The Bristol County Radio Control
Club (BCRCC) event coordinator,
Ted Brito, contacted me regarding
his club’s participation in the New
Bedford Regional Airport’s Aviation
Fun Day, scheduled for May 18,
2012.
Ted told me that airport officials
weren’t sure if the FAA would
allow the club to do RC flight
demonstrations during the show.
I wrote Ted a letter that he could
present to the airport manager
explaining that a number of AMA
clubs participate in air show flying
demonstrations at New England
airports each year. These clubs not
only demonstrate RC flying, but often
conduct RC events without shutting
down full-scale flying operations.
Club officers work with airport
authorities, monitor pilot radio
frequencies, and require RC pilots to
immediately land and remove their
model aircraft from active runways
and/or airspace when full-scale
aircraft are getting ready to land or
take off.
The events are sanctioned by the
AMA and each RC pilot is required to
be an AMA member and have AMA
liability insurance coverage. The clubs
also acquire additional AMA primary
liability coverage for the airport
during event dates.
Unfortunately, final decisions lie
with airport management. They
allowed the club to only do a static
display at this show. I give the club
credit for still participating and doing
so in a commendable way.
The club set up a terrific display
in the courtyard area in front of
the terminal building. The RC
aircraft included Scale warbirds,
aerobatic aircraft, sport airplanes,
and helicopters—each with a
placard describing the model and its
features. Club members did a great
job manning the area and answering
attendee’s questions about all aspects
of aeromodeling and provided handouts
for club and AMA membership.
Club member Fred Tuxworth, who
is 97 years young and was a World
War II Navy pilot, answered questions
on how the full-scale warbirds flew,
their special features, and their
history. The superb weather and
additional exhibits—including the
Lockheed C-130 Hercules four-engine
turboprop military transport and the
Grumman TBM-3 Avenger—helped
boost attendance to more than 9,000
people for the airport’s biggest event.
The best news was a change in
attitude of airport management
after recognizing the Bristol RC
club’s superb effort and exhibit. The
managers invited the club back for
2013, with a good chance of allowing
RC demonstration flying. Persistence,
good planning, and participation on
the club’s part paid off.
The BCRCC of South Dartmouth MA participated in the Sixth Annual Aviation Fun Day at New Tel.: Bedford Regional Airport.
(L) Fred Tuxworth, who was an F6f Hellcat Navy Pilot aboard the USS Hornet during WW II, thrilled
attendees by talking about the full-scale warbirds he flew. He also is a member of the BCRCC.
The Rhode Island Air National Guard’s C-130
was a new and popular attraction at the show.
The TBM-3E Avenger Torpedo bomber on
display played a major role in WW II victory.
Edition: Model Aviation - 2012/11
Page Numbers: 136
