Roger Vaad took this picture of Dean Dingman's Sopwith Camel on "dawn patrol" that Sunday.  See, we really do fly at dawn!   Sunrise!

     Terry Lamb

     Dean Dingman

     Adam Shelburg

     Mike Kckinney won this kit at the WFDP event last year.  Despite serious medical challenges, Mike finished this plane in time for this year's event.

     Roger Vaad, Mike McKinney, John Gilmer and a new potential member who volunteered for kitchen duty all morning, and paid a landing fee, too! 

     (Left to Right) 1/3rd-scale Fokker D7 (Dale Locander), 1/3rd-scale Nieuport 17 (Brian Hole), 1/6th-scale Nieuport 17 (Mike Mckinney), and 1/4th-scale Fokker D7 (Roger Vaad).

     Nieuport 17 models.  (Left to Right) 1/6th-scale BalsaUSA Nieuport 17 owned by Mike McKinney, 1/3rd-scale BalsaUSA Nieuport 17 owned by Brian Hole, 1/6th-scale VK Models Nieuport 17 owned by Roger Vaad.  Plus Dale Locanders 1/3rd-scale Fokker D7.

     Dale Locander of Rogers,  AR a member of the Arkansas Dawn Patrol.  participated in the first Western Front Dawn Patrol in 2007, and returned this year.
     In appreciation for his assistance in getting our annual event started, and in recognition of the distance driven to attend our event, he was presented with a framed picture of full-scale counterparts to the model aircraft he flys.

     Brian Hole of Anderson, MO a member of the Arkansas Dawn Patrol.  participated in the first Western Front Dawn Patrol in 2007, and returned this year.
     In appreciation for his assistance in getting our annual event started, and in recognition of the distance driven to attend our event, he was presented with a framed picture of full-scale counterparts to the model aircraft he flys.

     Lots of tents where set up.

     Roger bought this at the event from Brian Hole.

     The flight line on Sunday.  Dale Locander's big 1/3rd-scale Fokker D7 in front.

     (Left) BalsaUSA Eindecker 90 belonging to Mike Myers, with three BalsaUSA Taube 40s belonging to (left to right) Adam Shellburg, Joe Cole, and Harold Zimmerman.

     Hangar 9 Sopwith Camels belonging to (left to right) Terry Lamm, Dean Dingman, and two owned by Roger Vaad.

 

     S.E.5a models owned by (left to right) Larry Puls, Terry Lamm, Brian Hole, and Dale Locander.  Also, Roger Vaad's white Fokker D7.

     Roger Vaad, Joe Cole, and Adam Shellburg (L to R) admire the Nieuport 17 models.

     Dean Dingman catches up on his sleep during a break between "patrols".

     The flight line on Sunday.  Dale Locander's big 1/3rd-scale Fokker D7 in front.

     (Left to Right) Brian Hole, Larry Puls, Dean Dingman, Dale Locander

     More Sunday flight line pics:

     (Left to Right)  Larry Puls and John Gilbert stand by their 1/5th-scale Dynaflite S.E.5a models.

     The flight line on Sunday.  Dale Locander's big 1/3rd-scale Fokker D7 in front.

     Roger Vaad

     More Sunday flight line pics:

     Hangar 9 Sopwith Camels (back row) with an electric-powered DeHavilland DH2 and Sopwith Camel (front row).

     This one shows 3 Taube 40 models belonging to (nearest to farthest) Harold Zimmerman, Joe Cole, and Adam Shelburg.

     Joe Cole did a lot of work to lighten this Taube up enough to do well on electric power.  It flys very well and looks great.

     Joe Cole's 1930 era Gyrocopter.  This is stand-off-scale for the Kellett KD-1  Go here to see the Kellett KD-1

     Joe Cole Flying Flying his Taube.

The 3rd Annual Western Front Dawn Patrol Fun Fly

       Well, it was just swell!

       The 3rd annual Western Front Dawn Patrol was held on September 19-20, 2009. We had 30 registered pilots, and at least as many planes (if not more) at Cobras Field in western Iowa last weekend for the 3rd annual Western Front Dawn Patrol. Weather was good, with temps in the upper 70s-lower 80s and light winds for all of Saturday and most of Sunday morning. "Dawn patrols" were flown Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. (Yes, we really do fly at dawn!) We flew from before sunrise until after sunset on Saturday, and until about noon on Sunday.
 

We had everything from small foam electrics to 1/3-scale gassers. Mostly WW1 planes, with a few nice "barnstormers"-era bipes as well.

       Everybody ate good, had fun flying, and had a great time. If you missed being there, you really missed out!

       Hope to see you there next year. Tentative dates for the 2010 event are September 18th and 19th, 2010.

       Dean Dingman, Event Director
       Western Front Dawn Patrol 2009

Note from the Webmaster

       I have watched as Dean worked to start the Dawn Patrol here in the Omaha/Council Bluffs area.  He has worked hard, never wavering from his goal.  He has done a great job from finding sponsors and promoting the events to organizing and preparing for the Dusk Patrol and Dawn Patrol Fun Flys.

 

       Thanks also to all the help and support from the Cobras R/C Club.

       I am happy to see the Dawn Patrol events building and growing .  Now that the economy is starting to improve, I think each year will show continued growth.

 

       Congratulations Dean on a job well done!

 

       Keith Paskewitz

       Webmaster

Dean Responds
Keith,
 
Hey, I just noticed the nice things you said about me on the pictures page of the Western Front Dawn Patrol.  Thanks!  I appreciate that.  (Only now I'll have to find a bigger hat!)
 
Actually, I've kind of enjoyed most of the stuff that we've done to get the event to this point.  It's been a learning experience, and I've had the chance to get acquainted with a lot of really good people who I might not have otherwise gotten to know. 		 And there's no denying that it has been a group effort.  I was just the looney who lit the match; Larry Puls, Terry Lamm, Roger Vaad, Mike McKinney and a host of others were right there to help fan the flames. LOL!
 
Plans are already in the works for next year.    (Tentative dates September 18-19,2010)
 
Best regards,
Dean