Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii, Nevada, Utah
Over the past several weeks, I’ve had the opportunity to visit multiple clubs and events throughout District X. It’s been great to see the level of talent, dedication, and passion across our hobby.
One stop was the Woodland-Davis Aeromodelers Afterburner Jet Event in Davis, California, where some of the top pilots in the hobby flew incredible aircraft. It was amazing to watch—from smooth, slow, aerobatic passes to fast, low passes that truly took your breath away.
Standout performances included Richard Verano flying a 2.6-meter BVM Jets Futura equipped with a JR PROPO Elite radio system and powered by a Jets Munt 210 turbine, Chris Dellinger with a BVM F-18, and Tom Vessie flying a CARF-Models Flash and a Rebel Max. Chris and Tom were also recognized at the event with custom Yeti cups marked with the event logo. The level of precision and control was impressive and a great example of what’s possible in model aviation today.
Racing Through the Weather: I also attended the Sacramento Area Modelers’ Big Kahuna’s Memorial Warbird Pylon Race in Sacramento, California. As expected, the racing was exciting, but the weekend brought challenging weather conditions, with multiple storms that moved through the area.
Despite that, the team pushed forward and successfully completed three rounds of racing on Saturday between rain showers. Unfortunately, a storm Saturday night caused additional issues, including a downed powerline, forcing the cancellation of Sunday’s events.
I want to recognize Contest Director Steve Nickerson for doing an outstanding job managing the situation and making the best of difficult conditions. His efforts ensured that pilots still had a fun and competitive day of racing on Saturday.
A Visit to Muncie: Additionally, I had the opportunity to visit AMA Headquarters in Muncie, Indiana, and all I can say is—wow. The National Model Aviation Museum brings back so many memories and truly showcases the history of our hobby. The grounds are exceptionally well maintained, and the size of the flying site is something that you really must see in person to appreciate. There is space for just about every type of flying you can imagine. If you ever have the chance, I highly recommend making the trip.
Looking Ahead: Experiences such as these reinforce what makes this hobby so special—great people, strong clubs, and a shared passion for aviation. It’s also encouraging to see programs that introduce younger generations to model aviation, helping to ensure a strong future for the hobby.
As always, I encourage everyone to stay involved, support your local clubs, and, most importantly, enjoy your time at the field.
Safe flying and safe landings.
Vice President
amadistrictx@modelaircraft.org
1098 Rathbone Cir.
Folsom CA 95630-8530
(916) 705-7778
facebook.com/amadistrictx
Associate Vice Presidents
Chuck Barnes, Santa Maria CA; (805) 886-7921; cdbarnes10@comcast.net
Forrest Barton, Woodland CA; (530) 383-9019; cbarton328@aol.com
Stella Bennett, San Pedro CA; (310) 357-4570; bennettblueeagleusa72@gmail.com
David Bettencourt, Denair CA; (209) 620-7512; djbettencourt47@gmail.com
Jim Bonnardel, San Diego CA; (858) 292-5518; nitroblast@hotmail.com
Craig Haslebacher, Springville UT; (509) 518-0243; craigsrc1@aol.com
John Johnson, Silver Springs NV; (775) 287-3652; johnorama@gmail.com
Tim Johnson, Mission Viejo CA; (949) 444-7520; timothy@johnson.us.com
Barry Mattison, Las Vegas NV; (702) 416-4636; lvrcav8tr@gmail.com
Gerald Meux, Avondale AZ; (602) 472-5869; kninja250r@yahoo.com
Jim Mohan, Phoenix AZ; (623) 434-1351; jmohan351@cox.net
Gil Terzo, Las Vegas NV; (702) 523-9897; gterzo@aol.com
Peter Vogel, Santa Clara CA; (408) 569-7067; vogel.peter@gmail.com
Roger Willis, Murrieta CA; (951) 249-9688; willisasoc@aol.com
Event Sanction Coordinators
Forrest Barton (CA north of Bakersfield), Woodland CA; (530) 383-9019; cbarton328@aol.com
Southern California and Arizona, Greg Stone, (949) 413-0920; gstone4@outlook.com
Free Flight: AMA Headquarters, Competition Department, (765) 287-1256, ext. 252; competition@modelaircraft.org
