Frost Your Buns 2009

by Jim Tiller.

For longer than most of us can remember (which may be a matter of days) we have met at the field on the first day of the new year to celebrate the combined joys of flight and frostbite. Over the years we have run the gamut of weather, from shirt sleeve 50’s courtesy of Al Gore and global warming to below zero. Until last year, we weathered all that nature could throw our way. Last year we just plain gave up and waited a week. With that memory still burning in our heads, we looked at 2009 with trepidation.

But the worries were for naught. This year was just a typical South Dakota winter day with temps in the high 20’s and 5-10 mph winds. So with two brimming pots of chili in the offing, we packed up and headed for the field.

When I arrived about 9:30, the parking lot was filling fast. Clancy Kingsbury was already in the air with his electric Corsair. Ken Gatzke soon followed with the first alcohol powered flight using his trusty Goldberg Profile. I managed a flight on my LA Racer and so did Terry Rambo. Bob Olson put several flights on his Goldberg Trainer. Denny Bernal got into the act with a gas powered stadium truck and his electric Tribute. Doc, Darrell and Ken Corrin were also on hand to serve as pit crews for the assembled pilots. Two new prospective Propbusters also braved the weather to see what kind of nut cases go out in the freezing weather to fly like this.

About 11:00, we paused for the yearly duty of testing and tasting the Bernal and McGuigan family chili. Lots of other goodies were on hand as well. The assembled crew made short work of two large pots of chili. With the feasting behind us, some got back to flying and some packed up for warmer climes and the prospect of a day watching bowl games or destroying wood in the workshop.

Our perpetual thanks to those two chili chefs: Arlene McGuigan and Sheree Bernal -- this would not be the tradtion it is without your generous gift of chili each year. By the way, we changed the voting on the chili this year. We counted the beans to determine the winner. A winner was declared, but Al Franken demanded a recount and with the evidence now turned to gas, it will be left to the Supreme Court to determine a winner.