The District of Columbia Radio Control Club

Achille Silvestri It's a wrap for this column

I have seen the truth. I know better why some RC clubs are highly successful and others just struggle to survive. It's a given that you need a spirited and highly motivated membership. But that's not enough. You also need involvement of your community and support of local government. Maintenance of fields, parking lots and roads is very expensive. You can't just do it with raffles, flea markets and cake sales.

While the truth may be simple, making it work for you is a somewhat different matter. We must undo the image that RC modelers are a bunch of old codgers off to the side wasting their children's inheritance. Rather, we must cultivate the perception that we are an extension of community, much as Little League baseball, soccer leagues and nature walks. If we do this successfully, I think that local government will be more obliging to support us. Cut us some grass, build us a road, how about rolling the field once in a while.

Something that I have seen more lately is clubs having open houses with the theme being appreciation to community and local government for their support. I saw it at PGRC last fall. They invited the public and government representatives and gave them food and drink, flying lessons, and just a grand outing for the whole family. Geez, they brought Mayor Anthony Williams, the Mayor of Washington, D.C., out for some flight lessons. In this column you can see that MAOA also had a community appreciation day. But as our "Club of the Month" demonstrates, no one has done it with greater aplomb than DCRC.

CLUB OF THE MONTH: THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA RADIO CONTROL (DCRC) CLUB

Councilwoman Nancy Dacek and Montgomery Officials Cut Ribbon

June 9th, 2001, will be remembered as the greatest day in the history of DCRC. On this day DCRC members, Montgomery County officials and community all came together to dedicate the Montgomery County Airpark. After many moves throughout the county, this will be the final home of DCRC. The park is located at 16200 Schaeffer Road in Germantown.

It was a festive occasion, much like an old-time county fair. There were children and parents, grandparents and politicians, airplanes, balloons and decorations and flags, and a general sense of well-being. It was just like having the best part of a part of old-time Americana. And through it all DCRC kept feeding everyone ... hamburgers, hotdogs, sodas, chips, and even some of that fancy bottled water. Andy Finizio, the Events Coordinator for DCRC, did an absolutely wonderful job of coordinating and bringing together the many diverse groups involved in such an operation.

Jim McDaniel, President DCRC, and wife Kim

I was very fortunate in catching up with Jim McDaniel, President of DCRC, on such a very busy and hectic day. Jim gave me some of the background on the airpark. The airpark is the result of many years developing a close and amicable relationship with Montgomery County. He said today was DCRC's way of expressing their appreciation to the County and the community for their excellent flying site. Jim said the County invested more than $450,000 on this project. The efforts included preparation of the site and the construction of the runway and gravel parking lot. A significant part of the effort went into establishing water management ponds that protect the surrounding streams.

The site has a 600-foot paved runway with a 600-foot grass runway right next to it. There is an incoming gravel road, a pit area for the pilots, and a bleacher section set aside by fencing for spectators. It has a gravel parking lot with handicapped parking. The airfield is named for Dr. Walter Good, a charter member who many consider to be "the father of model airplanes."

Jim said that there are 215 members in DCRC which pay $50 a year. He said, "That gives us an operating budget of $10,000 a year. When some of our other projects are completed, such as a hard-top parking lot and a permanent shelter, this will be a 'Cadillac-level' facility to rival any in the country".

John Abernathy and His Ducted Fan Jet

Many County officials were on hand for the ceremonies, including Councilwoman Nancy Dacek, and County Executive Assistant Bill Mooney. After some dedication speeches by County and DCRC representatives, Councilwoman Dacek set the theme for the day, "I just want to see the planes." After that it was a matter of cutting the ribbon and having a whole day of flying and good times.

Andy Kane, Northeastern Regional Unlimited Aerobatics Champion

DCRC's own Andy Kane, the North Eastern Regional Unlimited Aerobatics Champion, put on a dazzling show of flying that truly delighted the whole crowd. Additionally, Andy had on display his new Extra 330 made by 3W. The plane is powered by a 3W 150 twins spark engine with tuned pipe and a Fuchs 3-bladed propeller.

The Malchiones Prepare the Turbine Jet

Dave Malchione and his son David put on a spectacular exhibition of a turbine jet. It is so different, the speed, the quiet whoosh as the jet skims by at 180 mph. It's easy to see where the "big buck guys" are headed. And there were many other great flying exhibits. It was just a great day for all RC modelers. I'm glad we were able to catch it on our watch.

Check DCRC's web site at www.dc-rc.org.

HARFORD COUNTY MINIATURE AIRCRAFT OPERATORS ASSOCIATION (MAOA) HOSTS "SKY FEST"

All the Brave Young Pilots

MAOA hosted a very successful Sky Fest June 3rd. Sky Fest is an open house which the Club sponsored to show its appreciation to the Harford County government and the community for support of MAOA's RC model aircraft facilities at Swan Harbor Farm in Havre de Grace.

It was a gorgeous day. There were many flying demonstrations. Children were allowed to participate in practice flights with a real transmitter in their hands. Closely supervising, MAOA members carefully guided them through flight maneuvers.

Tom Insley and Bob Walker Feed the Multitudes

Children who participated in the flight training were awarded an American Airlines pin. Among the many demonstrations, Andy Robicheaux of the Sunday Flyers showed us how to land an airplane on its back ... no not a crash ... we've all done that ... on purpose, honest! MAOA's Dave Farrell and Sunday Flyers' Frank Drecchio gave helicopter demonstrations.

Tom Grigaliunos and the Incredible P51

There were two recently built MAOA airplanes on display, an Albatross by Fred Romeo, who's becoming a bit of an expert in WWI vintage craft, and an absolutely striking P-51 Mustang by Tom Grigaliunos. Tom has been in the hobby one year, can you believe it.

It was a great turnout. We had 44 airplanes, one radio controlled car, three helicopters, one kite and two bikes. Excellent, and through it all MAOA just kept stuffing everyone with hotdogs and sodas.

THE MASON/DIXON AEROBATIC CHALLENGE 2001

Contest Directors Andy Kane and Art Vail

The District of Columbia Radio Control (DCRC) Club and The Southwest Area Park (SWAP) Modelers on June 1-3 joined forces to sponsor an outstanding RC modeling flying competition at SWAP modelers field in Baltimore. The activity was coordinated by Andy Kane of DCRC and Art Vail of SWAP Modelers. Andy coordinated the flying arrangements, while Art took care of the facilities, food and parking. It was an outstanding event that drew participants from as far away as Virginia, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Twenty-three contestants competed in four standard IMAC classes and separate free-style events.

Alex Bruhn, IMAC Northeastern Regional Director

It was my good fortune to meet up with Alex Bruhn. Alex is the President of the Elverson RC Flyers out of Pennsylvania. But more importantly, Alex is the IMAC Northeast Regional Director. And there he was, in line, just like any other guy waiting for his turn to fly. Today Alex was flying a Fiberclassics Extra 330S made in Germany. It had a 120-inch wingspan and is powered with a 150-cc 2-cylinder 2-stroke Desert Aircraft (USA). Alex came in first in Advanced and third in Freestyle.

Gene Poremba, Pine Forge, PA

Gene Poremba was flying a 33% Godfrey laser. It had a 100-inch wingspan and was powered with a Zenoah G-62. Gene flies with the Exeter Eagles and many other clubs in Pennsylvania. Gene came in third in Basic.

Rich Fletcher was flying an Aeroworks 37% Extra 300L. It had a 110-inch wingspan and was powered with a 3W 150. Rich flies with the Black Dirt Squadron in Goshen, New York. Rich came in second in Advanced.

Rich Fletcher, Edgewater, NJ

While the weekend looked kind of nasty at first, it gradually cleared up and all the flying was completed as scheduled. The finalists were as follows:

• Basic: Gene Flynn, Aimissville, VA
• Sportsman: Ty Lyman, Sandston, VA
  
• Advanced: Alex Bruhn, Pottstown, PA
  
• Unlimited: Rob Sarlan, Rockville, MD
  
• Freestyle: Rob Sarlan, Rockville, MD
  

The food was great as usual. And that crab soup? ... who makes that? ... Mrs. Vail? Outstanding!

FOR SALE
Great Planes Mustang P-51, OS .46 engine, complete with radio, add fuel, take off. Finished in Reno race colors, red and white, $225. Same plane in a kit box, $50. Malcolm Gordon, 410-676-5097.

IT'S A WRAP
Well, boys and girls, that's it. My Odyssey is at an end ... I've completed my survey of Central Maryland flying clubs. Accordingly, this is my last column. It's been a wonderful run. It has given me a great appreciation of what RC modeling is all about ... the hardware (planes and things) and the software (people and places). I hope that those of you that followed us on our travels have a broader perspective of our favorite hobby. Thanks to you who participated in our column, and to you who are closet readers. I am still at axsilvestri@earthlink.net if you have any parting shots.

I leave you this thought:

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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