District X Report
Arizona / California / Hawaii / Guam / Nevada / Utah
Contact
Richard Hanson Vice President PO Box 3312 Scottsdale, AZ 85271 Voice/Fax: (888) 899-3548 E-mail: richh@ama10.org District X Web page: www.ama10.org
Associate Vice Presidents
- Darwin Barrie — Scottsdale, AZ (480) 946-8955
- Don Goeschl — Lancaster, CA (661) 940-6066
- Don Gulihur — Santee, CA (619) 449-8397
- Marc Karpowich — Logan, UT (435) 752-3639
- Dave Pinjuy — Las Vegas, NV (702) 656-1772
Frequency Coordinators
- Eloy Marez — Santa Ana, CA (714) 540-4935
(See last month’s column for additional AVPs and Coordinators.)
In Memoriam: Kai Jensen
On August 9, 2003, AMA District X lost a longtime Associate Vice President (AVP). After many months of failing health, Kai Jensen of Reno, Nevada, passed away.
Kai was a dear friend and valued member of the District X staff, and he was well known as the owner of Hobbies of Reno and as a friend and mentor to anyone interested in model aviation.
Prior to his retirement from the Air Force in 1985, Kai’s last duty station was San Antonio, Texas. While there, he was president of the Tri City Flyers. He also served as a coordinator for the 1981 Nats held in Seguin, Texas, along with his friend and flying buddy Jack Maddox.
After retiring and moving to Reno, Kai served the Reno Radio Control Club for many years. Kai’s hobby shop, Hobbies of Reno, continues to be a gathering place for members of the club and modeling enthusiasts throughout northern Nevada.
Kai was the local event coordinator for the 1988 AMA National Fun-Fly in Reno and served as an AVP for three District X vice presidents. He was the founder of the Reno Unlimited Model Air Race Association (RUMARA) and event director for Giant Scale races at Stead Airport in 1993 and 1994.
On Sunday, September 21, members of the Reno Radio Control Club, family, and friends gathered at the RRCC flying field to remember, honor, and say goodbye to Kai.
“Fly high,” my friend. You will be missed and remembered always.
Special thanks to Larry Krutz and Mark Carey of the RRCC for helping make this tribute possible.
Kai’s wife, Russe Jensen, graciously greeted everyone at the field and thanked the many modelers and friends for sharing in this day of remembrance. Russe was presented with AMA’s Distinguished Service Award in Kai’s name for his many years of service to the Academy, the RRCC, and his fellow modelers.
Members of the Jensen family present were Kai’s daughter Corei Jensen, Jerry Aaron, Russe’s sister Sunya Aaron, Russe’s mom Zara Badeaux, Russe, and Kathryn Bower. Also present but not photographed was Kai’s daughter Shannon.
Torrey Pines Gliderport Designation
In a ceremony on August 30, 2003, the Academy of Model Aeronautics designated the Torrey Pines Gliderport (TPG), located in La Jolla (a community of San Diego, California), as an AMA Historical Model Aviation Landmark. This dedication made the TPG cliff the first such site to be designated by AMA.
Model sailplanes have flown at Torrey Pines for more than 50 years, and the gliderport has been the site of numerous historical and record-setting achievements. Torrey Pines is located atop a cliff that drops some three hundred feet to a white, sandy beach and the Pacific Ocean.
Larry Fogel, his son Gary Fogel, and the Torrey Pines Gulls Radio Control Soaring club hosted the dedication event. AMA was well represented by Executive Director Joyce Hager and Western Regional Flying Site Assistance Coordinator Wes De Cou. Members of the Torrey Pines Gulls, the TPG regulars, local modelers, and soaring enthusiasts from around the district shared in the celebration.
A dedication letter was read by Sheri Lightner, a representative from the La Jolla Town Council, and then presented to Joyce Hager on behalf of AMA. After the ceremonies ended, the flying began. To watch these aircraft take wing is surely poetry in motion.
— Don Gulihur, District X AVP
Website and Event Calendar
AMA District X’s Web page has been redesigned and restructured under a new domain name: www.ama10.org.
A key component of the revamped site is the District X Event Calendar, which contains information about AMA-sanctioned contests and nonsanctioned local events.
Information, flyers, and Web links can be sent to:
- Betty Bliss
E-mail: bliss1@earthlink.net Mail: 8051 Michigan Ave., Whittier, CA 90602 Phone: (562) 696-4145
Information received by December 31, 2003, will be included in a printed version of the 2004 Event Calendar to be distributed at the AMA Convention in January in Ontario, California.
Till next time ... Keep 'em safe and keep 'em flyin'.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
