Author: Jim T. Graham
Edition: Model Aviation - 2010/05
Page Numbers: 72,73,74
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Tips for great flying events

Jim T. Graham | [email protected]

If you have been to even one RC fly-in, you might know how much fun one can be. I have been part of events that have had as few as 20 people and shows as large as the Joe Nall Fly-In—one of the world’s largest outdoor events. I also host an annual gathering and we usually have roughly 100 pilots as well as spectators.

There are many ways to go about hosting an event. Each show has its own character and appeals to pilots in different ways. With the warm months coming, this is a good time to talk to some event coordinators and pass on tips to you in case you are thinking of hosting an RC event. Following are mine.

Jim T. Graham, founder of the Profile Brotherhood and admin deluxe for RCGroups.com, RCCars.com, and CrackRoll.com, hosts NashBro each year.

Jim T. Graham (NashBro)

  • The first RC event I attended was the one I hosted. That is a baptism of fire, but having no preconceived ideas about what was supposed to happen helped create a unique event that brings pilots back each year.
  • My rule is to let the pilots fly. I don’t put on an event for spectators. If they want to come see the show that is fine, but my main priority is creating an event that is the most fun possible for a pilot.
  • We start flying when the sun comes up and continue until I turn the lights out near 10 p.m. each night. Many of us don’t get the stick time we want during a busy workweek; I want my event to be the place where you have all the stick time you need.
  • I don’t allow specific demo time. If you have an airplane you want people to see, fire it up and mix it with our pilots. Demo time is downtime, and downtime is frustrating to my pilots.
  • Some shows emphasize different things, and that is great, but I know what my pilots want: to fly.
  • The flying style of choice for many of my pilots is 3-D. They are often limited at their home fields, so NashBro is a great place to hover, practice low-and-slow 3-D, and learn from other 3-D pilots.
  • I have been hosting NashBro for seven years and each year has been a learning experience. Bryce and Liz Custer help me, and we have it down to a science. Our pilots bring money to the town’s economy; Leipers Fork, Tennessee, is happy to provide portable toilets, lighting, and anything else we need.
  • It’s a group effort and fairly easy on us after all these years. The event usually feels like a group of ProBros getting together to fly, and that’s the way I like it.

Steven Cinch (Huckfest)

Steven Cinch, administrator of FlyingGiants.com, is responsible for the Huckfest events, which take place across the U.S. throughout the year.

  • Have enough drinks on hand. If you want to keep a show going, make sure to have enough water; otherwise people start leaving.
  • Have enough portable toilets available, or people won’t stay.
  • You have to have a great team. You need people who are good at different things, or your show will fall apart.
  • A Huckfest is a place where pilots can throw it down. There is hard-core flying and pilots go all out, making it exciting and fun for pilots and spectators alike.
  • A Huckfest is a full-on aerobatics show from sunup to sundown. This aspect draws pilots and a good crowd.
  • Never pay too much attention to the weather report. If you are planning an event, just do it—the forecast isn't always dependable.

Tom Krogel (TnT Landing Gear Products / ETOC)

Tom Krogel, owner of TnT Landing Gear Products, organizes the Electric Tournament of Champions (ETOC).

  • When approaching venues, many people don’t understand what an RC event involves. Bring an airplane to show them so they understand you won’t damage their facilities.
  • Appeal to venue managers by showing how your event can generate revenue. That’s how I found our great location in Toledo, Ohio. Many venues are looking for ways to bring in income.
  • Work with local clubs and give them donations. Club members are usually happy to help with the event; you don’t need many people to make a show work.
  • Charge a nominal fee to offset the cost of giving back to the facility and the club, and to cover your expenses.
  • To find sponsors, contact companies related to your event type (for example, electric vendors for an electric event). Offer different levels of sponsorship to appeal to various companies. Sponsorship doesn’t always have to be money—vendors can donate products or sponsor contests.

Jeff Meyers (Kool Flight Systems / SEFF)

Jeff Meyers, owner of Kool Flight Systems, is the event coordinator for the Southeast Electric Flight Festival (SEFF).

  • Organize a staff and delegate authority. I have captains for check-in, flightline, special events, and more. Utilize them and let them recruit volunteers.
  • Give incentives to staff to say thanks—free T-shirts, dinners, etc.
  • Sponsors are critical. Make clear the value of sponsor involvement on the event website, with pictures of prizes and links to products.
  • There is no trick to making everyone happy. We try to please as many people as possible most of the time. The event is geared toward regular pilots so they can fly as often as they want.
  • Use preregistration online to gauge attendance. In planning meetings, anticipate challenges and look for what isn’t obvious.
  • Delegate so you can have a good time. You have to work hard, but a great staff allows you to enjoy the event.
  • Advertise in as many ways as possible—at a minimum, use the forums. Let people know your event is happening.

Tom Hunt (NEAT Fair)

Tom Hunt, who works for Northrop Grumman Corporation, is the event director for the NEAT (Northeast Electric Aircraft Technology) Fair.

  • Listen to your pilots; get input on what they like and don’t like.
  • Give the people what they want. Let your event grow into what it wants to become to attract the most attendees. You don’t have to model yourself after other shows.
  • Decide the character of your event: social, elite pilots, or average fun-flys. Fun-flys tend to attract the most people.
  • For raffles, develop rapport with vendors throughout the year. Sponsors’ presence can draw people even if donated prizes aren't huge draws.
  • We encourage demonstration flying. The crowd loves a good exhibition. Noon demos often run longer than an hour; balance is needed, but long demos work for us because we have extended flying time.
  • Running a show of this size takes significant effort, but it becomes less complicated each year. Renting portable toilets and tents gets easier over time. You do more work at the show than in the 11 months leading up to it, but it becomes more hassle-free as you continue.

Christopher Hockaday (RDRC Fly-for-Tots)

Christopher Hockaday, R&D and design at East R/C, is involved with the Raleigh Durham Radio Control (RDRC) Fly-for-Tots Charity Fly-In.

  • The most important thing is to have your show benefit someone or something beyond the club. Our club doesn’t make money from the event; instead, our fun-fly benefits Victory Junction, a camp for children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses.
  • The raffle generates about 90% of our money. Club members with industry contacts make calls and most people are willing to help because it’s for a good cause. We keep sponsors’ logos on our website until the next year’s event.
  • Our show is different every year. We have full-scale airplanes that fly for the audience and many spontaneous, memorable moments. One year a group of kids from a local church raised $3,000–$4,000 on their own for Victory Junction.
  • We bring in performers, such as Chris Hinson of Extreme Flight RC, for exciting halftime shows. That keeps things interesting and fresh year to year.
  • After a show we have an awesome feeling of accomplishment. It’s amazing to see what we put on and how much we can raise to change children’s lives. All the hard work is well worth it.

Blaine Austin (Extreme Aerobatics Club)

Blaine Austin owns the Extreme Aerobatics Club (EAC), which holds events across the country each year.

  • Recruit people to work and get them excited about the event. If you’re hosting at a local club, find volunteers who will help make it successful.
  • When I run events far from home, I have a local contact to help prepare. I send a set of guidelines to ensure the show is successful.
  • Have good people to help pilots, make them feel welcome, and facilitate enjoyment.
  • Make people want to come back: keep a laid-back atmosphere, make registration easy, and have an emcee to acknowledge and compliment airplanes in the air.
  • Some of my biggest events were the easiest because I had great people working with me. A reliable local organizer who brings in good helpers makes all the difference.
  • The goal of a show is not to make a ton of money. You need to cover costs, but the main purpose is to give people an excuse to get together, share ideas, and have fun.

This is all great information from people who love the hobby and have been putting on successful events for years. I thank everyone for taking time to be part of this column, and I challenge you to get out there and create your own event. It’s a great deal of work, but it’s also a lot of fun!

Fly it like you stole it! MA

Sources

Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.