District IX
Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming
This coverage of a longstanding float-fly comes from Steve Milam:
On the last weekend in May, the RC Barnstormers of Paola, Kansas, held its 26th annual Heart of America Float Fly at Lake Miola in Paola.
With the help and permission of the City of Paola, we close off the north end of the lake to boaters for one weekend every year, have a pit area mowed, and have porta-potties set up for us. There were 20 pilots representing eight different clubs from Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Colorado. The weather was perfect, with temperatures in the 70s and wind from 5 to 10 mph. The water and sky were filled with our airplanes from dawn to dusk.
My home club, the Minot Aircraft Modelers, hosts the aptly named June Fun Fly each year in, you guessed it, June. This year’s event drew roughly 30 pilots from across the region. Because of our remote, wide-open site, this event has become a draw for jet fliers, including those who are seeking their turbine waiver, but the event is not just about jets. We had all kinds of flying take place, including some kite flying when the winds went up.
We also really enjoy AeroScout gaggles. If you’ve been following this on the District IX Facebook page, we try to keep them in the air as long as possible. If you get them high enough to find lift and follow where the birds go, you can get good, long flights. We have quite a few flights in the 40- to 50-minute range on a 2,200 mAh battery.
We were pleased to introduce young Hudsen Nielsen to our hobby with some buddy-box time. He is the first student pilot to sign up this season.
Brandon Koch
Vice President
amadistrictix@modelaircraft.org
Mandam ND
(701) 471-9575
www.facebook.com/AMADISTRICTIX
ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENTS
Craig Bastian, Casper WY; (307)577-6463; craigb1961@msn.com
Brian Blois, Winter Park CO; (720) 333-2720; brian.blois@outlook.com
Tyler Brown, Lincoln NE; (402) 617-0444; tylerzx9@yahoo.com
Mark Dennis, Longmont CO; (951) 203-7776, MarkDflyer@gmail.com
Zac Heskin, Underwood ND; (701) 340-2039; zheskin23@yahoo.com
Sean McEntee, Fountain CO; (314) 910-2097; sean.p.mcentee@gmail.com
Zachary Roller, Rapid City SD; (605) 519-0815; zroller28@gmail.com
Arend Schuurman, Elkton SD; (605) 695-2122; arend.schuurman@gmail.com
Jim Tiller, Custer SD, (605) 390-3878; jtillert@hotmail.com
Terry Wiles, Harrisburg SD; terryscustom@yahoo.com
EVENT SANCTION COORDINATOR
Troy Hamm, Gardner KS; (913) 744-5745; funflyr@juno.com
