Author: Bob Brown
Edition: Model Aviation - 2011/02
Page Numbers: 161

District III - 2011/02

Valley R/C Model Club — 38th Annual Competition Fun-Fly

Twenty-three entrants from Canada, Connecticut, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania recently competed at the Valley R/C Model Club’s (VRCMC) 38th Annual Competition Fun-Fly. The weekend featured excellent weather.

Friday evening the club hosted pizza for dinner, with flying continuing until dark. Campfires both nights provided an opportunity to relax with friends.

Open flying before and between rounds of competition added more fun to the contest format. Friday and Saturday evenings the air was filled with airplanes and helicopters. Five Junior Class entrants kept the VRCMC tradition of promoting R/C to younger fliers—an upswing from past years.

The event winners and all entrants received:

  • Baron engraved awards
  • VRCMC plaques (made by the AMA)
  • Prizes from sponsors, including:
  • Lantz’s Hobby Shop (Horseheads, New York)
  • Baron Technologies
  • Rolly Siemonsen
  • BSI
  • Radio Control Models
  • Sullivan
  • Master Airscrew
  • Lone Star Balsa
  • R/C Report
  • Tower Hobbies
  • Micro-Fasteners
  • Prop Wash Video
  • RTL
  • Global Hobby Distributors
  • FOX
  • Balsa USA
  • Sig Manufacturing
  • Boca Bearings
  • Jim Champion

Contest winners:

  • Expert: Dave Baron
  • Sportsman: Don Zaleski
  • Junior: Jordan Siemonsen

Thanks to everyone for helping to make the Valley R/C Club’s 45th year and the 38th edition of the Fun-Fly contest another success. It was the people at the contest that made it great. The club used a relaxed contest format and celebrated three-plus decades of fun and competition.

North Coast Control Liners — Report from Dave Evar

“The North Coast Control Liners model airplane club had a great flying season this year. We hosted a Learn to Fly event for the Boy Scouts of America Camporee at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds in Berea, Ohio, May 22, 2010. We estimated about 70 kids actually took hold of a handle and flew a bit of control line aviation. Unfortunately not everyone got a chance because we ran out of airplanes.

“This event takes place every other year. We participated in 2008, and expect to again in 2012.

“We were invited to demonstrate control line flying at the Cuyahoga County Fair August 12 and 14, 2010, for two hours each day. The turnout was a bit light, but considering the competition, we still got some of the attention. Multiple-time world and national champion Bill Werwage stopped by on the 14th.

“Our annual Cleveland Area Stunt Championships was held September 18–19, 2010, at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds, our official flying site. There were 95 flights during the two-day event. There were 21 entries in the PAMPA (Precision Aerobatics Model Pilots Association) events, and 30 combined entries in the OTS (Old-Time Stunt), Classic, Profile, and ARF events. Of 51 entries, 27 were O.S. .40 or .46 LA engines.

“Then we received two short lead-time invitations. The first was to join the EAA Young Eagles/Flyro-Gyro event held at Columbia Station Airport, Columbia Station, Ohio, October 3, 2010. Unpredictable weather, rain, wind, and full-scale aircraft kept us from demonstrating control line. The Young Eagles event included Dave Evar, Carl Allendorf, Ron Lutz, Norm Skuderin, and Bob Hudak.

“The second invitation was for our club to demonstrate control line aviation at the First Piston Power Show, October 23–24, 2010. The venue was the International Exposition Center in Cleveland, Ohio. A 100-foot-square area, barriers to keep people from wandering into the flying circle, and a fifty-foot overhead clearance were set up to demonstrate 1/2A control line flying.

“About 400 spectators stopped by. ‘Oohs’ and ‘ahs’ and ‘I used to do that when I was a kid’ were heard frequently. Trainers and 1/2A sport planes flew maybe 75 to 80 flights. A video presentation and engine display were available for patrons to view.”

Cleveland Free Flight Society — Fall Meet

The CFFS fall meet was highlighted by a noontime presentation. Attendees gathered at the headquarters tent to give Russ Brown birthday greetings and a plaque in appreciation of his many years of service to the CFFS. There was a rousing three cheers and a chorus of “Happy Birthday” as everyone waited for the Blue Angels to begin their demonstration.

Unfortunately, the Blue Angels didn’t show, nor did the United States Air Force Band. A call was made to the Pentagon and the club is awaiting a response. Happy Birthday, Russ!

West Virginia R/C Hobbies Expo

The third annual West Virginia R/C Hobbies Expo will be held on Saturday, February 26, in Winfield, West Virginia. The National Guard Armory on Coonskin Drive provides the venue for the largest modeling event in the state.

For more information:

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