District XI
Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington
Hi all. This month, I gave the column to Associate Vice President Mike Ingram to highlight our RC Scale activities.
The Northwest Scale Aero-Modellers (NWSAM) began our competition season in Othello, Washington, on May 13-15, 2022, at Weaver’s Field. Patrick Winters officiated the event for his second year and did a great job.
The weather was a little uncooperative, delaying the first round until shortly before noon. We were able to fly two rounds on Saturday and two rounds on Sunday.
Overall, there were 32 entries, which is one of the largest regional-eligibility events we have had to date. The Pro/Am Sportsman class (Novice class) accounted for 14 of the 32 entries, with half of the contestants competing for the first time. Our youngest first-time competitor, John Stucky, is only 13 and is being mentored by his dad, Rick Stucky.
Six weeks after the Spring Opener in Othello, we found ourselves in Redmond, Oregon, at the Field of Dreams Scale Rally on June 24-26. This event was officiated by NWSAM Vice Director Tom Rainwater. This event was also well attended with 26 entries. We again had several first-time competitors and a couple of second-time competitors, whom I think are getting hooked on Scale.
Of note were Joe Ball, from Yakima, Washington, and Mitch Beckman, from Hauser, Idaho.
Both of these men are up-and-comers and show improvement with every flight. I hope to see them at more events and at the championships in August.
Only a short three weeks later, we found ourselves in Athol, Idaho, at the Silverhills Flying Field for our third eligibility event, held July 15-17. This event was also well attended, with 28 entries and a couple of new Scale participants.
The weather here in the Northwest had been atypical to say the least. Northern Idaho greeted us with thunderstorms and hail. “What the hail” is right! Bill Burgad officiated the event and his wife, Sherry, was tutored in scorekeeping by my wife, Terri. It was good to be back at the Silverhills’ field after a two-year absence. District XI Vice President Phil Tallman was kept busy judging and flying in two classes.
As I wrote this article, we were only a month away from the 11th annual NWSAM Championship, which will be held at the Wenatchee Red Apple Flyers Field in East Wenatchee, Washington, on August 26-28. NWSAM Director Tom Strom and Del Herring will share officiating the event.
We are anticipating our largest turnout at 40-plus entries. I volunteered to make the championship trophies this year and I think the champions will be happy with what I have produced. Look for the championship debrief in future issues of Model Aviation. That’s all for now. Next month, there will be even more. Keep building and flying!
Phil Tallman
Vice President
AMA District XI@modelaircraft.org
28910 W. Hallett Rd., Medical Lake WA 99022; (509) 220-6513
ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENTS
David Agar, Battle Ground WA; (360) 721-1963; kamamhusky@aol.com
Rick Crow, Harrison MT; (406) 559-6662; rwcrowjr@gmail.com
Bryan Diffendaffer, Meridian ID; (208) 841-7358; bryandiff@cableone.net
Michael Ingram, Wenatchee WA; (509) 699-3034; firercer@cs.com
Joe Miller, Dallas OR; (503) 798-7241; dragonriders54@yahoo.com
Chris Rankin, Bend OR; (541) 330-5692; oregonraven@earthlink.net
Robert Stephens, Anchorage AK; (907) 440-0478; rfstephens@hotmail.com
Jay Strickland, Central Point OR; (458) 226-0470; strickdog@q.com
Tom Strom, McCleary WA; (360) 791-7729; flyboy23@aol.com
FF/CL EVENT SANCTION COORDINATOR
Mike Hazel, P.O. Box 505, Lyons OR 97358; zzcspeed@aol.com
RC EVENT SANCTION COORDINATOR
Michael Ingram, Wenatchee WA 98802; (509) 699-3034; firercer@cs.com
