District IX

Edition: Model Aviation - 2025/07
Page Numbers: 109

John McGrath holding a model glider beside a vehicle outdoors

District IX

Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming

This update about Free Flight in District IX is from Sean McEntee.

Coupe D’Hiver, French for “Winter Cup,” is an event that tests both man and model against colder weather, where thermals are fewer and farther between.

The first Magnificent Mountain Men (MMM) Club F1G (the Fédération Aéronautique International designation for the Coupe event) Winter Cup was held in 2008 as an opportunity to enjoy some Colorado weather that wasn’t too cold or windy. In 2009, MMM President Marc Sisk donated a perpetual trophy for the annual winner of the Winter Cup.

In recent years, the Winter Cup had fallen by the wayside, in part because of waning participation in the F1G event and some consistently cold winters. This year, however, brought sunshine, mild temperatures, and calm wind. The contingent of outdoor fliers flocked to Norris Field in the Colorado Springs/Fountain area to take advantage. In addition to F1G, contestants also flew Hand-Launch Gliders and Catapult-Launch Gliders, and many brought other models that were built in the winter and were in need of trimming.

John McGrath put up the best flights of the day and claimed top honors, winning the event with 360 points, followed closely by Don Deloach, who also won the Glider events. Thank you to everyone who attended!

Coverage of the Sioux Falls Sodbuster auction

in South Dakota has become a tradition in this column. Several district IX associate vice presidents (AVPs) go regularly. Four were in attendance this time. As always, the event was a good one, with treasures changing hands and the club adding a substantial sum to its coffers. I asked attendees why they attend year after year. Here’s a short set of tips that could be of benefit if your club is planning such an event:

Have a professional auctioneer. Nearly 300 items crossed the block in roughly 5 hours.
Be well organized. Have registration, preregistration, and lots of help, including the local Civil Air Patrol.
Ensure simple check in and check out. Items go by registration number. No preference is shown on the auction order.
Have a good turnout. There are plenty of buyers and sellers, making for good prices on both ends of the sale. People put this event on their calendar well in advance.

South Dakota AVP Jim Tiller and the Rapid City Propbusters have sanctioned a Vintage Fly scheduled for this July. Let me know if I’m wrong, but this might be the first such sanctioned event in District IX.

It is organized under the rules of the Vintage Radio Control Society (VRCS). This AMA Special Interest Group champions flying old-school models that were designed 30 years ago or more. There are several laid-back events planned for the models, plus a raffle and some prizes.

You can find the details on the VRCS website and on the District IX Facebook page. Although vintage airplanes will be the focus of the event, it is still a fun-fly, and you can fly whatever you bring.

My aeromodeling experience doesn’t go back 30 years, so it will be interesting for me to see how this one works out.