The Chesapeake Bay Radio Control Club

It was a beautiful day. It looked like spring might finally be here. You could smell it and taste it. Maybe finally this terrible winter and the follow-up unsettled weather might finally be at an end. I jumped in my Explorer, cranked up Willie Nelson, and we went zipping down I-97 to visit the Chesapeake Bay Radio Control Club . we were feeling good.

CLUB OF THE MONTH: THE CHESAPEAKE BAY RADIO CONTROL CLUB (CBRC)

CBRC Aerodrome

CBRC is located near Millersville off MD Route 3 about the center of Anne Arundel County.

When I got there, I walked up to the first fellow I saw and said, "How you doing, my name is Achille Silvestri." He said, "I'm Billy Graham." I said, "You're kidding me." "Nope", he replied. "OK," I said, "I'm not even going to fool with that."

Billy Graham

Billy went on to tell me he was just recognized as "The Amateur of the Year". It's an award that CBRC gives to honor a new member that has made great progress and expressed great enthusiasm for the hobby. Billy says that he packs 5 planes in his Corvette when he comes to fly. That's enthusiasm.

Steve Barnett

Next I met Steve Barnett, my contact for this meeting. Steve is retired Army (Signal Corps) and an extremely affable person. I had the most pleasant conversation with him as he filled me in on the background of CBRC. The club originated with a few guys who used to meet at Your Hobby Store in Baltimore in the early 50's. The club now numbers about 155 members. It's largely made up of sport fliers. They limit most of their competition to good-natured in-house activities, although there are a few who do get into museum-type building and compete outside.

About 20 years ago, Crownsville Hospital gave them access to some land to use as a flying field. When this property was deeded to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), CBRC was "grandfathered" in. They pay $200 rental per year for use of the property . a very nice arrangement. CBRC developed the field, built an entry road, erected a handsome aerodrome, and maintains all the property. Additionally, to show they are good neighbors, they conduct work parties to keep the main road in front of the field free of trash.

The field is excellent. It measures 830-by-100 feet. It is perfectly level and perks well . there is never any standing water. They have some very interesting set-up tables for their planes in the pit area. They use a number of cable drums. Because they are round, they are very convenient for assembling their planes.

Stan Stinchcomb

Steve went on to tell me one of the most charming stories of what their club does to encourage young fliers. CBRC has developed an aeronautics program in conjunction with the Indian Creek School. (Indian Creek has students from K through 8th grade). Students, as an after-hours project, can build their own airplane. The school has set aside a building room and supplied it with the necessary tools for construction. The CBRC representatives have developed a lesson plan so at the end of the school year each participant will have an airplane ready to test fly. At that time CBRC members will instruct the students in RC flying. Last year about 12 students completed the program. Isn't that just incredible! And it isn't only that they learn to build a plane. They learn about aeronautics, shop safety and acquire building skills, which they take with them whether they use them for RC modeling or other things. At a time when everyone is screaming where are the new fliers coming from, CBRC seems to have found a way. Kudos to you, CBRC.

Steve said that they sponsor two major events every year. One is their neighborhood appreciation day. It's like an open house, where they invite all the locals . they have static displays, some hands-on flying with buddy-boxes, and lots of free eats. DNR has gotten caught up in the event, so now they make a spectacular entrance by flying their helicopter onto the field.

The other event they hold is a crab feast fly-in. They have crabs, crab soup, corn on the cob, all the fixings needed for a great eat. Eating crabs and flying airplanes. Joy of joys, it just can't get any better!

Jesse Mitchell

I got to meet Jesse Mitchell. He's one of our veterans from WWII that we enjoy so much in talking with. Jesse flew Mustangs in the China theater near the end of the war. When the war ended, he joined the Air National Guard, where he served for 30 years. He retired full colonel. Now Steve had said these guys were pretty much sport fliers. But I saw some unusual things. Jesse was flying with a radio he had built. Now I've run into a few guys that have done that. But then Jesse showed me some servos he built. I've never seen that! They don't seem like ordinary RC modelers to me.

I made a new friend with Stan Stinchcomb. CBRC seems to have a well-rounded club. They do the things you're supposed to. Get out and have fun.

Check their web site at www.expage.com/cbrc.

WHERE HAVE ALL THE HOBBY SHOPS GONE?
Since we were in the neighborhood visiting CBRC, we thought we would go a little farther down MD 3 and stop at GPA Hobbies in Crofton. GPA is centrally located and convenient to a number of flying clubs. We even make runs from Harford County.

GPA Hobbies in Crofton, Maryland

Today we met up with Mike Harrison, the Sales Manager, who gave us a little background on the store. The store is owned by Eric Baugher, and Ron Stahl is the Manager. All three of these gentlemen are very active in RC modeling. Eric and Ron are big proponents of turbine jets and have done much to advance the art in this area.

When I interview guys for my column, I always ask them the tough questions, the ones you might be scared to ask. So I say to Mike, "Hey! What's GPA stand for?" And he very cooly responds, "It means Guaranteed Performance Aircraft. That's when all the hobby we carried was airplanes. But you can see as you look around that we have had to diversify to stay in touch with the times. Now we're also very heavily into cars and trains as well". (He was pretty quick. I was impressed).

Tom Rapanotti, Mike Harrison, David Febo

I asked Mike how things are going in the hobby shop business. He said the biggest problem confronting the local hobby shops is the large number of catalog houses. People have such a tendency to look at the bottom line . the lowest price . that they miss some of the advantages of your locally owned shop. Your hobby shop will work with you, but you have to give them a chance to compete. Test them on the price the next time you want to buy that new plane or engine. Remember, the hobby shop is right there . you can walk right in and get what you need on the spot . no waiting for the mail.

But as Mike says, "The biggest thing that some modelers don't appreciate is that all of their staff are experts in their field . planes, helicopters, cars, trains, etc. If you have a problem with any of their items, they are right there ready to help you. You can't get that personalized attention with a "voice on the phone." Also, GPA is very supportive of RC modeling clubs. They often contribute gifts for raffles or open houses.

As I walked around the store, I had a chance to talk to some of the customers. I got a real feeling of camaraderie. They seemed to know each other and related well to the staff. It seemed like a fun place to be. Mike Harrison is a good guy to have on your RC modeling roll-a-dex.

GPA Hobbies has a web site at http://www.gpahobbies.com. Check it out.

Remember that quote from Morgan Fuels about your local hobby dealer: "If you don't support him today, he might not be there tomorrow."

THE MASON-DIXON AEROBATIC CHALLENGE: JUNE 1-3, 2001
Make no mistake about it, this will be one of the premier flying events in our area this year. DCRC and SWAP Modelers are joining forces to put on an outstanding IMAC flying event. The activity is being coordinated by Andy Kane of DCRC and Art Vail of SWAP Modelers. Andy will coordinate all the flying activities, while Art will oversee the facilities, food and parking at the SWAP Modelers Park in Baltimore. This event is being held in place of the Maryland TOC. Check the archives of December 2000 to see what a great success that was.

They have set up a web site specifically for this event. Log on at http://hometown.aol.com/akane92802/mdchallenge.html.

BUILDING CONTEST, MAY 8
The Radio Control Modelers of Baltimore will hold their annual building contest on May 8. It's part of their meeting night and will take place at the Loch Raven Academy at 8:00 PM. These guys are very competitive and turn out some excellent models. Lots of fun. Contact Jack Stites Ph: 410-592-6996.

TAILGATE FLEA MARKET
As a swing into spring, The Harford County Miniature Aircraft Modelers Assn. (MAOA) will hold a tailgate flea market on May 12 in conjunction with their first meeting night at the flying field. Dealing will begin at 6:00 PM. Food will be available. The field is located at Swan Harbor Farm in Havre de Grace. Take US 40 to Oakington Road (Rt-132) and follow the signs to Swan Farm.

SWAN HARBOR SKY FEST
Harford County MAOA will host the Swan Harbor Sky Fest Open House for the public on Sunday, June 3. There will be free food, model aircraft flying, flight demonstrations and flight training. Come out for a fun family-style outing. See directions above. Contact Jim Snyder Ph: 410-256-3299 or Tom Obringer Ph: 410-282-3862.

FOR THE GOOD NEWS
Is there any out there? If so, send it to me at axsilvestri@earthlink.net and we'll make you a famous reporter.

NEXT MONTH
I'll be doing a "Club of the Month". We're running out of clubs. Is there anyone we've overlooked?

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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