Events

We hold our float flies at the far neck of water at the Sardis Creek Park just off of Sardis Road in Gainesville, Georgia. Flying will begin at 10:00 (or as soon as the retrieval boat arrives) and will end at around 2:00 PM. You'll need to bring your own lawn chairs, drinks, and food. Here's how to get there:

From Gainesville: Travel west on Hwy. 53 (Dawsonville Highway), cross the Chattahoochee River Bridge, and turn right at the traffic light onto Sardis Rd. Go approximately ¼ mile to the “T” with Chestatee Rd. Bear right and continue on Sardis to the stop sign. Turn right onto Antioch Church Road and enter Sardis Park. Continue straight past the boat landing to the parking area overlooking Sardis Cove.

From GA 400: Travel east toward Gainesville on Hwy. 53 over the Chestatee River via Bolling Bridge and turn left at the traffic light onto Sardis Road. Go approximately ¼ mile to the “T” with Chestatee Rd. Bear right and continue on Sardis to the stop sign. Turn right onto Antioch Church Road and enter Sardis Park. Continue straight past the boat landing to the parking area overlooking Sardis Cove.

If you are using a GPS navigator, go to 2922 Antioch Church Road, Gainesville, Georgia. Continue past the church and enter the park.

Ryan's Family Steakhouse was once again the site for our December meeting and end-of-the-year celebration. We began with a short meeting and elected our officers for 2010: Johnny Collins, president; Jim French, vice president; Jamie Schneider, safety; Bill Drake, secretary/treasurer; and Dick Williams, editor. Johnny Collins and Tracy Tesmer will continue to serve as webmaster and mowing coordinator respectively.

The food and service at the Dawsonville Ryan's was great and everyone had a good time. Once again Missy Wiggins presented a collection of trophies to those well-deserving individuals who distinguished themselves during the past 12 months. She made each award by hand with the assistance of her husband, Billy (who had to follow her orders explicitly). The awards were finished to perfection and good natured kidding accompanied each presentation.

Presenter-in-chief, Missy Wiggins, who not only
hands out the awards, but also designs the trophies!

A dust pan for picking up a re-kitted Diamond Dust

Tracy "Mr. Svelte" Tesmer presented with a box of trash bags
to be used with future close encounters with the ground (of a vertical kind)!

Found: one stogie lost by Ray during a full-scale test flight

Club "greeter" award presented to Bill Drake...yes, it's
an official Wal-Mart shopping card made from toothpicks...thanks, Billy!
Also an offical GAMTNRC mobile for Bill's basement

Some people seem to gravitate toward recognition!

Others find it hiding in the grass!

A float fly award for a non-float flier!

You don't have to know the ropes...but it helps!

I love a parade...so do Jim and Sammy

Pat packs a trash bag inside his models so he has a ready container
for the pieces...this plane comes per-packed (saves time)

The float fly rescue award presented to our own boat driver, Keith Finch

Mr. Cub Scout air show (voted most popular kid in the pack)

Sky Cop

The buried plane award presented to the club member who single-handedly
brought on the demise of the most airplanes (Mike Cliatt got a corner)

Walt received a pair of dark glasses (totally opaque). They will not improve
his flying, but he'll feel better when he views the aftermath!

HERE ARE SOME CROWD SHOTS FROM THE BIG NIGHT...

We had a great afternoon of flying as we entertained the Cubs of Pack 26 at our flying field with an airshow orchestrated by Tracy Tesmer. After a short safety briefing, we demonstrated the fun of our hobby to the crowd with open flying, 3D, Pattern, and helicopter demos. Here are some pics (by the way it was 80 degrees, the sky was blue, and the winds light).

A great bunch of kids!

Parents really got into the excitement!

Mike flew his chrome-covered, kit-built
Uproar...note the reflection of the grass

Sammy flew his beautiful Easy Sport

We also had big 50cc models, bipes, electrics, and a token
helicopter. Here are most of the airplanes and most of the
scouts and leaders along with our pilots. Good show everyone!

The club held its annual Christmas dinner at the Ryan's Family Steakhouse in Dawsonville. We gathered on December 13th for a short meeting during which we elected our officers for 2009. They are: Jim French, president; Johnny Collins, vice president; Bill Drake, secretary/treasurer; Jamie Schneider, safety; and Dick Williams, editor. Johnny Collins and Tracy Tesmer will continue to serve as webmaster and mowing coordinator respectively.

The food and service at the Dawsonville Ryan's was a "cut above." It was definitely a good move and we'll likely return there for next year's party.

Outgoing president, Sammy Smith, led the meeting and introduced Missy Wiggins for the annual presentation of awards for notable achievement during the past 12 months.

The U LAND-IT AWARD went to a most deserving Walt Kiider for his unique ability to execute the takeoff portion of a flight and then hand his transmitter to anyone standing nearby for the subsequent landing. Actually this technique has saved many an airplane for Walt!

Sammy received the STEERING AWARD for steering our club in the right direction during 2008. Unlike our previous president, Sammy managed to retain our flying field for an entire year!

The YAK ATTACK VALIUM PRESCRIPTION AWARD went to Ed Cassano. This award meets an apparent need that Ed has for a calming agent prior to executing a maiden flight on any of his airplanes...especially those of the YAK variety.

The OPEN HOUSE AWARD went to a most deserving Bill Drake who graciously opens his basement for our fall and winter meetings. Not only that, but he also provides coffee, donuts, and various and sundry airplane parts for those looking for an inexpensive upgrade for their flying machines. Thanks Bill!

Mike Pendley was the recepient of this year's FIELD REPAIRMAN AWARD. He should have known that by directing the installation of our fabric runway, he would be designated the official repair person of same. Despite the honors and glory that such a distinction brings, he longs for the workload of a Maytag repairman!

Tracy Tesmer received the WHEELER DEALER AWARD for changing engines so often that he may have to take out another business license. The case cited involved a Laser powered with a Saito 180. He decided the aircraft would fly better with a 160 2-stroke. So he traded the 180 for an O.S. 160 that he had previously traded for something else. At least he made money on the deal...right Tracy?

Now what could our esteemed club member, trainer, and pilot extraordinaire do to receive the D-FENCE award? Well, it seems that he was competing in a Rat Race over at GMA using one of his deltas. It was cold that day and Billy was wearing gloves...slick gloves. He revved the Dust, as he is wont to do and the Delta proceeded to execute an auto-launch which led to the demise of some of GMA's plastic fencing. The club is now going to either errect wooden fencing or ban Billy. They're still counting ballots!

Now it seems that Johnny Collins has been building a kit for over a year now. This seemingly endless stream of parts purchases and construction delays has earned him the timely COLLINS BAILOUT AWARD. The completion of his 12-foot Telemaster is in sight, but the two charts showing the cost overruns and completion delays will certainly aid him when he appears before Congress to argue for a financial bailout from our government. Why not...everyone else is doing it!

What awards dinner would be complete without recognizing the unique contributions of our beloved Thomas Wright. This year Tom received the CRASH MASTER AWARD. Sponsored by the hobby industry and underwritten by Tower and Omni Models, Tom received this award for his numerous crashes. "Maiden flight" and "final flight" have become interchangable terms in Tom's vocabulary! Jean Sblendorio kept a statistical record of Tom's flights over the past year and declared him to be THE crash master!

Finally, Walt was brought back to the front of the room to receive the WALT'S TOY BOX AWARD. It is said that the one who has the most toys when he dies...wins. Based on his airplane purchases and the number of airplanes (some still in boxes) in his hanger, Walt is definitely a winner!

Sammy wrapped up the dinner by thanking Missy for all of her handiwork in preparing the awards and for her humor in presenting them. Missy assured the group that the stories she shared were exaggerations and were not to be taken literally (well, for the most part). Sammy also thanked Ryan's for their excellent service and for our private dining area. We had a great time!

Tracy Tesmer set this up with one of the local Cub Scout Packs and as always the kids loved coming out to the field. I would guess we had over 60 vehicles parked around the pasture and at least that many eager Cubs listening to the briefing and watching the demonstration. Tracy was assisted by Billy Wiggins and president, Sammy Smith welcomed the scouts and their families to the field. A good time was had by all!

Many of the Cubs expressed an interest in seeing an airplane crash. Sadly, neither Billy or Tracy was willing to oblige!

Sammy Smith and his Mustang/P-51 and Jim French in his Jag/Corsair (driven by his son) represented our club in the Gainesville Memorial Day parade. Each car bore a magnetic sign with our club's name and contact information. Many older members in the crowd pointed at the warbirds and rendered a salute! Thanks guys!

It started with Tracy Tesmer wondering how he was going to spend his Saturday after he got off the air with his latest edition of WDUN's Home Improvement Show. Flying, of course, was his immediate thought. So he called a bunch of club members and they rendezvoused at the field for a chilly day of flying. The hot dogs, etc., prepared by Missy Wiggins helped warm their fingers. The fire pit donated and fueled by Tracy didn't hurt matters a bit...in fact it became a favored gathering place! A lot of folks came out and had a great afternoon of flying as verified by the following images.