Flying Site Assistance - 2015/06

Hi, again! I just
returned from the
annual Toledo
Show: R/C Model
Expo, also known
as the Weak
Signals’ Toledo
Show. What a
great event! I met
many of you and learned of your club’s
activities and efforts toward finding
and keeping flying sites. Thank you for
sharing your stories. You can bet that
your experiences will help others in
their endeavors as well.
Speaking of that, here is a success
story that was sent in to me by Ted
Stockert of the Missouri Slope Model
Aero Club (MSMAC), in Bismarck,
North Dakota. It shows how a club can
partner with a parks department and
create a great flying site that can even
be shared with other groups.
At the September 14, 2014, Bismarck
Parks and Recreation meeting,
the MSMAC was presented the
Organization Citation Award from
the North Dakota Recreation and Park
Association.
The club had gratis use of privately
owned land from 1976 until 2004.
In 2003, when we learned that our
site’s landowner had passed away
and the estate would likely sell the
property, we began negotiations with
the Burleigh County Water Resource
District and the Bismarck Parks and
Recreation District for land near
McDowell Dam.
In 2004, work to prepare the landing
strip began by removing rocks, leveling
the surface, and seeding grass. With
a grant from the Bismarck Parks and
Recreation District, we began work on
a shelter.
In 2005, the parks and recreation
department arranged for the Bismarck
Forestry Division to plant 23 trees
from the city nursery along the south
and west edges of the property. Water
for the trees was supplied by club
members who transported it from
nearby McDowell Dam in a 400-gallon
tank on a trailer. We watered the
trees for several years until they could
survive on their own.
We moved our steel storage shed
to the new field and began using the
field to fly. We also began planning
improvements to the field. Club
members donated money and local
businesses contributed funds and
materials.
We recently extended our lease
with Bismarck Parks and Recreation
and the Burleigh County Water
Resource District until 2025. The
Water Resource Board of Managers
also provides an abundance of support,
and has shown enthusiasm about our
efforts to improve the field. In return,
inside the shelter is a large sign listing
all of the contributions.
Construction of the shelter began
and concrete pads with metal tables
and electrical outlets were completed.
When our budget allowed, we added a
gravel road to the shelter.
An AXIS P5512 Network Camera
with fiber-optic Internet access enables
club members to view field activity
from a computer. In addition, a Davis
WeatherLink Vantage Vue allows
members to check field weather
conditions. It is connected to the
worldwide WeatherLink that the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration taps into for its
weather information.
The MSMAC also allows other
organizations such as the Boy Scouts,
Girl Scouts, and the Amateur Radio
Club to use the shelter for their
activities.