Flying Site Assistance - 2005/03 | Model Aviation Library

Author: Wes De Cou

Edition: Model Aviation - 2005/03
Page Numbers: 150

Flying Site Assistance - 2005/03

Contacts

Wes DeCou

Coordinator, Western Region (Districts VII–XI) Voice: (480) 460-9466 Cell: (480) 296-9515 Fax: (480) 460-9434 202 W. Desert Flower Ln. Phoenix, AZ 85045 E-mail: [email protected]

Joe Beshar

Coordinator, Eastern Region (Districts I–VI) 198 Merritt Dr., Oradell, NJ 07649 Tel.: (201) 261-1281 Fax: (201) 261-0223 E-mail: [email protected]

Finding — Preserving — Maintaining

I have two good-news items from down south, and then some practical information and a request.

I received the following e-mail message from the Williams Aero Modelers Remote-control Pilots Society (WARPS) in Morgan City, Louisiana.

“WARPS R/C Flyers recently dedicated its new flying site, naming it the Pedro Hernandez Field.

“In the mid-1940s, Pedro, a Cuban citizen, built a full-scale glider. At that time, it was the first full-scale flying ship to have been produced by a citizen in Cuba. The Cuban press was eager to cover the first flight, during which a Ford automobile towed the glider to an elevation of approximately 800 feet. After releasing the towline, Pedro and his glider remained aloft for 23 minutes, returning safely to the take-off point.

“Pedro moved to Morgan City, Louisiana, in 1962, bringing with him a love for RC flying. Throughout the years, Pedro’s enthusiasm for the sport rubbed off on many local citizens, and soon many of them were also addicted to the activity. With Pedro as one of its founders, WARPS was formed in 1976.

“The new field, with its 450 x 50-foot runway, was established near the St. Mary’s Parish landfill, in Berwick, Louisiana. The site provides modelers with a facility dedicated solely to RC flight activities. Calling him ‘an icon of RC flying in south Louisiana,’ club members were pleased to name the field in Pedro’s honor, as his proud family watched the ceremonies.

“WARPS offers its sincere thanks to St. Mary’s Parish and city officials for their support in this effort.”

Similarly, Browne Goodwin, 2004 president of the Austin Silent Flyers, sent the following message.

“The Travis County Commissioners today (December 28, 2004) approved a resolution acknowledging the Austin Silent Flyers (ASF) as an official Adopt-A-Park participant at the Travis County Northeast Metropolitan Park near Pflugerville, Texas, northeast of Austin.

“The impact of this action is the assignment of a 38-acre open field on Travis County Park property exclusively to the ASF for RC soaring and electric models. The county is committed to making a number of improvements to the site and to continued mowing and other general maintenance, while ASF will participate in the design and installation of the improvements and in the upkeep of the field.

“ASF is also committed to providing flight training and other aviation-related educational opportunities. The club will be hosting soaring and electric contests at the field throughout the year.

“The County Commissioners and the Park staff have been very supportive of this use of County Park property, and we look forward to working with them to make the field a success.

“We are planning to host a dedication/grand opening for the field sometime in the spring, once some of the improvements are in place. In the meantime, we are using the field on a regular basis, and are enjoying the excellent soaring that it allows.

“ASF appreciates the support that we have received from AMA Headquarters staff during the negotiations for this important flying site.”

Thanks to WARPS and to Browne for your stories.

Each week I receive requests for advice on myriad topics related to new flying sites and efforts to save existing sites. One of the most frequent questions is, “Are there any other clubs doing what we want to do?”

AMA maintains lists of clubs whose flying sites are on specific types of property. We have lists of flying sites located on full-scale airports, on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land—even on cemetery property! (Don’t send me any quips about folks who are dying to learn how to fly.)

Although these lists are useful in flying-site acquisition and retention activities, they are by no means complete. You can help us here. During the next few months I’ll print a list or two with each column. If you see a list of fields on the type of property your club is looking at as a flying site, use that list as support for your quest. If you see a list you think should include your club, but your club isn’t listed, let me know.

Similarly, if your club is listed in error, I want to know that as well. In many cases, a club contact will be willing to give you some useful pointers on how the club gained access to a particular parcel. All good stuff in our search for more and better flying sites!

This month’s lists: flying sites located on school (any type of school) property and flying sites located on BLM land. (The cemetery list is pretty short. I’ll do that one later!)

Flying Sites at Schools

Huntsville Heli Flyers, Huntsville, AL

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

Flying Site Assistance - 2005/03

Author: Wes De Cou