Coachella Valley Jerry Unruh Memorial Jet Rally
For three days in early February daybreak to nightfall, the serenity of the inexperienced agricultural fields encompass the Coachella Valley RC Club (CVRCC) had been awash in sounds of mannequin turbine engines. Welcome to the Jerry Unruh Memorial Jet Rally 2023.
After months of preparation below the steerage of CD Dan Metz, we had nearly 50 pilots registered. These radio management jet turbine pilots descended on the spectacular flying discipline, with their wonderful aircrafts in tow, some so far as Arizona, adjoining southwest states, and one from Brazil, inserting the CVRCC on the worldwide flying venue. For 2023, the membership devoted the rally to fellow membership member and benefactor Jerry Unruh who unexpectedly handed away in 2022. Being a talented turbine pilot, Jerry liked flying his large shiny inexperienced CARF Memphisto to its limits. To Jerry, we salute you.
This 12 months’s flight line was equally spectacular with over 100 jets of all kinds and sizes. From the balsa equipment constructed “Johnny Jet”, designed by John Buckner to the huge crown jewel MIBO twin turbine A-10 by Jordan Factor that took over 3 years and $30K to construct. We additionally had a number of nice flight demonstrations by wonderful piloting ability by Team CARF Elad Fish’s 3D Memphisto, Jan Sunberg’s CARF Mig-17 and award-winning scale flights by Gabrielle Pellegrini’s Feiboa T-33.
In addition to taking part pilots, we had nice attendance by native communities’ spectators, lots of whom had by no means seen such actions. Dan Metz and supporting membership members distributed even flyers to close by RV parks, Community Centers, and the well-known Palm Spring Air Museum. Equally gratifying was the on-site catering of genuine Mexican delicacies that saved everybody fed as pilots flew from sun-up to sun-down.
The Coachella Valley RC Club additionally acknowledge that we don’t stand alone. The assist and generosity of our occasion sponsors and membership members is sincerely appreciated. Many of those sponsors be a part of us annually, some with new initiatives not but in the marketplace. These embody Banana Hobby’s Lancer B-1 EDF, Global Jet Club’s James Bond turbine BD-5J, Kingtech’s G4 Ok-85 Turbine and new releases of radios from FrSky RC Inc.
Reflecting again on the three-day occasion, we can’t be happier of the result. The comradery of pilots, praises from spectators, assist of our sponsors, membership members and their households, and the monetary achieve from varied proceeds. These moneys earned allow the membership to assist causes we endear together with Wounded Warriors, Rebuilding America’s Warrior (RAW), and Tunnel to Towers. Thank you to everybody for his or her participation and assist.
TEXT & PHOTOS BY RALPH SQUILLACE
