What help does AMA provide when it
comes to fl ying site issues? That’s a great
question!
Your AMA membership dollars do much more
than purchase insurance and provide a monthly
magazine. Those benefi ts are great, and insurance
is mandatory these days, but there is so much
more available to AMA members.
My job as AMA’s Flying Site Assistance
Coordinator is to help clubs deal with fl ying
site loss, new site acquisition, and site support.
There is a section on the AMA website (www.
modelaircraft.org) that deals with fl ying site
assistance. There you will fi nd help in the form
of documents, videos, and success stories to assist
you in obtaining a new fl ying site, or inform
you of ways you can protect the fl ying site you
currently enjoy.
Without fl ying sites, model aviation as we
know it would not exist. Flying sites are where
members gather to enjoy fl ight and spend time
with fl ying buddies. That is what it is all about!
Flying sites don’t just happen; people make
them happen. These hard-working club
members invest large amounts of time, energy,
and even money to make a fl ying site happen.
AMA supports their efforts in many ways, but it
takes someone to do the footwork.
The following success stories are meant to
inspire you and your club to fi nd a fl ying site
that you can enjoy for many years. Throughout
these stories you will fi nd a thread that links
them together: work! It takes work by one or
several modelers who have a vision and are
willing to put out the effort! Will you be one of
them? I hope so!
Inevitable is defi ned as “unable to be avoided, evaded, or
escaped.” No better word exists to describe the subject that
most RC clubs dread: the day that the organization loses its
place to fl y.
Most clubs are likely complacent, if not apathetic,
concerning their tenure at the local fl ying site. Mine was, and
out of the blue came an eviction notice giving our club 30
days to vacate the site we had been using for more than 20
years.
We were caught with our proverbial pants down. There
had been ample time throughout the years to prepare for that
day, but it seemed so distant that we took what we had for
granted. Necessity is the mother of invention, and it is also a
great means to motivate a club to get on top of the situation at
hand, namely fi nding another suitable site from which to fl y.
My club, the Horizon City R/C Flyers (HCRC), is located
in what should be an easy place to fi nd a site. We are in west
Texas. Nothing surrounds Horizon City except thousands of
acres of desert containing only a few mesquite trees occupied
by coyotes, jack rabbits, and a few rattlesnakes.
Rarely does anything come easy. People looked at us with
blank faces, while they tried to contemplate why a group of
grown men would need a piece of property on which to fl y
toy airplanes.
In order to better present our needs and intentions, a
fundamental restructuring of our RC club was necessary. The
fi rst thing we did was incorporating the club. We fi led and
received 501c3 status. By doing this, we were considered a
viable entity worthy of consideration.
Doors were thrown open and offers of new fl ying sites
seemed to pour in. Well, maybe it didn’t happen that way, but
it sure is nice to dream. It took diligence on the part of the
HCRC members to acquire a nearly perfect location for fl ying.
After several meetings with the Horizon City Improvement
Association, we were granted a 20-year lease on a spread
of land in the middle of the aforementioned desert for a
whopping $1 a year! Wonderful!
Not only did we acquire the land for a ridiculously low
price, but if for some unforeseen reason the lease is terminated
early, we will be reimbursed for all improvements made to the
property on a prorated basis.
Now that the easy part was accomplished—yes, the easy
part—we only needed to come up with the money to
transform the desert into fi rst-class fl ying oasis. Unless
a club has some benevolent, fi nancially well-endowed
members in it, odds are that the organization needs to
become tremendously creative.
The club’s board of directors and several interested
members took on the task of planning and putting into
action what would be required to get the project off the
ground. HCRC was lucky enough to have a member,
Danny Sander, who owned a private fl ying site. Danny
was kind enough to allow our club members to fl y and
hold events while we were without our own fi eld.
I drew up a simple set of schematics depicting the
layout of the proposed fi eld, including a paved 400 x
33-foot runway with a ramp. A list of materials and costs
was compiled, giving us an approximate dollar amount
needed. The club applied for and received a $5,000
grant through the AMA’s Flying Site Assistance Program.
That got the ball rolling, and through hosting a
series of fundraising events including fun-fl ys,
raffl es, auctions, as well as some generous cash
donations, we were able to acquire enough
money to begin making improvements.
In the past 20-plus years, HCRC held events
that raised money for many great charities
including the Muscular Dystrophy Association,
the Humane Society, the World War II Veterans
Fund, and numerous other worthwhile
organizations. We didn’t think we needed to
keep any of it for ourselves.
We held fundraisers in the interests of our
club as well as other charitable establishments.
By working with others, we were able to
better promote and organize events that were
benefi cial to our cause as well as others.
One event was a fun-fl y to benefi t the
American Rescue Dog Association (ARDA).
ARDA is a nonprofi t organization, which
trains and deploys rescue dogs across the country following
disasters, and relies solely on donations to accomplish this.
Soliciting businesses and organizations across the nation as
well as local establishments yielded some amazing donations,
including a great gesture from Southwest Airlines, which
sent us two round-trip airline tickets,
without blackout dates, good anywhere
Southwest Airlines serviced.
Numerous RC manufactures donated
RTF airplanes, components, glue, kits,
and much more to be auctioned off or
raffl ed.
Because of these remarkable
donations, we were able to give a sizable
check to the ARDA. After hosting that
fun-fl y, subsequent events were attended
by large numbers of AMA members
eager to help us raise the needed capital
for our new fi eld.
On a warm September day, we
staked out what is now our runway! Jeff
McMillin, our club president, solicited
a number of paving outfi ts for bids.
Because we are an active 501c3 organization and had
raised money for other worthwhile organizations, we
received bids that were substantially less than our
original estimates.
Material costs were cut by roughly 30%;
equipment and labor was reduced nearly 90%. This
is not a small amount of money—we are talking
thousands of dollars saved by being an active member of
society!
Jobe Concrete provided the asphalt at below market price,
Danny Sander Construction took care of the preparation of
the fi eld, and plenty of elbow grease was provided by many of
the HCRC members.
We were able to reuse some materials from our previous site
such as the gate and sheet metal awnings, saving nearly $1,500.
When the dust fi nally settled, we had spent only $24,000 on
the entire project.
Without the stellar savings yielded by playing nice with
others, the fi eld would be far less spectacular. Please feel
free to visit our website at the address listed in the “Sources”
section.
On February 18 and 19, 2012, the
club held the offi cial opening of our
new fl ying site. Although the winds
were brisk, approximately 75 people
attended and helped us celebrate
the completion of our club’s new
home base.
By working with others we
have managed to spread good
will and establish an important
bridge between our club and the
community. There is nothing
better than a community willing to
support our hobby!
Thank you to the following
people and organizations: Jobe
Concrete (asphalt); Danny Sander
Construction (fi eld excavation and
preparation, equipment donation);
JTM Wood Works, Brian Stafford,
Marty Engler, and AMA (monetary
donations); Guy Barber (fi eld
design); Jeff McMillin, John Verslype,
Mike Taylor, Manfred Balaster,
and Luis Floriano (HCRC board
members); and the entire HCRC membership (volunteers,
monetary donations, and support. Everybody else who
participated in our fundraising efforts, thank you!
—Guy C. Barber
The Fort Worth Thunderbirds club in Texas
moved to its new fi eld on January 1, 2012,
and will celebrate its 50th anniversary on
September 30.
The Thunderbirds started fl ying north of Benbrook
Lake in 1962. Advancing civilization caused the club
to move to the west shore. The members constructed
an asphalt runway, a shelter, then a concrete runway
and pits throughout the years. They lengthened the
runway and pit area, added pilots’ safety boxes, and
meticulously groomed and maintained the fi eld.
For 50 years, the location was too good to be true.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers owned the lake
and the land around it, and the Thunderbirds leased
the site from the Corps.
Over time, the Corps installed recreational facilities
under the aircraft fl ight paths, and our airplanes and
radio equipment became more capable in speed and
range. These factors led to possible confl icts between
the public and the fl iers. The Corps wanted the land for
further improvement of its recreational facilities. In 2005, the
Corps asked the Thunderbirds to move to the south end of the
lake.
The fi eld facilities had been built using club dues, event fees,
member donations, and member labor. Neither the Corps nor
the club had the funds to relocate the fi eld.
Congresswoman Kay Granger was interested in providing
increased recreational facilities for her constituents. Working
with the Thunderbirds and the Corps in late 2007, she
designated Corps maintenance funds for the return of the site
to public use. This meant moving Thunderbird Field.
Little could be moved, so construction of equivalent
facilities was in order. The Corps allowed the Thunderbirds to
improve the fi eld design by eliminating its former piecemeal
construction and tailoring it to its new location.
Thunderbird member Joe Jopling, who had worked with
Congresswoman Granger, made drawings of the new site,
and then made new location and layout drawings of the
runway, taxiways, pits, shelter,
and parking lot. The designs
were modifi ed and approved by
member vote before the Corps
started construction. The result
was a slightly longer runway, a
parallel taxiway, four-sided pilot
protection, a much-improved
shelter, and wider spacing of
shelter columns.
The area of the parking lot
was not changed, but its shape
was modifi ed to include a fourth
row of spaces. The spaces were
widened and vehicle clearance
was increased.
The Corps of Engineers
awarded the fi rst contract in
September of 2008. The runway
was completed in November.
Concrete for the
taxiways, pit, and
shelter areas was
in place by March
2009, and the
shelter was erected
in May.
At this point,
work was brought
to a near standstill
because of the
government’s
stimulus programs.
The Corps was a
prime recipient
of shovel-ready
money, and
projects such as
ours were put on
hold. A parking
lot was paved in
January of 2010,
but rains and other
problems caused
its early failure.
It was fi nally
completed in
August of 2011.
It would be impossible to name all of
the club members who contributed to
the fi eld construction. Members were
always on-site for consultation with the
Corps and its contractors. Many of the
concrete pours began before daybreak
and continued until dark. Bob Hoover
took on the electrical design and initial
installation.
Corps funding was exhausted before
the work was fi nished and the club used
its treasury and raised dues to remove
trees, plant grass, stripe the runway
(courtesy of the club’s then-president,
David Dingman), and move its
equipment building (thanks to current
president, Ken Knotts).
Club labor was used to maintain
both fi elds. Randy Martin solicited
material donations from Home Depot
and Builders First Source, and then led
a group to construct new engine-run
stands.
Another group, led by Gary Nelson,
wired the breaker box and all outlets in
the shelter. Will Campbell had a new
frequency board made. A local aerospace
fi rm made a large donation for grass
in an area to be used by the company.
Including that, the club spent more
than $65,000 to move.
As this is being written in April,
the Thunderbirds have been fl ying
from the new site for three months.
Reception has been excellent.
Membership has increased and
procedures are being established.
For most members, it is an
additional 16-mile drive, but well
worth it for the increased safety,
security, and the opportunity for a
long future at a world-class facility.
We have had two formal events and
both have gone well. By the time this is
published we will have had fi ve more.
The Thunderbird club plans to
continue its long history of contributions
to the advancement of model aviation.
Its 50th anniversary celebration will mark
a new beginning at a new fi eld, and with
many new members.
Modelers and the public are invited
to our Open House/Air Show on
September 30 starting at 10 a.m.
Directions and a map to the fi eld are on
the club website listed in “Sources.” All
types of models will be shown and fl own
including sport, Scale, Aerobatics, jets,
electric, helicopters, warbird, and pylon
racers. There will be refreshments. So
join us and enjoy this hobby/sport and
our new fi eld with us.
—Ken Knotts
I was teaching my dad to fl y his Eagle 2 during the summer
of 2010. We were fl ying from a church parking lot (with
permission) and over cornfi elds in Fortville, Indiana. Others
began to join us, and by summer’s end, we regularly had eight
or 10 people fl ying during evenings and weekends.
The church leadership became concerned about liability,
and although we assured them that we were all AMA insured,
they politely asked us to fi nd a new spot. Our numbers
and our aircraft were beginning to outgrow the church site
anyway.
We spent that winter looking for a more permanent and
suitable place to develop a “real” fl ying site. In December
2010, eight of us met and formed the Northeast Side
Taildraggers (NeST) RC Aviation Club. It was fi rst chartered
by the AMA in March 2011.
The fl ying site search became long, arduous, and
disappointing. We learned how to use online county
geographical information science (GIS) mapping systems to
fi nd or attempt to fi nd properties and property owners.
We sent out dozens of lease request letters to farmers,
municipalities, development contractors, churches, and other
landowners. Most went unanswered; those who did answer
were typically polite but apologetic. We thought we had a
winner with a former landfi ll site, but it fell through.
Our club’s vice president, Mike Fuller, is a police offi cer
who often works security in the local school system. He asked
the administrator in charge of the grounds about allowing us
to use a 40-plus-acre weed fi eld behind one of the school
buildings as a fl ying site. He agreed, pending approval of the
principal of the school connected to the property in question.
Mike and I made a presentation to the principal showing
what we wanted to do. We offered to provide some science
classroom interaction, hoping to get some students interested
in model aviation. The principal was excited about this, and
he agreed to let us develop the site. We clearly explained
exactly what the site development would entail. Aside from
an occasional cross-country practice or meet, there were no
foreseeable plans for the property in question.
In June 2011, we graded the runway area and spread, sewed,
and staked a 243 x 52-foot geotextile fabric for our runway
surface. Although it was much work, we had a good fl ying site.
Word quickly spread and by the end of June we had grown to
18 members.
In early July, the administrator who gave us initial
permission to use the site claimed that there was a
misunderstanding about the scope of what he had agreed to
allow us to do on the site. Although we had documentation
showing otherwise, he had made up his mind and gave us until
mid-September to vacate.
We folded up the fabric runway in September, and
reseeded the “disturbed” area per our agreement. The
club was devastated. Lesson learned: get the detailed
land use agreement in writing, and get it signed by all
parties in authority. Of course, the jeopardy of the fl ying
site stunted the growth of the club, and we remained at
18 members for the remainder of 2011. We were back
on the quest for a new fl ying site.
Shortly after we vacated the school property, our
club treasurer, Jay Taylor, was driving down a country
road on the eastern edge of Noblesville, Indiana, and
noticed a new fi re station. The station sets on 10 acres
and is surrounded by farmland. The fi rehouse and its
peripheral amenities occupy roughly four acres, with
the back half or more planted in “prairie grasses” that
had been overtaken by thistle and weeds.
The fi re department has a mulched walkingI was teaching my dad to fl y his Eagle 2 during the summer
of 2010. We were fl ying from a church parking lot (with
permission) and over cornfi elds in Fortville, Indiana. Others
began to join us, and by summer’s end, we regularly had eight
or 10 people fl ying during evenings and weekends.
The church leadership became concerned about liability,
and although we assured them that we were all AMA insured,
they politely asked us to fi nd a new spot. Our numbers
and our aircraft were beginning to outgrow the church site
anyway.
We spent that winter looking for a more permanent and
suitable place to develop a “real” fl ying site. In December
2010, eight of us met and formed the Northeast Side
Taildraggers (NeST) RC Aviation Club. It was fi rst chartered
by the AMA in March 2011.
The fl ying site search became long, arduous, and
disappointing. We learned how to use online county
geographical information science (GIS) mapping systems to
fi nd or attempt to fi nd properties and property owners.
We sent out dozens of lease request letters to farmers,
municipalities, development contractors, churches, and other
landowners. Most went unanswered; those who did answer
were typically polite but apologetic. We thought we had a
winner with a former landfi ll site, but it fell through.
Our club’s vice president, Mike Fuller, is a police offi cer
who often works security in the local school system. He asked
the administrator in charge of the grounds about allowing us
to use a 40-plus-acre weed fi eld behind one of the school
buildings as a fl ying site. He agreed, pending approval of the
principal of the school connected to the property in question.
Mike and I made a presentation to the principal showing
what we wanted to do. We offered to provide some science
classroom interaction, hoping to get some students interested
in model aviation. The principal was excited about this, and
he agreed to let us develop the site. We clearly explained
exactly what the site development would entail. Aside from
an occasional cross-country practice or meet, there were no
foreseeable plans for the property in question.
In June 2011, we graded the runway area and spread, sewed,
and staked a 243 x 52-foot geotextile fabric for our runway
surface. Although it was much work, we had a good fl ying site.
Word quickly spread and by the end of June we had grown to
18 members.
In early July, the administrator who gave us initial
permission to use the site claimed that there was a
misunderstanding about the scope of what he had agreed to
allow us to do on the site. Although we had documentation
showing otherwise, he had made up his mind and gave us until
mid-September to vacate.
We folded up the fabric runway in September, and
reseeded the “disturbed” area per our agreement. The
club was devastated. Lesson learned: get the detailed
land use agreement in writing, and get it signed by all
parties in authority. Of course, the jeopardy of the fl ying
site stunted the growth of the club, and we remained at
18 members for the remainder of 2011. We were back
on the quest for a new fl ying site.
Shortly after we vacated the school property, our
club treasurer, Jay Taylor, was driving down a country
road on the eastern edge of Noblesville, Indiana, and
noticed a new fi re station. The station sets on 10 acres
and is surrounded by farmland. The fi rehouse and its
peripheral amenities occupy roughly four acres, with
the back half or more planted in “prairie grasses” that
had been overtaken by thistle and weeds.
The fi re department has a mulched walkingI was teaching my dad to fl y his Eagle 2 during the summer
of 2010. We were fl ying from a church parking lot (with
permission) and over cornfi elds in Fortville, Indiana. Others
began to join us, and by summer’s end, we regularly had eight
or 10 people fl ying during evenings and weekends.
The church leadership became concerned about liability,
and although we assured them that we were all AMA insured,
they politely asked us to fi nd a new spot. Our numbers
and our aircraft were beginning to outgrow the church site
anyway.
We spent that winter looking for a more permanent and
suitable place to develop a “real” fl ying site. In December
2010, eight of us met and formed the Northeast Side
Taildraggers (NeST) RC Aviation Club. It was fi rst chartered
by the AMA in March 2011.
The fl ying site search became long, arduous, and
disappointing. We learned how to use online county
geographical information science (GIS) mapping systems to
fi nd or attempt to fi nd properties and property owners.
We sent out dozens of lease request letters to farmers,
municipalities, development contractors, churches, and other
landowners. Most went unanswered; those who did answer
were typically polite but apologetic. We thought we had a
winner with a former landfi ll site, but it fell through.
Our club’s vice president, Mike Fuller, is a police offi cer
who often works security in the local school system. He asked
the administrator in charge of the grounds about allowing us
to use a 40-plus-acre weed fi eld behind one of the school
buildings as a fl ying site. He agreed, pending approval of the
principal of the school connected to the property in question.
Mike and I made a presentation to the principal showing
what we wanted to do. We offered to provide some science
classroom interaction, hoping to get some students interested
in model aviation. The principal was excited about this, and
he agreed to let us develop the site. We clearly explained
exactly what the site development would entail. Aside from
an occasional cross-country practice or meet, there were no
foreseeable plans for the property in question.
In June 2011, we graded the runway area and spread, sewed,
and staked a 243 x 52-foot geotextile fabric for our runway
surface. Although it was much work, we had a good fl ying site.
Word quickly spread and by the end of June we had grown to
18 members.
In early July, the administrator who gave us initial
permission to use the site claimed that there was a
misunderstanding about the scope of what he had agreed to
allow us to do on the site. Although we had documentation
showing otherwise, he had made up his mind and gave us until
mid-September to vacate.
We folded up the fabric runway in September, and
reseeded the “disturbed” area per our agreement. The
club was devastated. Lesson learned: get the detailed
land use agreement in writing, and get it signed by all
parties in authority. Of course, the jeopardy of the fl ying
site stunted the growth of the club, and we remained at
18 members for the remainder of 2011. We were back
on the quest for a new fl ying site.
Shortly after we vacated the school property, our
club treasurer, Jay Taylor, was driving down a country
road on the eastern edge of Noblesville, Indiana, and
noticed a new fi re station. The station sets on 10 acres
and is surrounded by farmland. The fi rehouse and its
peripheral amenities occupy roughly four acres, with
the back half or more planted in “prairie grasses” that
had been overtaken by thistle and weeds.
I was teaching my dad to fl y his Eagle 2 during the summer
of 2010. We were fl ying from a church parking lot (with
permission) and over cornfi elds in Fortville, Indiana. Others
began to join us, and by summer’s end, we regularly had eight
or 10 people fl ying during evenings and weekends.
The church leadership became concerned about liability,
and although we assured them that we were all AMA insured,
they politely asked us to fi nd a new spot. Our numbers
and our aircraft were beginning to outgrow the church site
anyway.
We spent that winter looking for a more permanent and
suitable place to develop a “real” fl ying site. In December
2010, eight of us met and formed the Northeast Side
Taildraggers (NeST) RC Aviation Club. It was fi rst chartered
by the AMA in March 2011.
The fl ying site search became long, arduous, and
disappointing. We learned how to use online county
geographical information science (GIS) mapping systems to
fi nd or attempt to fi nd properties and property owners.
We sent out dozens of lease request letters to farmers,
municipalities, development contractors, churches, and other
landowners. Most went unanswered; those who did answer
were typically polite but apologetic. We thought we had a
winner with a former landfi ll site, but it fell through.
Our club’s vice president, Mike Fuller, is a police offi cer
who often works security in the local school system. He asked
the administrator in charge of the grounds about allowing us
to use a 40-plus-acre weed fi eld behind one of the school
buildings as a fl ying site. He agreed, pending approval of the
principal of the school connected to the property in question.
Mike and I made a presentation to the principal showing
what we wanted to do. We offered to provide some science
classroom interaction, hoping to get some students interested
in model aviation. The principal was excited about this, and
he agreed to let us develop the site. We clearly explained
exactly what the site development would entail. Aside from
an occasional cross-country practice or meet, there were no
foreseeable plans for the property in question.
In June 2011, we graded the runway area and spread, sewed,
and staked a 243 x 52-foot geotextile fabric for our runway
surface. Although it was much work, we had a good fl ying site.
Word quickly spread and by the end of June we had grown to
18 members.
In early July, the administrator who gave us initial
permission to use the site claimed that there was a
misunderstanding about the scope of what he had agreed to
allow us to do on the site. Although we had documentation
showing otherwise, he had made up his mind and gave us until
mid-September to vacate.
We folded up the fabric runway in September, and
reseeded the “disturbed” area per our agreement. The
club was devastated. Lesson learned: get the detailed
land use agreement in writing, and get it signed by all
parties in authority. Of course, the jeopardy of the fl ying
site stunted the growth of the club, and we remained at
18 members for the remainder of 2011. We were back
on the quest for a new fl ying site.
Shortly after we vacated the school property, our
club treasurer, Jay Taylor, was driving down a country
road on the eastern edge of Noblesville, Indiana, and
noticed a new fi re station. The station sets on 10 acres
and is surrounded by farmland. The fi rehouse and its
peripheral amenities occupy roughly four acres, with
the back half or more planted in “prairie grasses” that
had been overtaken by thistle and weeds.
The fi re department has a mulched walking/running
trail that runs through the weeds, but aside from that
it is vacant. Jay stopped in and asked the station chief
about using the property as a fl ying site. Although he
didn’t give us much hope, the station chief did elevate
the request to the city fi re chief.
I was contacted by the city fi re chief via email and
exchanged several more emails with him describing in
detail what we wanted to do behind the fi re station. He
placed our request as an agenda item on the city’s Board
of Public Works and Safety meeting for October.
We were given the opportunity to make a 15-minute
presentation at that meeting, and judging by the blank
stares and the sparse interaction, I was certain that we
were going to be laughed at and escorted to the exit.
To my elation, surprise, and relief, the board members
briefl y discussed our request among themselves and the
mayor said, “I see no reason why we shouldn’t allow
this.”
They gave us a few requirements including producing
a copy of our club insurance certifi cate and gaining
written permission from the farmer whose land we
would overfl y, but those things were miniscule in
comparison to the task of gaining permission to develop
the site.
The city attorney drew up a fi ve-year agreement
with us for our use of the property. We spelled out in
our presentation and in the agreement exactly what
the development would entail, including an illustration
showing the fabric runway placement, parking areas,
and the spectator area. We also agreed to create a small
“green space” for public use.
We were blessed with great weather and an early
spring in central Indiana and were able to start site
development in mid-March. The fabric runway had
been folded up and setting on a trailer in my yard all
winter. We were hopeful that it would survive a second
deployment.
We staked it down and it was fl yable by mid-April.
The fabric held up wonderfully. Since then we’ve added
roughly 50 cubic yards of mulch for our driveway and parking
areas, seeded approximately 2 acres in new grass, purchased
and erected a 20 x 20 steel carport shelter, lengthened our
runway to 325 feet, and added safety fences, pit tables, and
pilot stations. The site is looking nice!
We’ve been meticulous about maintaining our relationship
with the fi re department, the chief, and the city. The
authorities have been cordial and fl exible in allowing us to
develop the site.
There are facilities outside the fi re station that are used
for training exercises. We have agreed to close the fl ying site
during their training times to eliminate our activities as a
potential distraction. Because the department staff only trains
during “business” hours on occasional weekdays, we are not
disappointed by this limitation. Last Memorial Day we hosted
a barbecue pitch-in with the club members and their families,
and we invited the fi remen on duty to join us for a free dinner
and airshow.
We deemed it our inaugural Fireman’s Appreciation Picnic.
There was a light
fi re crew on duty
that day, but they
enjoyed the meal
and the aircraft.
We have written
into our bylaws
that any member
of the Noblesville
Fire Department
can have a club
membership dues
waiver (with proper
AMA membership
in place).
As of the time
of this writing, our
club has grown to 39 members
and we are adding new members
nearly every week. We only lost
two of our members from last
year, primarily because of the
additional driving distance. Local
hobby shops are excited about
our site and are promoting our
club to their patrons.
The club is debt free and, although not wealthy, we are
comfortable. We still have several things to do to fi nish
development, but we’ve assembled a great group of members.
We feel that we have partnered with a wonderful municipality
with a progressive vision for our recreational activity and the
potential educational benefi ts it can bring to the community.
This process has been much work, but the results are worth it.
I should also mention that we were awarded $335.81
from the AMA through the 2012 Flying Site Development/
Improvement Grant Program. Thanks AMA, and thanks to
AMA Flying Site Assistance Coordinator Tony Stillman for his
advice and encouragement during our tedious quests to fi nd a
new site.
—Jim David
