2011 SDASM Show

Our first off field event for the 2011 year was the South Dakota Air and Space Museum Static Show. This year the event was Saturday, May 7th. By the 9 AM opening, we had quite a few models set up and on diplay. As the museum filled with visitors, we did our dog and pony show at the flight simulator and fielded questions about our entries. We also handed out about 250 ballots for our People’s Choice award.

About 10 AM, I did attempt (and I do mean attempt) an electric flight with my 3D Sbach foamy. Zac Roller went out to the Northeast side of the building into a good sized open space. By the time we got there, a good sized crowd had assembled. As soon as I launched my foamy, I knew I was in trouble. The brisk wind turned into knots as it swirled between the large parked display airplanes. Once I got above the airplane it smoothed out enough that I could almost say I was in control. After a few attempts at some aerobatics, I decided to call it quits and made my way down once again through the sea of gusts to a relatively uneventful landing.

About 1 PM, Joe Drab and his museum cohorts judged the entries and made the trophy presentations. It was no surprise that Dave Dewesbury repeated as the SDASM trophy winner with his immaculate, scratch-built Curtiss Seagull. Zac Roller received 2 awards for his spotless ARF entries from 3-D hobby shop. His big 119 inch Extra will be featured in some 3D Hobby Shop advertising -- and rightly so. I think there are 7 colors of Ultracote on there. Tom Pekarna picked up the People’s Choice award by garnering over half of the votes. His little Dare Sopwith was a real hit with people. Many remarked on all the detail in such a small airframe. Don Thorson drove back to Newcastle with the Best Builder award for his Top Flite Stinson SR9. I know that kit starts out as a box of sticks, so that trophy certainly rewarded a lot of labor.

The Museum made many changes in the past year and spent quite a bit of money on both the inside and outside displays. The highlight was a brand new display of a Hound Dog missile used by the Ellsworth wing. I guess it had been stored for quite a while but the Air Force would not release it until the lead-based paint was removed. The past winter, the old paint was not only removed but replaced with a new paint scheme with all the proper markings from the last time it was used. It is really a great addition to the collection. Joe Drab and Mike Schwab of the museum board, also told me they are in line to receive an F-16 from the South Dakota Air Guard in Sioux Falls. Can’t wait to see that.

The museum staff loves to see us show up with our little display each year as evidenced by the nice trophy they always provide. Many thanks to them for all the hospitality. It was a great time for all those who attended. The club even received a written thank you for the event director: Joe Drab.

Hopefully we will return to this venue next year and the years to come. It is a great place to get some exposure for our group and for the AMA. Plus, it is just a treat to see what new stuff they’ve put on display. Works out all around.