Author: Andy Argenio
Edition: Model Aviation - 2012/03
Page Numbers: 148

District I — Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont

Andy Argenio — Vice President

NHFT Multi-Club Fly-In

District Associate Vice President (AVP) Bob Kilmon invited me to attend the New Hampshire Flying Tigers (NHFT) third Multi-Club Fly-In. NHFT hosted the event at its B Street flying site in Derry, in cooperation with two other popular New Hampshire clubs: the Southern NH Flying Eagles (Merrimack) and the Southern NH RC Club (Hudson).

My daughter moved to Derry several years ago, so I had free room and board and the added pleasure of visiting with my daughter, youngest grandson, and son-in-law during the event weekend.

Facilities and site setup

I arrived at the event site early enough to see the hard work the club members had done to create an exceptional flying environment.

  • Unique shade shelter: a 30-by-15-foot structure with a 14-foot front shed roof, allowing for a clear view of airplanes in flight while under the shelter.
  • Ample room for pilot registration, frequency and message board, PA system, raffle and picnic tables, and spectator seating.
  • Large metal container on-site that houses all the tools necessary to maintain the well-groomed model airfield.
  • Runway: a 600-by-65-foot cut-and-rolled grass runway.

Safety

AMA-recommended flightline setbacks and designated pit and spectator areas were in place. Flight stations included oversized flight tables, and thorough aircraft inspections were conducted before flights, ensuring everyone’s safety.

Attendance and activities

Despite the remnants of Hurricane Irene, nearly 500 spectators visited the event, which registered 50 pilots. More than 100 aircraft — from small electrics to Giant Scale — were flown.

Event highlights included:

  • A noontime airshow
  • A fun-fly Pylon Racing competition
  • 3-D aerobatic performances by Tyler McCormack
  • A flight demonstration of the T-14V vector-thrust jet from ToughJets (www.toughjets.com)

The event made the local newspaper, and my interview with the reporter was shown on TV. I was impressed by how well organized and run the event was.

Recognition

Because of the leadership of club officers and the willingness of club members to support events and activities consistent with the AMA Leader Club Gold Standards, AMA District I recognizes the New Hampshire Flying Tigers RC Club as one of the best AMA clubs in the district.

Club information

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