King Orange International (KOI)

[t michael jennings]

Gentlemen,

I am interested in the history of the KOI.  Information needed is;

  1) when started,
  2) contest locations,
  3) contest dates (ex: first week in Jan, 3rd week in Aug...) over the years,
  4) pilots who won multiple times,
  5) any unique stores about the contest.

T Michael Jennings
Knoxville, TN

[Jim Womack]

MA has a pretty fair history of the KOI:

http://www.modelaviation.com/kingorange

As a teenager in the early 70s, I was lucky enough to make several KOIs when it was held at Imeson. I remember watching Les Mcdonald compete with his Tropicaire and Stilettos. What an impression he made on a young kid! Also remember meeting George Perryman and Rex Hinson down the runway at the FF site.  Great gentlemen, the both of them. I really loved those combined FF/CL contests, so much to see and do.

[bob whitney]

1st B,TR first KOI age 12 1st SR rat race 1961 KOI

[bill bischoff]

Hey Bob, you were a good looking youngster. What happened?

[Jim Carter]

Hey Bob, you were a good looking youngster. What happened?

[bob whitney]

I hung around u guys too long

[bill bischoff]

I guess that would explain it. I've been hanging around me my whole life, and look at me. 

[Dave Hull]

Thanks for the pictures, Bob! Now I have proof of design for my "short-wing" Redskin, and I can finish 'er up!

The Divot

[t michael jennings]

Gentlemen,

Thanks for the Helping Hand.

T Michael Jennings
Knoxville, TN

[Howard Rush]

I can fill in a portion of 1975: I won Stunt that year...

I won combat.

(Gosh I miss Gram Parsons…)

Gram must have flown combat. Why else would he have written, "Oh, Lord, grant me vision.  Oh, Lord, grant me speed."?

Remel is a great guy who lived at that time with a house full of women...

And his AMA number was a permutation of mine.

[Norm Faith Jr.]

I found this article...http://modelaviation.com/kingorange      I flew free flight (Goldberg Viking) and Rat, as a Junior, 1960 at the KOI. I lived within a bicycle ride from the flying site.

[EddyR]

  I can add some history and records for the KOI.  I hold a record  that I do not think anyone has broken. I won a event five years in a row,no missing years. I won Old Time Stunt in 1987,1988,1989,1990,1991. For three of those years I used a AAsr. I also won Advanced three years in a row 1989,1990,1991.  Some of the dates in the AMA article are incorrect as White House started well before 1988. I did attend and maybe flew in a FF at the KOI at Sebring also. Very hard to remember after all these years. I have a picture of myself standing under the wing of aircraft holding a Class A FF from 1969 KOI.
EddyR

[Gene Martine]

Mike:
Go with the attachment that Jim Womack replied. If you need a hard copy i'll be glad to send it to you.
Gene.

[t michael jennings]

Gene,
Jim,

The Jim Womack is a great article.

The article provided what I was looking for.

Thanks again.

T Michael Jennings
Knoxville, TN