Dear Members

Just a quick note to say Thanks to all the members that participated in the SAE Event. We received a lot of positive feedback. It would not have happened if you had not helped. We pulled off a very big event and we should all be proud of the results.

IMPORTANT!! Since the club meeting is on Memorial Day it will be a very short meeting. I have moved back the presentation back to June. I know I promised one but there will be a lot of people out of town or just getting back. So we will have a short quick meeting just for me to say Thanks in person for helping the SAE event and to take suggestions for next year’s event. I will also want to review our mower situation again.

Thanks again all and I will see you at the meeting.

President, Ft. Worth Thunderbirds

No Report.

Meeting minutes were contained in the April newsletter.

Things have rocking right a long for the club which puts us well on our way to another good year.

Since my last report we have two great events, the SAE and the Memorial Warbird. Both events were great and well attended. I made the first day of the SAE, the next day I ended up in the hospital for four days which was no fun at all. I am still not fully recovered, however, I still made it out to the Warbird on the 19^th which was our biggest one ever. Hats off to Terry Thorpe and Woody Lake for a job well done.

Please make welcome our latest new members Murry Adams, Lupe Cardona, David Hudson and Marty Stenzler.

Well that’s all for now, see you at the meeting, so be there or be square.

Respectfully,

Our eleventh annual Memorial Warbird has come and gone. Attendance and volunteer participation was more than out wildest dreams. This year’s event surpassed milestones and broke records. Pilot registration totaled 70, warbirds on site exceeded 100, and this is the first year that our event drew pilots from all states in AMA District VIII (New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas. Unfortunately one record was the number of crashes (12). We’ll work on improving that number as well as the rest. Many thanks to all the pilots that attended and especially to our ground support personnel. Bob, Ben, Ian, Gene, J.C. Dean, Ed, Mel, Charles, and to the many more I’ve missed. Dean Smith supplied the sound system, which provided hours of good 1940’s Big Band music. A special Thank You to our sponsors who without their support would not make this a successful event: Roy’s Hobbies, J. T.s Hobbies, Byron Fuel, and individual members that donated items. I must make note that although we did get some sprinkles early in the morning, it was Terry’s parade and not really mine. I believe we have a dedicated and competent new commander to carry on our tradition. A BIG THUNDERBIRD WELL DONE to all.

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Whew!!!  SAE/LM Aero Design 2007 has come and gone.  This particular contest was crucial in that it was the largest Aero Design contest ever and it would not have been possible without everyone’s help. 

First and foremost, I want to thank the Thunderbirds for their sponsorship, labor and use of their facilities.

In particular, I want to point out several key individuals who helped organize this effort on the Thunderbird side.

Will Campbell – for organizing the Thunderbirds and taking the leadership role.

Dave Dingman – for leading the inspection effort and organizing the volunteers.

Bob Bishop and crew – for prepping the field.  The field and runway was excellent!!

Gary Alphin and his lovely wife – for organizing and running the parking effort.

Terry Thorpe – also for preparing and running the parking lot.

Len Minco – for providing the water and ice.

James Brown and crew – for running an extremely difficult radio impound

Gary Dingman – for the extremely dangerous job of recovering the crashed airplanes.

Bill Campbell – for organizing the fueling crew.

The 114^th RC Aero Squadron – for providing volunteers for numerous efforts.

Volunteer pilots – great job of representing the Thunderbird flying skills!!

I am sure there were countless others who helped in some way or form and to you also…thank you!!

As mention earlier, this was the largest Aero Design event ever with 61 teams attending the flying portion of the competition.  I have received nothing but positive comments from the participants on the field and the way that the event was run.  This is a direct reflection on the Thunderbirds and their experience on running large events.  On behalf of Lockheed Martin, my hearty thanks to the Thunderbirds!!  I hope we can continue this relationship in years to come. 

Weatherford Float Fly (WAMS) event was well represented by the FW Thunderbirds. This was the first Float Fly for Len. Now he’s flying from his pool. Woody’s Cub had a dead stick landing and the cause was attributed to pilot error (no gas). Y’all missed a fun time.

13 June 07 Old Farts Four Stroke Fly-in Chuck McLeroy

chpe12@sbcglobal.net

16-17 June 07 Scale Masters Qualifier Lawrence Harville

lawhar@yahoo.com

July Club Picnic Club Officers

27-29 July Heli Heat Wave Will Campbell

E-Mail: wcampbell@maseratiusa.com

5 Aug Float Fly Oscar Slaughter

E-Mail: Oslaughter@charter.net

29 Sept Big Bird Fly-In Woody Lake

E-Mail: at6pilot@charter.net