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
Although this column has featured reports from the Northern Connecticut RC Club’s AMA Flying Site Development and Improvement grant project and its flying events in the past, this was the first year I was able to see the club-owned flying site and enjoy one of its events in person. Even better, club member and contest director Dennis Thibodeau wrote the following event report:
The Northern Connecticut RC Club (NCRCC) held its fifth annual Warbirds Over Ellington Fly-In on September 16, 2017. Our grounds staff had the field prepped to golf-green perfection. Workers arrived by 6:30 a.m. on Saturday, and finished prepping the field for the day.
Thirty-one RC pilots arrived and set up. Together, they brought at least 125 gorgeous warbird models to the field. The weather, after the fog lifted, was perfect all day!
Flying started and the event was underway. The club field was strafed and bombed all day by a huge variety of warbirds, much to the delight of the 150-plus spectators who arrived throughout the day. They saw one super model air show. At noon, Dean Lampron, the 2014 RC Aerobatics AMA Freestyle champion, gave an awesome Freestyle 3-D demonstration.
We cooked hot dogs, hamburgers, and sausage and pepper grinders on the grill, had soft drinks available, and an ice cream vendor was stationed in the parking lot. We also had a music-choreographed memorial flight by Jesse Russell to honor his father and all of the NCRCC members who have passed on.
The NCRCC held its fifth and biggest Warbirds Over Ellington Fly-In.
(L-R) Walt Wosko, Jesse Russell, and his dad, Jim, flew their impressive warbirds.
Patty Thibodeau and Art Usher conducted the raffle to benefit the Disabled American Veterans.
Leo Nordell (age 11) won Best WW I with his Nieuport 28 fighter and his flying skills.
Thirty-one pilots were registered and flew all of the gorgeous warbirds pictured above.
I had made arrangements for early-morning flyovers by a full-scale PT-17, a PT-23, and possibly the EAA’s B-17G, the Aluminum Overcast. The B-17G happened to be offering rides at Brainard Field in Hartford, Connecticut, for the weekend. Unfortunately, the low ceiling prevented all of the flyovers.
Many local merchants, as well as area/national hobby shops donated raffle items to benefit the Disabled American Veterans organization. The drawings were held at 2:30 p.m. and the winners received excellent hobby prizes. The raffle proceeds provided a generous donation for the charity.
AMA District I Vice President Andy Argenio and his wife, Anna, had a great time engaging with their many friends from the scale warbirds community and that they were highly impressed with the club’s flying site, event venue, and operation. This was the largest and best turnout in the five-year history of this event that promoted the club and hobby very well to the aeromodeling enthusiasts and the community.
Thanks to all of the pilots, spectators, and NCRCC members for making this a wonderful event. The 2018 fly-in is tentatively set for September 15, 2018. Mark your calendar! Visit the club’s website at www.ncrcc.org.
Thanks, Dennis, for another great Warbirds Over Ellington event and report.
