Welcome back everyone!
First, I will give credit where credit is due. I erroneously stated in this space that I created the District V Facebook group when it was actually created right before I was elected by the district’s administrator and webmaster, Glen Bond. I promise I’m not a credit hound; I just have a fuzzy memory sometimes! Thanks, Glen, for all you do!
Either way, it’s a great place to share event flyers, event photos, and timely distribution of information from AMA Headquarters, and I encourage you to subscribe, create one for your club, and invite me. I love seeing what’s going on around the district and newsletters are becoming a thing of the past.
Many years ago, when I first moved to Florida and learned what a year-round flying season really is, I attended my first jet event, the annual Jets Over DeLand event that takes place at the DeLand Golden Hawks RC Club. The Golden Hawks fly on a decommissioned full-scale runway at the DeLand airport near Daytona Beach, Florida.
There were mainly glow-powered, ducted-fan jets at the time, but I also saw my first turbine jet in person. The turbine was required to be spun up using compressed air from a scuba tank, then propane was introduced to light the fire, and, finally, jet fuel was added. Good times! The event was attended by pioneers and icons in the jet hobby, such as Bob Violett and Bob Fiorenze among many others.
The original Florida Jets event ran from 1989 through 1999. Club president and Contest Director Mike Settedu, and club member Bruce Pennington, thought that, with Florida Jets gone, an opportunity existed for another premier jet event in Florida, so 2024 Jets Over DeLand was born. It was, by all measures, a resounding success, drawing 78 registered pilots and more than 100 jets on the flightline. After its great success, Mike told me that Jets Over DeLand 2025 is already being planned!
As you might be aware by now, Chad Budreau has resigned as AMA’s Executive Director (ED). He’s been replaced on an interim basis by Director of Government Affairs Tyler Dobbs while a committee searches for a new permanent ED, so a big welcome goes out to Tyler and the exciting things he will bring to the position as we head into the new year.
