October 2009 171
INVITING LOCAL RESIDENTS and
community leaders to club air-show
demonstrations and engaging them in
buddy-box flying is the best way to ensure
the retention of flying sites. Club vice
president, Bob Mandeville, sent me the
following event report.
“On June 7, the Wingbusters Model
Airplane Club had its most successful
annual Open House in recent times. ‘This is
our way of saying thank you to the
community for allowing us to fly here and to
show off the hobby,’ said club President
Wayne Penwell. Perfect weather helped
bring out a crowd of local residents to watch
flight demonstrations, enjoy the
refreshments, and have the chance to fly RC
and U-control airplanes.
“An early open house was given for
some special-needs students from the Daniel
Webster School in Marshfield before the
gates opened to the general public. Some
aspiring pilots took control on a buddy box
and some just watched.
“One student pilot, Eric Holler, was
crowned the Looping King. Each time ‘his’
Sig Rascal 40 came around, he’d pull back
on the stick and fly a loop. The plane would
come around again and he’d fly another
loop. Eric kept this up until he ran the tank
bone dry, and was absolutely pleased with
himself.
“Before flying, prospective pilots
attended Jim Lane’s ‘ground school’ to learn
the basics of RC flight. Then, it was on to
the flightline and the buddy boxes.
Instructor pilots like Rob Lipsett, Bob Foss,
Bill Schwenzfeier, Jim Kimball, and others
would go on for about an hour at a time
before calling a break. While the planes (and
the pilots) were recharging, other club
members kept the entertainment going by
flying demonstrations with a wide variety of
planes and helicopters by BJ Russo, Mark
Sarofeen, and Cecil Horton among others.
“An estimated 200 visitors kept the
instructor pilots busy all day with a
continuous flow of students ranging from
age four to retirement age. Charlene Penwell
and Jeanine Rutherford kept club members
and guests happy by serving well in excess
of 400 hot dogs. Whenever a pilot wasn’t
flying, they were peppered with the usual
questions about the planes and how to get
involved with the hobby, showing a lot of
future promise for the club.”
Thanks Bob and Wingbusters for
promoting the sport of aermodeling.
District I
Andy Argenio, District I Vice President; [email protected]
Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont
Andy Argenio
3 Sheila Ln.,
Smithfield RI 02917;
Home: (401) 231-
6901; Work: (401)
231-5380
Associate Vice
Presidents
Stephen Berhm, Jamestown RI;
(401) 423-1085; stbrehm@
yahoo.com
Ed Faria, Somerset MA; (508) 678-
6404; [email protected]
James Gilliatt, Concord MA; (978)
369-9796; [email protected]
Robert D. Kilmon, Nashua NH;
(603) 594-2725; rk102136@
aol.com
Ray LaBonte, Standish ME; (207)
797-5196; havefun@
mainehobbies.com
Rusty Scott, Lancaster NH; (603)
684-1070; [email protected]
Carl Vogel, West Yarmouth MA;
(508) 783-7055; rcakropilot@
aol.com
District I Frequency
Coordinator
Joel Chappell, Milford NH; (603)
673-6240; joel.b.chappell@
verizon.net
Contest Coordinator:
Barry Schubert, 34 Potomac Rd.,
Portsmouth RI 02871; (401) 683-
3933; Barry_N_Schubert@
raytheon.com
Webmaster
David Beach, Amherst NH;
[email protected]
D i s t r i c t I V o l u n t e e r s
The Wingbusters Open House is a “thank you” to the community for supporting the hobby.
Eric Holler (L) was crowned “Looping King.” Jim Lane (R) answered all the RC questions.
Helicopters were demoed by Mark Sarofeen. Charlene and Jeanine served the hot dogs.
Edition: Model Aviation - 2009/10
Page Numbers: 171