by Gerry Molidor, IAC 14825
Sun ‘n Fun
Holy cow! I can’t believe how fast time is going by. As I sit down to write this column, we are coming up on the end of April. What a month this has been, with Sun ’n Fun in Lakeland, Florida, topping the list.
My wife, Kathy, daughter, Sara, and I flew down in our hot rod Cessna 182. It has the Texas Skyways conversion, which includes the installation of a 270-hp Continental O-520 sporting a three-blade prop. It also has the Horton speed conversion, which along with the big engine allows the airplane to true 150 knots. Not bad for a fixed-gear airplane. The six-hour ride complete with a beverage service was very enjoyable and much more comfortable than doing the same in the Sukhoi. We were blessed on the way down because there wasn’t a single cloud in the sky the whole way from northern Illinois. Kathy’s twin sister, Karen, and her husband, Mark Budd, live at an air community called Pilot Country just north of Tampa, and that’s where we were staying for the event. So when we got there we just pulled right into their driveway and walked inside their house for a cold one. It was great!
Lisa Popp and Sun ’n Fun Chairman/Co-Chairman Jim and Jean Taylor did a great job of planning, setting up, and running the Aerobatic Center. Loyal volunteers Diana and Bunk Chase from Maine were graciously on hand for the week to help run the store. We also enjoyed having Sigrid Baumann selling raffle tickets and merchandise for the United States Aerobatic Foundation, as well as helping us with the store. Keith Hunt from the local Florida International Miniature Aerobatic Club (IMAC) was there with a couple of giantscale aircraft and a computer-based flight simulator, which ran nonstop. It was a pleasure to spend time with everyone, and we sold a ton of merchandise. Great job, you guys, and thank you for helping move the organization forward.
We also have been holding the annual membership meeting in conjunction with Sun ’n Fun. I was delighted to see this year’s meeting was well attended by members and other guests. John Allen and Bill Tabbert of Falcon Insurance made sure we had a nice spread of food, and Bernie Little Distributors made sure we had plenty of Bud Light and Budweiser to drink. I took advantage of the assembly to officially announce that Bud Light has stepped up to be the presenting sponsor of the 2003 World Aerobatic Championships and to summarize the progress of the club.
In attendance we had longtime supporter of the IAC Gerd Muhlbauer from MT-Propeller and his nephew from Germany. Current members of the U.S. Unlimited Team, Kirby Chambliss, Mike Mangold, David Martin, and Debbie Rihn-Harvey, also shared the evening with us along with many new and veteran members of the organization. Sue Gardner and Dave Hanusa, our true friends from the FAA (and I mean that), partied with us, too. I enjoyed our time together and hope everyone can make it next year. We may need a bigger tent!
I’m grateful to announce that Nominations Chair Ann Salcedo ran a smooth election. She also was sporting a very sharp, brand new, red Corvette. There’s something cool about a blonde in a Corvette, don’t you think? I would 3 I took advantage of the assembly to officially announce that Bud Light has stepped up to be the presenting sponsor of the 2003 World Aerobatic Championships and to summarize the progress of the club. like to welcome Allyson Parker-Lauck as the new co-captain of the IAC, winning the vice president race. I would also like to welcome back to the board Tom Adams and Jim Taylor. We are very pleased to welcome U.S. team and longtime IAC member David Martin to his first term on our board. David and Martha Martin have been pillars to our sport, and it means a lot to me that they and all our new officer/directors have willingly given their valuable time for the benefit of everyone in the IAC. We are operating in exciting times, and I’m grateful that you, our members, have assembled such a great team through your participation in the election by voting.
As a result of the elections there have been a few necessary adjustments to our Director’s Regions as follows: Director Vicki Cruse will retain the Northwest Region, Director David Martin will assume the Southwest Region, Bubba Vidrine retains the South Central, Tom Adams will assume the Southeast, Jim Taylor will move up to the Mid-America, Howie Stock will retain the Northeast, and Mike Heuer will retain International. I would like to sincerely thank the retiring officers and directors, Dave Monroe, Mike Maloney, and Tom Meyers. You always hate to see incredibly dedicated people leave, but they have earned a rest, and we will always be sincerely grateful for their efforts.
We have just concluded the spring EAA board meeting, where I represented the IAC. We are fortunate to be a part of the EAA, and it’s reassuring to me to be a part of a bigger movement, especially during an apparently stressful time for general aviation. Our needs and desires as participants in sport aviation need to be represented, and it helps tremendously to be a part of a larger leverage to be heard in Washington, D.C.
Lastly, Phil Knight and Bob Stark are now in the execution phase of the 2003 World Aerobatic Championships presented by Bud Light, which as of this writing is less than 60 days away. I can’t tell you how nicely things are coming together for this event, and I sincerely hope that you take time to be a part of it. You will be very proud as an American and as an IAC member. It will really be a firstclass international event. Cheers and please fly safely!
