District II - 2010/11
This month's column is dedicated to the same people who bring model aviation to the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome every year in September. John and Whitney Philbrick, of the Mid Hudson Radio Control Society (MHRCS), sent this great message of how two clubs got together and introduced model aviation as part of a Scouting celebration.
Scouting celebration at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds
Approximately 3,200 Scouts and leaders, plus family members and friends, celebrated the 100-year anniversary of Boy Scouting in America, and the Mid Hudson Radio Control Society, supported by the Mid Hudson Modelmasters, also participated.
Held at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds on a windy Saturday, we were given a 60 x 20-foot building with at least a 14-foot height in which we showed various kinds of model aircraft and let the Scouts enjoy flight simulators or fly rubber-powered planes. We were busy answering questions and talking to Scouts and parents from 9 a.m. until 4:30.
Fourteen members of MHRCS and Mid Hudson Modelmasters clubs turned out, bringing quite an array of models. The hit of the show, as far as the kids were concerned, were the planes they could fly. Jim Wood and Jesse Aronstein (members of both clubs), and Modelmaster member Chris Hutton were kept busy all day.
Jim had both hand-launched and ROG models. Jesse had a hand-launched plane that would circle its way to the ceiling, then gradually "wind" down. Even more fun was his "indoor slope soaring," as he'd help a Scout keep a glider floating along by pushing a large board through the air, generating an upward air current that would keep the glider flying!
Craig Domonkos demonstrated indoor and outdoor RC flying, with a variety of craft. He had tiny helicopters as well as various-size 3-D foamies and ARFs that wowed the crowd. Jesse Aronstein flew a Hobby Lobby Bleriot that seemed to float in the air. Whitney Philbrick flew a small J-3 E-flite model, doing touch-and-gos from the smooth floor.
Flavio Ambrosini, a dual club member, demonstrated the power of his electric ducted-fan Phantom. Warren Batson, MHRCS president and also a Modelmaster member, and Leo Sampson, Assistant Scoutmaster and MHRCS member, talked about their models to fascinated Scouts. Bill Bolitho, another Modelmaster member, showed model-building techniques as he carved out a hand-launched glider.
One Scout loudly declared that this was his favorite activity and didn't want to leave. His father convinced him to leave after about an hour, but we noticed his reappearance (without his father at first) about a half hour later. His persistence was rewarded with an "all-access pass" behind the table barriers to see and touch the large-scale models several club members had brought along. In all, it was a great time!
This is just one of many real success stories by District II clubs, promoting model aviation and helping their community at the same time.
Until next month, Keep 'em Three in the Green.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
