“Annual Tradition & Generational Event”

By:  Joe Pirozzoli

History and Recent Memories

The “Frozen Finger Fun Fly” (FFFF) has been a Club tradition since 2004, as is evidenced by the plaque on the front of the trophy.  Prior to that, I do not recall the Club having a fun fly or any other organized event on New Year’s Day.  I remember the days when a handful of very zealous members would try to put up the first flight of the year.  Some guys were willing to be at the field at midnight, regardless of the weather, point their car lights over the runway, and take-off at the stroke of midnight.  Lanny Hansen was one of those guys and managed to claim that honor for many years.  Even in recent years there have been early birds to the Airpark on New Year’s Day, of which I was not usually one.  Ironically, this year (2026) was my turn.  I arrived a bit later than planned, happily opened the gate, and flew several flights well ahead of the rest of the crowd.

The FFFF has been successfully executed for 23 consecutive years (2004 – 2026).  The trophy (after this year) has room for 7 more names (i.e. for 30 years of champions).  As far as I know, all but one of the prior years was on the actual day (i.e. January 1^st).  In 2022 the event had to be postponed due to snow blocking the road.  Still, 4 of us crazy bastards managed to get into the East field and put up a couple of flights.  The 2022 FFFF was eventually completed on January 9^th that year.

2026 FFFF Highlights

The first thing that is worth pointing out is the attendance.  We had one of our biggest years in recent memory with 16 participants (8 Sportsman/Juniors and 8 Experts).  I’m sure the mild weather (i.e. 50 degree temps and virtually no wind) was a contributing factor.  The only complaint one could have had was that it was heavily overcast the entire day.  Regardless, any time we can get double digit attendance for the FFFF is a good year… so 16 is exceptional.

Another highlight was the event itself.  We did several things this year that were never done before or that were done with very unique twists.  That is due to the ingenuity of the CD (Landen Jekel) and his helper/grandfather (Rodger Barsch).  There were a ground event and 2 flying events.  I particularly enjoyed the “racetrack” ground event and the “climb and glide/precision landing” event.  I didn’t much care for the “hover” event because, as is common knowledge… I SUCK AT 3D”. 

Perhaps the most notable aspect of this FFFF was the CD himself (i.e. the 2025 FFFF champion).  Landen Jekel is a 4^th generation RC flyer from the Barsch family.  When I joined the Club in 1984, there were already 3 generations of Barsch’s very active in the Club.  Landen’s uncles, then very young themselves; of course, his grandfather Rodger (who is also a founding member of AAM); his great-grandfather; and a great-uncle.  How cool is that!!!

Any of us that have been able to enjoy this hobby with our children or a parent consider ourselves very fortunate, no matter to what extent because sometimes that may only be for a short while.  Rodger and Landen, in particular, are very fortunate.  We should all be so lucky… to enjoy the greatest past time there ever was, with virtually everyone in your family.  My hat is off to both of you my friends, you are truly blessed.

The 11/30 Float Fly is canceled due weather. The forecast is for very cold temperatures and there will be ice on the lake. 

More “JD” Model Sightings (L-4 Grasshopper)

By: Joe Pirozzoli

Introduction

On any given weekend, when there’s a pretty good crowd of pilots, you are very likely to find at least one of the planes from JD LaVasseur’s estate.  FYI… it is always a very pleasant and warm reminder of our dear departed friend and the generous donation he made to our Club.  I’ve spoken of JD many times and my great admiration for him.  That is why I am proud to own 2 of his planes and make sure they get plenty of “stick-time”!

Very recently, including 2 weekends this past October, another of JD’s planes has been restored and is now getting a lot of stick-time… that being his Bill Hempel (i.e. “Team Edge”) 40% scale, L-4 Grasshopper.  “Team Edge” boasts of being the “Home of the World’s Largest ARF’s”.  No doubt this is true because they offer many large-scale models, some of which are up to 65% scale.  Thus, if your thing is uber-sized scale models… then Team Edge is your destination for a wide variety of large, impressive scale models!

Flight of the L-4

As a fanatic scale modeler, with a preference toward warbirds, the L-4 was undoubtably an attractive choice for JD.  Finding the age and date of which it was first flown was pretty easy.  I simply contacted our trusty Club photographer (and current Newsletter Editor), Lee Jay Fingersh.  Lee Jay not only sent me photographs, but also a video of the maiden flight.  The pictures below were taken on August 26, 2014.  There is also a video of the maiden flight, presumably the same day.  The stats on JD’s L-4 are as follows:

 

• Scale – 40%
• Wingspan – 14 feet
• Weight – ~49 pounds
• Motor – DLE 120 cc

 

JD flew the L-4 many times and at many events.  There photos of JD and his L-4 at most of the AAM Airshows and Warbirds Over the Rockies© from 2015 through 2018.  Subsequently, JD’s health began to decline and his activity level was significantly diminished after his left leg was amputated in January 2019.  However, he was still participating in static events, shows, attending club meetings, building models, and visiting the field.  His last visit to the Airpark was on October 29, 2022.  JD passed away just 13 days later on November 11, 2022.  Per his final wishes, all of his models including the L-4, were donated to the Club.

 

 

Two of the signature features of JD’s L-4 were: 1) the pilot insignia on the right side of the aircraft (in white lettering) which read, “LT. JD La Vasseur”; and 2) the “Grumpy” (of the “7 dwarves”) insignia on the left side.  Although JD was an extremely pleasant and amiable person, in many pictures he does appear to be frowning, which contributed to the “Grumpy” legend.  All the photos below were all taken during the Arvada Harvest Festival parade and AAM Airshow on September 10, 2016.

It is also worth noting that the 3 large scale warbirds (PT-19, P-47 and Zero), on the parade float, were all JD’s.

 

The Next Chapter for JD’s L-4

JD’s L-4 was successfully auctioned on June 25, 2023 along with the rest of his donated estate.  At that time, the L-4 was not flyable due to some minor damage (and a little hanger rash) to various critical components including the wing-tube housing.  I specifically recall that the wing-tube housing would need to be repaired or replaced before it could be flown.  Spoiler alert… the person that purchased it at the estate auction is NOT the same person that owns it today and is flying it with regularity at our Airpark.

 

Introducing… Randy Chrinka, current owner of JD’s L-4.  As mentioned, Randy did not purchase JD’s L-4 at the estate auction in 2023.  Rather, he purchased it around May 2025.  Randy does not know (for certain) if the person he bought it from is the same person that acquired it at the estate auction.  However, the person he bought it from confirmed that the L-4 he was selling to Randy originally had a “Grumpy” insignia on the left side of the aircraft.  This is an important detail which confirmed that this had been JD’s L-4 because, at the time Randy purchased the plane, the plane had been re-covered (with fabric) and the “Grumpy” insignia was gone.

 

I inquired about the history of Randy’s L-4 because I was naturally curious if it had been one of JD’s models, despite the fact that there were many obvious modifications and improvements to the model.  IOW… today, the L-4 looks nothing like it did when JD owned it.  As I spoke more with Randy, he divulged many details about acquiring the L-4 and the numerous modifications and improvements that he had made.  I also got to know Randy, who is relatively new to the Club, a lot better.  He is obviously a very meticulous “scale” modeler.  Everything that I’ve seen him bring to the field be it the L-4, helicopters, IMAC planes, etc. are all large, scale aircraft finished with incredible detail.  He is also a very accomplished flyer.

 

The L-4 was in reasonably good condition and supposedly flyable when Randy purchased it last May.  However, he did not want any of the original radio components or the DLE engine.  Thus, he only purchased the airframe.  The following are most of the modifications and improvements Randy made (which are substantial):

 

• GP123 cc engine with stock exhaust
• Extreme Flight 54 oz fuel tank (resulting in 40 min flight times)
• AirTop 8” rubber tires
• New, custom M6 axles
• Extreme Flight carbon tail wheel
• New or refurbished struts (painted white instead of green)
• All new Xact FrSky 5404 servos all around
• FrSky TDR12 receiver “Powersafe”
• IBEC ignition
• Interior carbon fiber, deck for batteries, and rudder servo mounts
• Painted interior and epoxy cleared painted firewall
• Installed scale cloth interior fuselage (aft of the pilot)
• All new clear glass all around
• Custom-made instrument panel to scale detail
• New scale pilot
• All new wiring
• Unilight Nav/Strobe combos installed on wing tips
• New insignias on the nose (both sides)
• Note… the tail number (092257) is the same

Randy’s maiden flight of the L-4 was sometime last June 2025.  He says it went very well and has been enjoying flying it ever since!!!

Acknowledgements:  Original photos of L-4 are by Lee Jay Fingersh.  To see additional photos and events, please visit Lee Jay’s website.

 

 

Members,

I am happy to report that a quorum was achieved and we were able to conduct our annual business meeting last Tuesday, November 4^th.  We held elections and the following individuals will be your Officers for 2026:

President – Joe Pirozzoli

Vice President – Jamie Park

Treasurer – Ken Monblatt

Secretary – Scott Emerson

Safety – Shazam Kianpour

 

I am also happy to report that we have a full contingent of Board members for the upcoming year:

Chief Flight Instructor – Brian Gates

Events Coordinator – Dan Underkofler

Field Marshall – Larry Barnes

Membership Coordinator – Chris Koerner

Newsletter Editor – Lee Jay Fingersh

Webmaster – Dan Jones

Public Relations Committee Chairperson – Rodger Barsch

 

Thanks to everyone that participated in the meeting such that we were able to achieve a quorum.

Joe Pirozzoli, President

 

 

The Float Fly for 10/19/2025 is canceled due to high wind forecast. 

By:  Joe Pirozzoli, President

Oct 5, 2025 Update: 2026 Club Officer candidates have been updated

Notice of Annual Business Meeting – Tuesday, November 4^th, 2025

It is my obligation to schedule and announce our intent to hold an Annual Business Meeting (“ABM”) on Tuesday, November 4^th, 2025 at 7 pm.

Location will be:  Arvada Seventh-day Adventist Church, 7090 W 64th Avenue, Arvada, CO 80003.

The official AGENDA scheduled for the ABM will be:

• The election of Club Officers for 2026 (i.e. President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Safety Officer). Please see separate report from the Nominating Committee regarding the current slate of officers.

Quorum Requirements

Please note that in order to conduct the ABM and have the Elections, we must have a quorum consisting of at least 30 active/voting members.  Please make a point of attending for the sake of holding the elections and conducting other club business as proposed in the agenda.

We are scheduled to have a organized work party Saturday, 9/6 beginning at 8 am. We are intending to complete painting the pit benches at all 3 fields.  We expect to be completed by 10 am (with your cooperation). We will have additional manpower from Jeffco, however, we won’t know how many bodies we will get.  Thanks for helping out.

• Saturday (8/30/2025) – 7:00 am to 5:00 pm (Contest)
• Sunday (8/31/2025) – 7:00 am to 3:00 pm (Contest)