District VII Report - 2003/03
In District VII, March signals the time when we should be thinking about getting our projects finished and all the equipment ready for the upcoming season. In my case, I’m looking at not only doing just that but also setting up my visiting schedule.
I hope I’ll be able to get in some flying time. I would like to get some Control Line (CL) flying in this year, along with Radio Control (RC). Just have to see how it turns out.
In the meantime, the Toledo Expo is right around the corner and I have to prepare for that as well. Actually, the Toledo Expo is my wake-up call for the start of our flying season.
I’m sure you all have heard that we should be concerned about getting more youngsters involved in our hobby/sport. I know I mention it repeatedly. The next reports highlight a few of those youngsters and club activities.
Junior Free Flight World Championships (2002)
The 2002 Junior Free Flight World Championships were held in Lucenec, Slovakia. Eight youngsters were selected for the United States F1J team. One of the members was 16-year-old John Lorbiecki from Wisconsin. After many flyoffs to determine a winner, John finished second to Austin Gunder from Pennsylvania. The U.S. finished one and two.
Mini-Airfest — Coulee Region Modelers (La Crosse, WI)
Dan Roob, secretary of the Coulee Region Modelers of La Crosse, Wisconsin (a Gold Leader Club), reported on the Mini-Airfest. The event draws hundreds of spectators and accepts donations for the Children’s Miracle Network, a local charity. Dan reported that the attendance was more than 900.
SWARM Helicopter Event
Pete Smith of the South West Area Remote Modelers (SWARM) helicopter club sent some shots of the club’s event held last October. The event featured helicopters performing 3-D maneuvers despite the rain and inclement weather — now that’s dedication. Pete said there were 25 registered pilots with roughly 75 helicopters at the Pebble Creek field in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Some pilots came from as far away as Illinois.
When you’re getting your planes ready for this year, check out your digital or film cameras and send in your club reports.
See you at Toledo, and remember to fly safely, have fun, and introduce a youngster to our great hobby/sport. C.A.V.U.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
