This report was submitted by Steve Eisenbaugh, president of Plane Crazy RC Club.
The Plane Crazy RC Club of Winchester, Virginia, held an open house at its field on Saturday, August 17, to coincide with the celebration of National Model Aviation Day. The event was publicized through nearly every media outlet in the local area and attracted a steady flow of onlookers from the surrounding area, as well as some guest pilots from neighboring communities.
Event highlights included dazzling aerobatic flying demonstrations by guest pilot Kenny Harris, from nearby Martinsburg, West Virginia. Kenny and his 150cc Extra 300 awed the crowd with several breathtaking close-to-ground maneuvers that drew applause.
Many visitors expressed interest in the sport and asked plenty of great questions about RC flying. Many were surprised at the existence of Plane Crazy’s flying site and complimented the facility.
With the help of members of local Venture Club #2 of the Shenandoah Boy Scouts, who helped direct parking and collect donations, Plane Crazy RC raised more than $300 for the Wounded Warrior Project.
Pictures and video from the event can be found on Plane Crazy’s Facebook page at http://on.fb.me/1ff5GwQ.
Jay Marsh, Associate Vice President in North Carolina, sent in this report:
It’s back! You may remember that a project called Wings Across America took off in 2008. This was the brainchild of Frank Geisler of Gloucester, Virginia. The goal was to fly the same airplane in each of the 48 US contiguous states.
Using the RC forums, Frank organized the airplane’s trip and managed its progress from pilot to pilot. The aircraft was always hand delivered to the next pilot and never shipped—creating an unbroken chain of 14,000 miles by more than 400 pilots and 219 AMA chartered clubs. Its trip from South Carolina to North Carolina was in the last pilot Scott Capps’ Cessna 182 Skylane, so he got to fly it twice.
Most all of the equipment was donated by the pilots participating in this project and a few industry sponsors. Stevens AeroModel donated the airplane called the SQuiRT (Simple, Quiet, Robust Trainer), a tough 38-inch high-wing electric park flyer, and Horizon Hobby donated the Spektrum flight system.
Steve Griffin of Victor, Idaho, built the custom-made travel box for the aircraft and support equipment. There was a donation jar in the box to cover repair costs and maintenance.
The travel box is as impressive to look at as the airplane. Each pilot signed the box and added club logos and sponsor stickers to mark its long journey. There is a flight log in which each pilot added an entry and commentary about his or her flight and experience. It makes for interesting reading.
In late June I had the opportunity to see the Squirt flown by Bob Gusek (pilot #395) at the Central Carolina RC field in Archdale, North Carolina. It was early in the morning and the grass was wet with dew.
On its first flight, the airplane had a hard time taking off with its small wheels, but a set of skis was included in the travel box. After they were attached, the SQuiRT quickly and easily get into the air and flew well. Bob was taken aback by this experience and commented that he had never seen such camaraderie and cooperation among pilots, and he was humbled and proud to have participated.
The SQuiRT made its final journey to Frank Geisler’s home base in Virginia and then was donated to the National Model Aviation Museum in Muncie, Indiana—its final resting place. Look it up at the museum and see an outstanding project that promoted our sport across this nation. It was a job well done by all involved.
