This is our traditional salute to those intrepid fliers in District IX who spit in the face of Mother Nature and take to the air on January 1. We’ve celebrated these brave aerialists in this column for more than 12 years.
Now other AMA districts and the AMA social media team have chosen to jump on our bandwagon. We are flattered that they would think our pioneering work is worth emulating, but even though many in District IX enjoyed unseasonably warm weather this year, we will still throw down a well-insulated gauntlet and challenge you to join us here in the heart of America next New Year’s Day.
We open with the Omahawks RC Club in Omaha, Nebraska, which made the local news for its first flight event.
Next is the Beresford Area Radio Flyers in Beresford, South Dakota, which held its 30th Frozen Finger Fun Fly. (I told you we’ve been at this a long time.)
Then it’s on to the Sagebrush Hoppers club in Powell, Wyoming, which had almost shirtsleeve weather.
Next up is the Minot Aircraft Modelers in Minot, North Dakota, where George Lowther reported a brisk 13° and fog to greet his group’s morning flying.
Two clubs in Kansas reported in: the Shawnee Mission RC Club in Lenexa, Kansas, whose Freeze Fly sported 39° temperatures, and the Harvey County RC Club in Newton, Kansas, with similar weather and a great turnout.
Last but not least is the Sterling Miniature Aircraft Association in Sterling, Colorado, a small but mighty group of first-day fliers.
These are only a few representative clubs from all of our District IX states that enjoyed this great hobby on the very first day of the year—regardless of weather. We rest our case.