Prince Georges Radio Control Club

Well, I got replacements for the Firestones on my Explorer . Uniroyal Tigerpaws. Wow! From what I hear, next recall we're going to hold the tires and get a brand new SUV. Anyway, what better way to check out the new tires than to zip down US 301 to visit the Prince Georges Radio Control Club Open House. I hear they got free stuff.

CLUB OF THE MONTH: PRINCE GEORGES RADIO CONTROL CLUB (PGRC)
PGRC's Open House was on October 7th. Their field is just outside of Bowie, MD. Now, I know that we like to have flying fields at isolated areas far from the city lights and civilization, so that we won't disturb anyone and they will, mercifully, leave us alone.

Solko Field

In other words, when the land is far away and useless, it's just right for us RC modelers. That being said, I still wasn't ready for the ride I took down Swanson Road after I got off US 301. The beginning wasn't bad . some farms, horses, even a "pick your own berries" berry farm. But then we went into the woods, and it got darker and more secluded and the road got narrower and then it became simple plain dirt. I thought for sure I would fall into an abyss, or worse, find myself turned around and dumped back onto US 301. But then the skies opened up and I found myself facing one of the most beautiful flying sites in this area . Solko Field.

Alan Goodman, Event Director

Alan Goodman, the Event Director, my host, told me that they have a 40-foot-by-400-foot macadam hardtop surrounded by grass to make a flying field of 100-feet-by-800-feet. It was spacious and airy. There was no flight line or fence (although there were designated limited taxiing areas), and yet there was no sense of lack of safety. In fact, because it was so open, there were casual little groups clustered together around a flyer or a flyer and his instructor. It was a park-like setting. It was safely distant from the spectator area, which was set aside by a split log fence . very classy.

The nice part about the paved area was that it was great to take off from. On landing, most would try to land on the hard top; but because it was so narrow, they often missed. No problem, you had all that grass available. Alan said that the narrow strip made you a better pilot.

Dell Warren, Jr.

The town of Bowie makes the land available at no cost. PGRC uses the Open House to show that they are good stewards of the property. To this end they promote the Open House widely to get as many people as possible to share in their good fortune. In the past they have even gotten the town fathers to participate and even have a go with one of the trainers (with buddy box, of course).

Alan told me how the field came to be hard-topped. Bob Violett, the founder and president of BVM Models, was once a member of their club. BVM Models manufactures those "big bucks" radio-controlled model airplane jets. On one occasion when he was flying, Bob remarked, "This field is too rough and bumpy for me to fly my jets." What to do? So Bob told the club, "I'll give you one of my jets. You can hold a raffle and get some seed money towards a paved field." They did that, and got $5,000. They found another $5,000 in their stash. But they still needed another $10,000. They went to their club members and asked for anyone that was willing to make informal loans to the club. Between the loans and outright grants, they quickly came up with the necessary monies. Within a year they repaid the loans and were debt free. Great success story.

Lorenzo Bowie and Wayne Butler

The Open House was light and fun, and just a great place to spend the day. It was much enjoyed by the club members and visitors. Dell Warren, Jr. was announcing the ongoing activities on the public address system. There were other club members on hand with trainers and buddy boxes ready to take visitors into the air to give them that first taste of flying. Lorenzo Bowie and Wayne Butler were using a Kadet LT-40 to take people up. Some members, very generously, were even using their own planes to give visitors some flight time.

Rick Moreland, President, PGRC

I met Rick Moreland, the president of PGRC. I told him they wouldn't take my money when I got my hotdogs and soda. He said everything is free. And they had a nice menu . hamburgers, hotdogs, chips, sodas, bottled water (whew!). Rick said they hold a raffle, which includes an ARF trainer, a radio, and an engine . everything you need to get up in the air. They make enough money on the raffle to pay for all the day's activities . smart guys. So I bought some raffle tickets . I'm still waiting for that ring in the middle of the night.

Charlie Gettier

Rick says the club is very big into racing, and is nationally recognized for its pylon racing program. The club has hosted numerous events in the past, including regional and national championship races.

I had some pleasant conversation with Charles Gettier, a past president and board member. Currently, he's the newsletter editor. Today he was flying a 1/4-scale Balsa USA Cub with a G-23 engine.

Dr. Jim Garza

Dr. Jim Garza, a retired pediatrician, had a fine-looking collection of airplanes. He had a P-47 Thunderbolt with an OS .61, a Chipmunk with an OS .61, and a Cessna 182 powered with an OS .91 engine.

Earl Nester from the South West Area Park Modelers had an interesting assemblage of airplanes. He had a specially made rack with a convenient carrying handle that would hold four combat warbirds.

Earl Nester's Rack of Combat Planes

As I was to learn, PGRC is very big into combat flying. They do both warbirds and fun scale combat. This, in addition to their pylon racing, makes these PGRC guys very competitive people.

I couldn't leave PGRC without knowing where an interesting name like Solko for the field came from. When I asked Alan about it, he introduced me to Joe Solko. Joe is a retired pilot who served in WWII. He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force when he was only 19 years old. He soloed in a DeHaviland Tiger Moth in April 1942. And can you believe it . today he flies a model of the Tiger Moth with the identical markings of the plane he soloed in.

Joe Solko

Joe returned to Flying School, CA, shortly afterwards, and then went on to Edwards Air Force Base to learn to fly P-38 Lockheed Lightnings. In May 1943, he joined the war in North Africa. He flew 50 missions in a P-38. He downed one Messerschmidt ME-109 and shot up a large number of Junkers JU-88's on the ground. He spent much of his time in his P-38 escorting Mitchell B-25 and Marauder B-26 bombers. Finally, he returned home to instruct pilots on P-47 Thunderbolts. Joe logged in over 14,500 hours of flying time and, to his good fortune, "never broke a bone." He retired as a Colonel after 20 years in the Air Force.

Since retirement, Joe has always been very active in RC modeling, and because of his many contributions, the club elected to name the field after him. It is an excellent tribute to a fine gentleman.

FOR THE GOOD NEWS
I wish to thank all those who provided such excellent material for my column, in particular, my genial host Alan Goodman, Joe Solko, Rick Moreland, and Charlie Gettier. Remember, if you want to highlight your club's activities, get the information to me at axsilvestri@earthlink.net.

NOW WHAT
Our next club of the month is the Southwest Area Park Modelers in Baltimore. They put on the Tournament of Champions (T.O.C.) of Maryland. Looking forward to this . I understand it's a spectacular show.

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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