On Sunday, June 10, 2012, several members of the Seven Lakes Aero Modelers club conducted a successful day of aviation instruction, model building, and RC flight demonstrations in Pinehurst, North Carolina. More than 50 people, including 12 members of Trinity Christian Fellowship Cub Scout Pack No. 173, enjoyed a great day of learning and model aircraft activities.
We wanted to introduce our young Cub Scouts to model aviation, focusing on education, individual involvement, and fun, fun, fun.
Here, Bob Thorne’s sport utility vehicle serves as a popular simulator station—giving Mack and Chaz Roberson (sons of club member Phil Roberson) a chance to practice their flying skills.
[Photo: photo1]
Bob Thorne and Louie Scribner talk about flight forces on airplane surfaces to an interested audience.
[Photo: photo2]
And, of course, buddy-box flying was the “wow factor” as each Cub Scout took his turn to fly RC. Here, John Williams, Jim Walker, and Louie Scribner assist with this activity.
[Photo: photo3]
A word of thanks is due to the Village of Pinehurst which was very cooperative in making the Village Harness Track (a unique flying site) available for our use. And, of course, everyone at AMA Headquarters was great in providing us with encouragement and materials to make Aviation Day a great success.
On November 11, 2012, a nearly perfect sunny, windless flying day, Free State Aeromodelers, Laurel, Maryland, hosted a Veterans Day fly-in with all proceeds donated to the American Red Cross’s RC Helicopter Group and the wounded warriors at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. The event raised $600 through food sales and pilot fees
Purple Heart recipients in attendance were invited to sign the club’s American flag which previously was flown over the Green Zone in Iraq. A hearty field breakfast of chipped beef and gravy was prepared and served.
At 11 a.m. flying ceased, the flag was raised, the national anthem was played, and a faux champagne toast was made to honor the veterans of all wars. The 11 a.m. armistice toast to honor the end of World War II is a tradition that our club has practiced for several years.
The event is open to all warbirds. World War I and WWII airplanes are prominently featured and flown together in squadrons of four or five aircraft. Gary Heath was the CD and driving force behind the event and its continued success.
Free State has completed several projects to make its flying facility accessible to wounded veterans, and enjoys their company many times throughout the year.
The flying club waives its membership dues for military personnel recovering at Walter Reed.
[Photo: donation photo]
The event proceeds check is presented to the American Red Cross (ARC) (L-R) Joan Goldberg, ARC volunteer; Kathleen Kelly, Assistant ARC Station Chief; Mike Kazmier, Purple Heart recipient; William Kahl, ARC volunteer and Freestate member; and Bob Lowery, ARC Station Chief.
