District I

Portrait of Andy Argenio wearing a red shirt.

District I—Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont

Andy Argenio
Vice President

Connecticut might be the third smallest state in the US, but AMA RC fliers here have very big hearts when it comes to community service. Associate Vice President (AVP) Andy Figlar sent the following report:

In September 2015, the East Coast Swamp Flyers Inc., White Hills Eagles RC Club, and Wintonbury Flying Club offered their unique brand of flying entertainment to the public free of charge. Tom Rocheleau, the president of the Wintonbury club, hosted this year’s event as a multi-club Giant Scale Fly-In.

Community residents were provided seating under a huge shade structure, offered hot dogs, hamburgers, and drinks, and enjoyed watching a wide range of RC Giant Scale airplanes and multirotors flown by skilled pilots on a beautiful sunny weekend.

AVP Bill Unghire told us that the Wintonbury Flying Club has invited the residents of the Seabury Retirement Home to watch events for more than a decade. Thirty-two years ago, the club started this popular and well-attended Labor Day weekend Giant Scale Fly-In.

Bill Roy, president of the Connecticut Model Airplane Club, attended the event with me and took the pictures. Alan Willete served as the contest director (CD).

We had the opportunity to meet some of the notable builders, examine their exquisite aircraft, and watch their fine scale flying. Don Chamblain’s 145-inch Carbon Cub served as the tow plane for Soaring aircraft. Mark

Model airplanes lined up beside a flying field at the Wintonbury Giant Scale Fly-In. — The East Coast Swamp Flyers Inc., the White Hills Eagles RC Club, and the Wintonbury Flying Club partnered for the annual Wintonbury Giant Scale Fly-In on September 6, 2015.

Castiglione’s scratch-built P-51 Mustang, and Chris Petriccione’s BF-109 Martels were two of the excellent World War II aircraft flown.

Five men pose together at the flying event. — (L-R) AVP Bill Unghire, AVP Andy Figlar, Bill Roy, president of the Connecticut Model Aircraft Club, CD Alan Willete, and Tom Rocheleau, the Wintonbury Club president.

Tom Johnson and his son flew their unique twin-engine Skymaster. Everyone who attended expressed that they had a fantastic time at the event.

Two men hold a twin-engine model airplane. — (L-R) Tom Johnson and son, Ken, flew their twin-engine Skymaster.

A man kneels beside a BF-109 model airplane while another man stands nearby. — Chris Petriccione (R) flew his BF-109.

A man stands behind a blue-and-white Carbon Cub model airplane. — Don Chamblain flew his Carbon Cub.

Thanks to Andy Figlar for another fine event report about community goodwill.

A P-51 model airplane on the grass. — Mark Castiglione’s scratch-built P-51.