District I—Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont
Andy Argenio
Vice President
brandshobby@gmail.com
3 Sheila Ln., Smithfield RI 02917
Tel.: (401) 231-6901; www.amadistrict-i.org
I am pleased to announce that we have a new associate vice president, Peter Galligan, who will provide the much-needed representation for AMA clubs and members in the Vermont area. The following event report was submitted by Peter.
“Bolstered by extensive coverage in our local newspapers and our website, hundreds of people attended this year’s Fun Fly, hosted by the Rutland County RC Flyers on July 17-19, 2015. The event is held at one of New England’s premier flying sites: the Fair Haven Municipal Airport, in Vermont. Fair Haven features the original hard-surface runway, as well as the club-maintained 800 x 75-foot grass runway.
“Offering on-site camping, this year’s event attracted pilots from all around Vermont, as well as neighboring New York, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and even as far away as Illinois. Forty-two registered pilots wowed the crowd with great flying, and everyone enjoyed fine food, and of course, the camaraderie. Even Mother Nature seemed to smile on this year’s show, gracing us with almost perfect flying weather for most of the three-day event.
“Nearly every type of aircraft was represented at this year’s Fun Fly, from fixed wing to rotary wing, from electric, to nitro, to gas, and even jets. RC Flyers member Phil Camp organized Saturday’s noontime air show, and the crowd reacted enthusiastically to each segment, from warbirds, to electrics, and even a classic Piper Cub fly-by. Voted by the spectators as best-in-show, pilot Brian Reed expertly flew his large-scale 170cc gas-powered Extra in a series of loops, inverted flight, rolling circles, inverted spins, and hammerheads.
“As can be seen in the aerial photo, the Fun Fly features a safe, fenced-in spectator area. All flying is over the grass runway, further enhancing the safe-flying distance between aircraft and those in attendance.
“Asked by Rutland Herald reporter Emily Cutts ‘what’ got us started in model aviation, most pilots answered that their parents had taken them to a local airport when they were very young, and had also encouraged their aviation interest with scale models.
“Club member Pete Galligan recalled his first airplane ride in a T-6 trainer when he was just four years old. Although the ride consisted of taxiing from one hangar to another, Galligan said the experience was unforgettable, and from that day on, he always wanted to fly.
“While the Rutland County RC Flyers couldn’t actually give rides to our spectators, the smiles on their faces said it all, especially the kids. It has started for another generation.”
Thanks Peter and all of the Rutland County RC Flyers for putting on such a great event for RC pilots and spectators.
