Edition: Model Aviation - 2021/05
Page Numbers: 105
Portrait of Mark Radcliff

District III

Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia

Portrait of Mark Radcliff

When I was a teenager in the 1960s, every spring, my dad would load up the family station wagon and we would head out to attend the annual Wright Brothers Memorial Contest, held on the hallowed grounds of Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. The Wright Memorial was the largest Pattern, Scale, and Pylon Racing event held in the Midwest. For several years, I watched and learned about competition flying in Pattern and Scale at this event. In the 1970s, I began to compete in the Wright Memorial and in 1975, I won first place in Class D Expert Pattern. The Wright Memorial was put on by the Western Ohio Radio Kontrol Society (WORKS) club. Sadly, the Wright Brothers event is no longer, however the WORKS club is still going strong.

Last fall, I noted in the AMA contest calendar that the WORKS club was holding a Super Scale Sunday event on November 19, 2020, so I made plans to attend. A few days before the event, I was notified that the club president, John Buechler, had suddenly passed away. The club decided to carry on the event in John’s honor, so I continued with my plans to attend. The club’s current field is a private, full-scale airstrip named Hummel and is a great place to fly.

There were several beautiful Scale models in attendance and plenty of good food, flying, and fellowship. I enjoyed visiting with the current club members, which brought back many great memories of past club members, such as Don Lowe, Chuck Shade, Dave Scully, Jim Cline, and many more.

I had not met John before he passed away, so I asked if the club would send me information about him. Club secretary Kim Birdseye sent the following:

“The WORKS is sad to announce the passing of our club president, John A. Buechler.

“As president for the last five years, John led the club to its highest membership in more than 10 years. John promoted the AMA Take off And Grow (TAG) program several years ago, which made the community better aware of the club and its mission.

“John also filled the role of club chef as he grilled weekly during the season for the membership at our Tuesday night fly-ins. John’s steadfast loyalty and endless support made the club a place of great camaraderie and friendship. John’s smile and unique personality will be deeply missed.”

WORKS club President John Buechler’s steadfast loyalty and endless support made the club a place of great camaraderie and friendship. John’s smile and unique personality will be deeply missed.

Portrait of John Buechler
WORKS club President John Buechler’s steadfast loyalty and endless support made the club a place of great camaraderie and friendship. John’s smile and unique personality will be deeply missed.

A few of the beautiful Scale aircraft and modelers who flew in the WORKS Club Super Scale Sunday.

Scale aircraft and modelers at the WORKS Club event
A few of the beautiful Scale aircraft and modelers who flew in the WORKS Club Super Scale Sunday.

A view down the flightline of the WORKS event. Notice the Geotex runway, which is great for smaller electric-powered models.

Thank you, Kim, for this tribute to John. I am sure he is looking down and smiling on the members of the WORKS club and is happy that this great club will carry on into the future.

Until next month, stay safe and fly safely.

Mark Radcliff

Vice President
mracliff@suddenlink.net
199 Heron Dr., St. Marys WV 26170
(304) 684-2133
www.amadistrict-iii.org
www.facebook.com/ama.district.iii

Associate Vice Presidents

CL/FF/RC Event Sanction Coordinators

Nelson Gould (PA), 1340 Oak Dr., Macungie PA 18062; (484) 515-7888; at6snj@ptd.net

Sheila Nitsch (OH, WV), 5650 Boyd Rd., Grove City OH 43123; (614) 877-3453; tnitsch@columbus.rr.com

Webmaster

Lisa Zoldak, Ravenna OH; (330) 348-4543; lzoldak@neo.rr.com

Aircraft on the WORKS event flightline
A view down the flightline of the WORKS event. Notice the Geotex runway, which is great for smaller electric-powered models.