Midwest Regional Float Fly
By Jay Smith
I am enticed by aircraft flown from the water. There's a certain beauty and grace to the way they look. I especially enjoy the amphibious aircraft of the 1930s, such as the Grumman Goose and the Sikorsky S-39.
Although I haven't had the opportunity to fly in any of those classic watercraft, I have enjoyed rides in a Cessna and a Maule, the latter of which arrived at the 2011 Midwest Regional Float Fly. The ride was thanks to Mike Weltyk and allowed me to get a great aerial photo.
The 2011 event, held on September 10 and 11, was the 21st annual event hosted by the Skymasters Radio Control Club at Island Lake State Park in Brighton, Michigan. The site provides all the water a float-fly pilot could want:
- 40-acre lake
- 1,000-foot sandy beach from which to fly
To say I was excited to attend the float fly would be an understatement. The event is well attended each year and attracts some beautiful aircraft.
The weather on Saturday threatened to make the first day much wetter than any float flier would want, but by the time I arrived at the park and paid my $8 fee for a daily recreational passport, the sky had cleared and flying had begun.
Pete Foss and the other club members did a nice job getting the area ready. Pilot stations on the beach were clearly marked and the pit area was located behind them. A roped-off area separated the public from the pits for safety. The public area was also where the food and hobby vendors were located, and the park provided access to bathrooms and a large building where aircraft were stored overnight.
At the pilots’ meeting I saw that the Skymasters take safety seriously, ensuring all flying was done from a pilot station with the assistance of a spotter. In the water, buoys clearly marked the taxiway close to shore and aircraft were required to keep all flight operations beyond them.
Mark Smith, from SeaPlane Supply, handled the bulk of airplane recovery using his own boat and made countless trips during the two days. He was kind enough to take me with him on a couple of runs to allow me to take photos from a different perspective. It reminded me of my days as an RC boat racer working pickup detail. Also assisting with aircraft recovery were Greg Cardillo and his daughter, Alyssa, in their kayaks.
The event typically draws a couple of full-scale aircraft that fly in. This year, Mike Weltyk gave us a pass and wing wag to let us know he would be putting down. Mike is a corporate pilot who enjoys flying RC with his son. He flew in for lunch and a chance to browse the vendor row. While Mike was there, modeler Steve Fredericks took the opportunity to get a picture of his 98-inch RC Maule alongside its full-scale counterpart.
The Skymasters offered a dinner on the beach Saturday shortly before dark. The gathering provided a nice opportunity to get to know some of the pilots even better while enjoying pulled pork and chicken.
Noel Cross shared some interesting stories of what it was like growing up in England during World War II, his experiences with modeling, and his love for the Spitfire. When he spoke of the iconic aircraft, it was obvious that the years hadn't dimmed his memory of the warbird valiantly defending his homeland.
Robert Ball is another gentleman I had the pleasure of meeting. A fellow veteran and an excellent model builder, his Gee Bee with matching floats garnered much attention at the event.
Model Aviation contributor Laddie Mikulasko is a regular at the Midwest Regional Float Fly. Laddie has been designing aircraft for us for several years, and normally I only get to see him at the Toledo Expo, so it was a great opportunity to see some of his creations on the water and in the air.
Sunday's weather was nice and a large number of pilots returned with their models for another fun day on the water. I expect the raffle planned for later that afternoon had a lot to do with attendance.
The long drive home and another commitment kept me from staying the entire day, but during the commute home to Muncie, Indiana, I reflected on what a great event the Midwest Regional Float Fly turned out to be.
The club members have learned much about sponsoring an excellent event in the last 21 years and the pilots appreciate this annual gathering. Some even attend every one!
If you enjoy the combination of water and aircraft with a beautiful Michigan backdrop, the Midwest Regional Float Fly is the place to be in September.
—Jay Smith [email protected]
Sources
- Skymasters Radio Control Club of Michigan
- www.skymasters.org
- No primary article text appears on this page — only photographs with captions.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
