Author: Andy Argenio
Edition: Model Aviation - 2014/04
Page Numbers: 139

THE NORTHERN CONNECTICUT RC Club (NCRCC) is one of AMA’s most active clubs, annually sponsoring multiple flying events and an auction. Dennis Thibodeau, the club’s CD for warbird events, was nice enough to author the following event report for this column.
On October 6, 2013, NCRCC hosted its inaugural Warbirds Fly-In, open to all World War I and II model aircraft at its Ellington field. NCRCC is fortunate to own its flying site which has a 600 x 75-foot grass runway and a 150 x 20-foot paved runway.
Co-CDs, Guy Beaudoin Jr. and Walt Wosko Jr., were responsible for event sanctioning and planning. The field received a fresh cut and manicure by the club’s grounds crew headed by Irv Thurrott. NCRCC’s food concession was handled by Len Marchese and Bob Spooner.
On the morning of the event Guy, Walt, and I arrived at the site before sun up to finish setting up for pilot registration which began at 8 a.m. Despite on and off rain all day, we managed to register 21 pilots with some coming from as far away as Nashua, New Hampshire, Sturbridge, Massachusetts, and a few from the Albany, New York, area and from several Connecticut clubs. A good number of spectators also attended.
Pilots were briefed on the field rules before flying began. All pilots were required to have a spotter with them at the flightline. Pilots brought and flew a variety of single and multiengine warbirds from small to Giant Scale. Each pilot was given the opportunity to have his or her aircraft static judged by a team of NCRCC judges and to enter it in a best of show competition for awards that were voted on by all the pilots.
The club thanks all the area hobby shops and manufacturers that donated items which made the event raffle a big success and the pilots who braved the cold, rainy day to attend.
As a result of the good time everyone commented on having at the event, the club scheduled a Warbirds Over Ellington Fly-In for September 27-28, 2014, with on-site camping and a Saturday night campfire. Please check the club’s website at www.NCRCC.org for additional information.