WINGS ACROSS AMERICA 2008
Wings Across America 2008 (WAA-08) is a group of modelers flying a battery-powered RC aircraft through the contiguous 48 states, with hopes of reaching all 50 if Alaska and Hawaii can be included. The program was launched by Frank Geisler of Gloucester, Virginia, a longtime RC pilot, who flew the first leg of the flight on May 24, 2008.
The aircraft trekked through the South and Southwest, crossed California, and reached Oregon in November. Washington state pilot Danny Page participated in the endeavor to promote the hobby nationwide.
The electric-powered RC airplane, called a SQuiRT (Simple Quiet Robust Trainer), has been flown in 31 states and, following its stint in the Northwest, will head through Idaho, the upper Midwestern states, the Midwest, and then back down South, returning to the starting point in eastern Virginia and to Frank Geisler.
Tri-Cities participation
Scott and Danny Page of Midland, Washington, are members of the Miniature Aircraft Association (MAA) of the Tri-Cities, along with Danny’s grandfather, Ronald Page of West Richland. They coordinated an article about their participation in the WAA-08 adventure for two local online newspapers, The News Tribune and the Tri-City Herald.
On Saturday, January 22, Scott and Danny, along with Scott’s dad, successfully flew the SQuiRT. The father, son, and grandson became the second group of three generations to have flown the SQuiRT together.
The elder Page has been involved in RC airplanes for decades, but his son and grandson didn’t pick up the hobby until 2008. “My grandpa got us a flight simulator for Christmas. It started with curiosity, and from there it evolved into a learning adventure,” Danny Page said. “I really enjoy the excitement of trying different maneuvers.”
Other model airplanes have made similar trips across the country, but instead of packing the model in its travel box and shipping it to the next pilot on the list, the airplane is personally delivered to the next pilot. “Wings Across America is all about making personal connections between fellow model pilots. It’s actually verboten to ship it,” Scott said. The Pages drove to Spokane and personally handed the SQuiRT off to pilot Jerry Mudge of Spokane.
“Being part of the project is exciting,” Danny Page said. “It’s good to be able to be involved with people with the same interests from far away.”
For more information about the Tri-City club, visit the group’s website: www.my2wings.com.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
