District IX
Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming
In January 2022, I was contacted by Jack Wilhelmi of the Omahawks RC Club in Omaha, Nebraska. He informed me of an effort that he and some area modelers were organizing as a contribution to Hazel Sig-Hester’s 100th birthday party on March 3, 2022. They asked if I could help, and I was more than happy to assist.
On her birthday, they arrived with a contingent of modelers and presented a Powerpoint presentation that noted the 50-year legacy that Hazel has with area modelers and those across the country. Among the tributes that these men spearheaded was a proclamation from the AMA noting June 25, the day of the annual Sig Fun Fly, as Hazel Sig Appreciation Day. We also expedited the presentation of the Academy of Model Aeronautics President’s Award, voted on by the AMA Executive Council to be presented in Montezuma, Iowa, at the party. District VII Vice President Randy Gibson made the trip to present it.
Another project is the construction of a 1/2-scale Spacewalker in Hazel’s color scheme. The build is a collaboration by Jack, Frank Strouba, Bud Kilnoski, and other area Scale builders. The group plans to fly this 1/2-scale tribute to Hazel at the Sig Fun Fly on June 26.
While researching this model, Jack found a group of Model Aeronautical Association of Australia fliers, headed by Tim Nolan, that is building another 1/2-scale Hazel Sig Spacewalker and promoting Hazel’s birthday within that group.
In February, the Colorado Southern Regional Science Olympiad was held at the University of Colorado at Pueblo. One event in the competition was supported by the Magnificent Mountain Men (MMM) Free Flight Club in Denver.
MMM members organized and conducted competitions in a category that the Olympiad calls Wright Stuff. There are two flying events in this category. High school-age competitors flew rubber-powered airplanes roughly the size of a P-18, while middle school students flew capacitor-powered models of a similar size. By happy coincidence, the winners of the Southern Region high school event were two students at Lewis-Palmer High School in Monument, Colorado, where club member John McGrath teaches.
During the day, MMM members processed entries, timed flights, and made the pitch to students to visit the club’s “home court” in Manitou Springs for a Pre-State Science Olympiad Tournament Build/Trim/Fly event. That event was also a success, with some students traveling more than 100 miles to attend. The club members have been busy with these indoor build-and-fly sessions in the region throughout the spring.
The MMM Club also supported the Science Olympiad State Finals at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs in April.
