A New Flying Site Way out West
by Mike Simi
Background
WAY OUT WEST, in AMA's District X, there exists a secret: the Diablo Valley Radio Controllers, or DVRC. This club has been around for a long time, and although the name isn't too exciting, that's where any connection with ordinary ends.
The DVRC facilities are located on the east side of the San Francisco Bay Area. This radio-control flying organization was started in 1967, when a group of local hobby-shop customers teamed up to promote RC flight safety and exchange ideas.
DVRC enjoyed its early existence at a half-dozen venues in the area, but as is the case with many AMA-chartered sites, nothing was permanent. That all ended in 2001.
Finding a Permanent Home
After some success operating at a regional park, the DVRC group's time there ran out and it had to start looking for a new place. This time would be different; it was time to look for a "permanent home." The 32 years of renting space would become history.
The small town of Pittsburg, California, is a semirural community located along the banks of the Sacramento River. The local constabulary had decided to abandon a long-unused pistol-firing range situated back in the green, rolling hills. The site even had a "house" that was used for urban training. An arrangement was made, and DVRC signed a 10-year lease with a 10-year option to occupy and maintain this property.
Building the Airfield
But not so fast. There was still an airfield to build, and there was nothing flat about the terrain. A long, winding dirt road led to a small hill, on top of which sat what would become the DVRC clubhouse. During the winter of 2001–2002 this "new" club's membership decided to get the job done.
The initial task was to bulldoze a small hill located roughly 50 feet below the clubhouse for a runway. This would not be just any runway, though; it would be a 500-foot-long, paved airstrip carved into the top of a mountain! And it needed a name.
One of the founding fathers of DVRC was Orin Allen—the son of the first African-American pilot to fly coast to coast. That was a huge feat in the years before World War II. Therefore, the "Thomas C. Allen Memorial Airpark" was born.
The new airstrip languished in the state of a usable dirt runway during most of that first year while work on the abandoned building and runway drainage began. Having met wildlife-preservation requirements, the drainage system was approved, and the clubhouse—with its large rock fireplace, meeting room, kitchen, and restroom—was getting a new look. The substantial observation deck was also a prize.
It was time to make a flying field. Up to this point club members and their guests were content with the dirt runway. With the donated help of local contractors and donated materials and equipment, DVRC members dug in and saw their new paved runway completed, along with a small alternate for windy days.
Facilities and Improvements
The club continued to expand and improve the site with hands-on member projects.
Major features added
- A paved 500-foot main runway and a small alternate runway for crosswind conditions
- A clubhouse with fireplace, meeting room, kitchen, restroom, and a large observation deck
- Permanent safety fences and five access taxiways
- A 120-foot shade structure over the pilots' area with a dozen aircraft maintenance tables
- Artificial turf for the pilots' pit enclosure (donated by the San Francisco 49ers organization)
- A large, grassy helicopter operating area that gets substantial use
- Barbecue/picnic area, parking, and an RV camping site behind a protected hill
- Spectator bleachers between the helicopter pads and fixed-wing areas
- Flagpoles, a wind sock, and an impound building
DVRC members even had to "X" the runway occasionally because they were getting full-scale traffic!
In November 2002 the DVRC airfield was formally dedicated with a grand opening presided over by the city of Pittsburg’s mayor Nancy Parent and police chief Aaron Baker.
Utilities and amenities
Because of the facility’s somewhat remote location, running municipal power and water lines was impractical. The club used the existing terrain to its advantage and completed the following:
- A gravity water-supply system
- A septic tank and leach field
- Two concrete pads for a power generator
- Soon-to-be-completed flying-field restrooms
These projects were all carried out by members and continue to pass local codes and ordinances. Members can now perform at-the-field repairs with power tools, wash up at a sink, or plug in an RV for an overnight stay.
Challenges
After all this development, a couple of challenges remain:
- Terrain: The surrounding hills and rolling terrain test pilots’ skills, but members have risen to the challenge and developed outstanding flying abilities for both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft.
- Wind: Northern California summer months bring strong westerlies, making crosswind landings difficult. On the plus side, the area offers arguably the finest glider and soaring venue in the west during windier mid-summer days, thanks to strong thermals in the nearby hills.
A newly purchased wireless weather station has helped pilots take advantage of favorable flying conditions in late summer, fall, and most days of winter.
Also, locals used to leave presents on the runway for club fliers, but a cattle guard at the gate has solved that problem.
Community Involvement
DVRC is proud to be a permanent part of the Pittsburg community, hosting events such as the local Veterans Day commemoration, Boy Scout Troop functions, and maintaining a continuing association with the Orin Allen Youth Guidance Center.
There are currently 155 club members, and that number is growing. The facility has drawn a great deal of attention and rave reviews. Big events are in the future, and the club and its members embody what AMA is all about.
Visiting and Contact
Look us up if you are ever out West. DVRC may be the best-kept RC secret in AMA. When you visit, ask anyone in the area; they will probably say, "Oh yeah; it’s right up the hill. Turn right at the firehouse." Didn’t I mention that we have our own firehouse?
Check us out at www.dvrc.org
Mike Simi [email protected]
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
