This is the first time we took our column on the road. We offer up our ramblings for your consideration.

We Fly Into Westminster

Well not really, but I did drive my Explorer past the Carroll County airport. Westminster, what a beautiful place to visit . far from the city lights. An avenue to western Maryland, summer home of the Ravens, and all year round home of the Westminster Aero Modelers (WAM).

WAM is a club of some 50-plus members. Their main flying site is Spiegel Field, which is county-owned property. And as you would imagine, being county property it has more restrictions on its use. For example, they can only fly at certain times, and also they are required to limit their noise level to 95 db.

WAM's Baugher Field

But they also have Baugher Field. Baugher is a large family in the Carroll County area . they have farms and orchards and even a restaurant. I remember having breakfast at Baugher's every time we went to the WAM flea markets. Well, the younger Baugher was into RC modeling for awhile. And through him, WAM was allowed to have the use of this particular piece of property for their unlimited giant scale flying. In addition, the Baugher family has made available an eight-acre pond for float flying. Now they're even getting into helicopters. Looks like everything is up to date in Westminster!

You can find out more about WAM by going to their website at http://wam.crbalt.com. It's got all the good stuff like directions, activities, and phone numbers of officers. They welcome visitors to their monthly fun flies. No competition, just come out, fly and enjoy the hobby.

On this day Ed Goldman escorted me to Baugher Field. They planned to do some work on the field that day, and took the opportunity to get in some morning flights before they got started.

Dale Johnston

You get to Baugher Field through some twisting and turning back roads. The setting is in the midst of farms with melons and apple orchards . a lovely pastoral setting. I expected at any moment to see the "pretty girl milking her cow". There we met up with Paul Schaffner and his wife Carol, and Dale Johnston, and had a very congenial visit.

The field has a little wooded area behind the flight line, which provides a nice shade and allows them to fly with the sun at their back. The runway is 687 feet long, and the view is totally unobstructed. They have a frequency control board, some benches under a soft shelter, and that was pretty much it. No flight line.

Carol and Paul Schaffner

No designated pit area. No wind sock. No flags rippling in the breeze. Just a small intimate flying club. I asked them if this was a little laid back and under-controlled. But they said they all pretty much know each other, they look out for each other, and are careful not to create any dangerous situations. A little common sense goes a long way. They take care of everything, cut the grass, roll the field; they are totally independent. They don't have too many big events at either field because parking is limited at both. But they are enthused about other club activities, and Paul regularly flies at giant scales in the area.

When we got there Dale was in the middle of setting up his giant Waco YMF 3. It is powered with a YS .91 4-stroke. A beautiful airplane, but he never did fly it because he thought he had flutter in his ailerons. Not to take chances, he disassembled the Waco and set up a Piper Cub which he flew. Paul was flying a giant Citabria.

I spent a little time conversing with them and shooting some pictures. What a nice bunch of people. It was with a little sadness that I prepared to leave the tranquility of Baugher Field, jump onto route 140 and I-795 and head back for the action and bright lights of Baltimore and Bel Air.

Who Is Ed Goldman And Why Is He Writing Those Things?

Because Ed Goldman is the Editor of The Tale Spinner, the voice of WAM. The Tale Spinner is a comprehensive and very well done newsletter.

Ed Goldman

Ed's been doing the newsletter every month for about five years. I said, "Wow, do you ever get tired?" He replied, "Sometimes. It's a little harder in the summer because there are so many other things to do . ride my motorcycle, go places. But there is always that satisfaction you get each time you see a newly finished edition. I'll probably continue it a while longer."

Before he became editor, he was treasurer for his dental society for ten years. It's not that Ed doesn't have a real job. Actually, he's an orthodontist. And I saw the excellent craftsmanship in the airplanes he built. If I needed some dental work done, I'd be only too glad to go to Ed. Ed Goldman, a good guy to know.

Is There Any Future in RC Modeling?

I'll bet your knee jerk reaction is "Naah"! It's just a hobby for old guys with too much money and too much time. But not so fast, my friend!

Justin, Tim and Matt

Let me introduce you to three friends: Justin Lazzeri, Tim Beasman and Matt Nardi. They were only boys when they got into RC modeling with the Harford County Radio Control Modelers (HCRCM) in Harford County.

Justin started flying RC models when he was 12 years old. Today he has completed his first year at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University at Daytona Beach. He's enrolled in their Aeronautical Science Program. During the summer, he's flying for Sky Tech out of Martin State Airport. He ferries around airplane parts and customers. Tim was 10 years old when he started in RC modeling. He became an instructor when he was only 16. He just completed his freshman year at the University of Maryland, College Park, where he's studying Aerospace Engineering. Matt was coaxed into the hobby by his friends when he was 16. He just completed his freshman year at Virginia Tech at Blacksburg, VA, where he's majoring in Computer Engineering.

Is there a future in RC modeling? Of course there is! It's just a matter of matching the right people with the right skills. I like to think that all of us as RC modelers helped to set these boys-- oops, young men onto some very exciting and productive career paths.

Do the Limbo

Jerry Dickerson

Harford County Miniature Aircraft Operators Association (MAOA) held its family picnic on June 4. They had a nice turnout . good food, lots of flying, camaraderie and a lot of BS-ing. One of the highlights of the day was the limbo fly. You know, try to fly your plane under the paper streamer. Well, the streamer was a good idea. They cut a lot of them and never hurt a plane. Unfortunately, they forgot about the metal poles. Jerry Dickerson had already made a half-dozen successful limbo passes. Then BAM! He dead-centered one of the poles. He laid out a 100-foot stretch of broken wings, fuselage, monokote and engine parts. It was with some misgivings that Jerry accepted the award of a very fine carryall transmitter case for the most spectacular crash of the day. There were other crashes doing the limbo . the guys were good sports about it.

Warbirds, Warbirds, Warbirds

Don't forget, July is the month for some great warbird fly-ins. Check the calendar of events.

Thanks To You

We appreciate the contributions for this issue provided by Ed Goldman and John Wunderlich (WAM), Dick Dannenfelser (The Sunday Flyers) and Alan Goodman (Prince Georges Radio Control Club, Inc). Again, we solicit any announcements or reports you wish to include concerning your club's activities.

Our featured club next month will be the Chesapeake Bay Miniature Aircraft Association. Be sure to look for it.

Return to RC News table of contents.

Courtesy Links Baltimore Area Soaring Society   District of Columbia Radio Control Club   Harford County Radio Control Modelers   Patuxent Aeromodelers   Prince Georges Radio Control Club   Radio Control Modelers of Baltimore   Sunday Flyers of Baltmore   Swan Harbor RC   Westminster Aeromodelers