SKY’S THE LIMIT
HOME SWEET
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By Jennifer Reynolds | jensunshine3@gmail.com
MY FATHER USED TO tell me that the one thing that’s always constant is change.
As a teenager, and even as a young adult, I inwardly rolled my eyes at his words. Change? No way. The world was all mine back then, filled with so much security and stability. There wasn’t a chance that I’d ever change apartments, jobs, or hair color. Hmph.
Fast-forward a few decades. Dad, you were right. New homes, several jobs, and certainly new shades upon my head. (Not gray. Ahem.)
Most recently, I made a change that was exciting. I decided to find a new flying club that was a mere 15 minutes from where I now live versus the nearly 40-minute ride had I stayed with my old club. Although there are some people and flights from the old flying field that I miss, I’m pleased to call the Concord Skyhawks in New Hampshire my new flying home.
I felt that I had put off looking into a new club long enough, but we all know how it is—work, time, errands, life—and before I knew it, one month became three, and then suddenly the holidays had arrived. I didn’t fly nearly as much as I would have liked last year because of the truth in my dad’s words, but I recently decided that I needed to do more than occasionally fly my mini helicopter inside. Besides, it was making our new kitten (11 months old as of this writing) a little batty, which, in turn, made me a little batty.
I felt right at home from the start with the Concord Skyhawks. Daren Hudson, the AMA District I associate vice president and education and public outreach advocate, told me he highly recommended the club. “The Northeast Region International Miniature Aerobatic Club [IMAC] community and I, along with the wonderful Skyhawks club officers and members, have resurrected the IMAC contests at the great flying site throughout the past several years. We now hold two events each year: one in June and the other in September.”
I’d spoken with a few members throughout the years while at other flying events, so there were some familiar faces, which brought a level of comfort. Still, I felt some anxieties that I suppose we all feel when we face change. Sure, it’s a flying field, but it’s a new one. What is the sun-in-the-face situation, and during what time of day? Would I have access to the gate code? How smooth is the field?
My first time there was in May, a day after I joined. I’m thrilled to say that the experience was great! My boyfriend accompanied me, which was his first introduction to the RC flight world. (He thinks it’s the neatest thing!) We met Rick Taylor, the club’s field operation manager, who was kind enough to help me charge my HobbyZone AeroScout’s batteries at the field’s charging station. I met a couple of other new pilots and saw some familiar faces too.
Unfortunately, I was unable to fly because of some unexpected glitches. My AeroScout needed a new receiver and my transmitter had the rudder and elevator inputs reversed. As is common among RC modelers, help and camaraderie were in full swing.
They gathered around my airplane
like surgeons over a patient, carefully maneuvering one cord slightly one way, while someone else uttered something about binding and blinking, hoping to make it come back to life. It didn’t, but now armed with the knowledge of the right items to buy, I will soon be headed to the hobby store so that I can take to the sky.
Although I was happy that people came together to help, I was disappointed that I was unable to fly that day. It’s been great flying a bit in my living room and fun to head to a local airport to watch full-scale airplanes take off and land, but I’m itching to get my model up there! I can’t wait.
I’m happy that I have a place for my airplane—and for me—to call home sweet home. It feels good to be out and back at it again. The sun situation at this new location is fine, the field is nice and smooth (and long!), I have the gate code, and, as the story goes, some nonmember far away from our field who decided to get his trousers in a twist over people having fun and flying has been reassured that it’s A-okay and won’t make him go deaf. So, all is good in the world.
The overall vibe was great, and I’m excited to head out there again soon. It’s new and a bit scary for that reason, but with change comes change, right?
Happy flying to you all!
SOURCES:
Concord Skyhawks R/C Club
www.concordskyhawks.com
