01/01/2026
New Year’s Day at the Field: The Icicle Tradition.
For generations of Kansas City Radio Control Association members, January 1 hasn’t meant sleeping in or watching bowl games—it’s meant heading to the field. No matter what the thermometer said, pilots showed up for what became affectionately known as the Icicle Fly, Icicle Stick Fun Fly, or simply the New Year’s Day Fly-In. It was the club’s way of ringing in the year the right way: with airplanes, friends, and maybe a little frost on the runway.
The Icicle Fly was never about competition. It was informal by design—“bring what you’ve got and fly if you can.” Newsletters from the late 1970s and early
1980s consistently list the January 1 event with no rules beyond showing up, flying safely, and enjoying the day. Some years the wind cooperated, other
years the bravest accomplishment was just getting an engine started.
As the tradition grew, one name became inseparable from January 1 at the field, Max Klotz. By the
early 1980s, Max was not only flying but actively shaping the character of the Icicle Fly. While serving
as KCRC president, he regularly promoted the event in the January newsletters, encouraging all
members—flyers and spectators alike—to attend.
Alongside Max, his wife played an equally important role. Together, they helped turn a cold weather fly-in into something genuinely welcoming. Club
articles from the mid-to-late 1980s describe chili, hot chocolate, and coffee as staples of the event, along with simple certificates recognizing participation. One article notes that “Klotz brings her famous chili, hot chocolate, and coffee—it’s worth seeing all the pilots flying with big smiles.”
When Max passed away, his absence was deeply felt. In December 1991, the club formally voted to dedicate the New Year’s Day Icicle Fly in his honor. Beginning with the January 1992 newsletter, the event was officially listed as the Max Klotz Memorial Icicle Fun Fly. The name changed, but the spirit did not.
Icicle Fly Timeline
• Pre 1975–1979: January 1 “Icicle” flying events appear in KCRC schedules.
• 1980–1984: Event commonly listed as Icicle Fly or Icicle Stick Fun Fly.
• 1985–1991: Max and Sue Klotz repeatedly credited for food, certificates, and organization.
• December 18, 1991: Club votes to dedicate the event as a memorial.
• January 1992: First published use of “Max Klotz Memorial Icicle Fun Fly.”
