Texas Model Aeronautics Foundation SPA Pattern Contest
Valley Mills, TX
September 21, 2019

Texas Model Aeronautics Foundation (TMAF) held their 1st SPA pattern contest on September 21st at the TMAF field in Valley Mills, TX. just outside of Waco. Pat Ensign, Bobby Zikes and Frank Cox made it down on Friday to do some practicing and check out the field. The TMAF club worked Friday to get everything ready for Saturday and also worked with Pat Ensign to ensure we had everything in place for the contest.

Everyone starting arriving around 7am Saturday morning and by 8:30 am we had everyone registered. After that we had the pilot’s meeting and setup the flight lines and the judges. We had a 20 mph wind and the clouds kept the sun covered so we started right after the pilots meeting. The contestants kept up with the flight order so we were able to get 2 full rounds in by 11:30 am. We took a 30 min break for lunch and started up again at noon. The wind did not cooperate and averaged 20 mph all day with gusts up to 30. All pilots braved the wind and flew very well all day. Chris Berardi lost his plane on the 1st round and David Dingman loaned Chris his backup and Chris was able to win his class.

We completed the 4th round around 4pm and decided that was enough rounds and that we would go ahead and total up the scores and have the award presentation. While Leslie Ensign was finishing up the scoring we held a raffle for a Joe Gross designed Thunderbird and Frank Cox was the lucky winner of the kit.

I am very happy with the turn out and forgot just how much fun flying and watching the old pattern planes is. I would like to send a special thanks to Ken Knots for answering all my questions and helping me get this contest in the books. Also a big thanks to Pat and Leslie Ensign for scoring and taking all the pictures.

A big thanks goes out to the TMAF club and also Danny Jackson for the Thunderbird kit donation.

Looking forward to next year

Todd Blose CD

Final Scores
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