Airplane Club’s participants in the World Ringmaster Fly-A-Thon that took place on October 2, 2021.

Five model airplane club participants standing with model airplanes
(L-R): Cliff Althoff, John Althoff, Steve Althoff, Roger Russell, and Jay Bruninga.

Ken Larson reported on the Kankakee Valley Model Flyers that held a 50th anniversary open house and RC air show on August 14, 2021. There was a great turnout with 18 club members and 125 members of the public enjoying the air show. Admittance was free, as were raffle tickets for three new RC airplanes donated by area hobby shops, as well as other door prizes.

The club’s 50-year field provider, the Kankakee Valley Park District, allowed guests access to air-conditioned restrooms during the show.

There were flying demonstrations of 3D, World War I and II Giant Scale warbirds, Giant Scale classics with smoke skywriting, helicopters, and drones. The demo pilots did buddy-box sessions during the “Fly With Us” periods, with 10 children, ages 5 to 15, coming away with huge smiles.

Food vendors provided hot lunches and desserts. The local newspaper, The Daily Journal, featured the event with a front-page picture and story a week before the event. Public-service-announcement interviews on two local radio stations took place a few days before the event. It was a great experience!

People gathered beside model airplanes at an outdoor flying field

Brian Mitchell reported that the Radio Control Sport Flyers Club, in Kansas City, Missouri, could become home to the “big boys”—large RC airplanes. It’s not uncommon to see 27% to 40% RC airplanes flying there. The biggest electric flown is Sean’s FMS Extra 330 with a 78-inch wingspan.

Pilot standing behind a red-and-white model airplane

The FMS Extra 330 has tons of power from two 4,000 mAh 6S batteries in series. Yes, it’s a foamie and it flies great! The biggest airplane flown is Paul’s Super Decathlon, with a wingspan of 15 feet. It’s powered by a 215cc gas motor. Paul warns that this big boy does not fly like the small, Cub-style airplanes because it requires much more rudder for flying.

Red-and-white model airplane viewed from above at an outdoor flying field

Keep sending those submissions from your club’s event or even just a fun day of flying! Email AMADistrictVI@modelaircraft.org with the word “magazine” in the subject line. Remember that pictures must be at least a 500 KB standalone JPG file. Don’t embed pictures into documents.

Flying season is here, so please take time to introduce someone new to model aviation!