District I

District I

Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont

I have wanted to attend the Rutland County RC Flyers (RCRCF) Fun Fly event in Vermont since a column was submitted to me by club member Dave Dress in 2010. I was impressed by the many amenities he described for attendees, including the noontime air show, RV/camper overnight parking but most of all, the aerial photo of the 800-foot grass runway on a 2,000-foot unobstructed site nestled in the beautiful green mountains of Vermont.

I was unable to attend until this year. District I Associate Vice President Steve Brehm and I drove the 200-mile scenic route to the club on a Friday. The site and surroundings were even more magnificent in person. We were greeted by Mike Murphy, the club president, and the pilots who were already there and flying.

After I set up the AMA shade tent and tables with promotional handouts, a flight simulator, and a district-donated E-flite Apprentice for the

Aerial view of the Rutland County RC Flyers’ flying site — The Rutland County RC Flyers’ site has 2,000 feet of unobstructed length with an 800-foot main grass runway, allowing any type and size of RC aircraft to be flown.

The Rutland County RC Flyers’ site has 2,000 feet of unobstructed length with an 800-foot main grass runway, allowing any type and size of RC aircraft to be flown.

club’s raffles, I updated the members during the pilots’ meeting on the FAA-Recognized Identification Areas (FRIA) application process and the successes we were having with the FAA in acquiring altitudes above 400 feet at club sites. We had an absolutely terrific time during our two-day stay, talking with such a friendly group of club members and attendees, answering questions, learning more about the club, and sharing memories about fun times in the hobby! Everyone enjoyed the noon air show that featured all of the popular types of model aircraft, with electric-, glow-, gas-, and turbine-powered scale, sport, aerobatic, and warbirds being flown.

This event certainly qualifies as one of the best premier events in the district that’s exceptionally well planned and run by an AMA Gold Leader club. Thank you, RCRCF, for a great event and for promoting aeromodeling.

Two people holding an RC Apprentice model airplane — The club’s vice president, Steve Messiter (L), won the District I-donated RC Apprentice.

The club’s vice president, Steve Messiter (L), won the District I-donated RC Apprentice.

Group of club officers and members at the fun-fly — The group photo includes the club officers and members in red T-shirts, whose efforts resulted in a great annual fun-fly for the pilots and spectators who were given time to view the airplanes up close and ask questions.

The group photo includes the club officers and members in red T-shirts, whose efforts resulted in a great annual fun-fly for the pilots and spectators who were given time to view the airplanes up close and ask questions.

People and model aircraft at the fun-fly

(L-R): Pictured above are Ken Hall, with his 42% O’ Tiger racer; Phil Camp, with his scale 101-inch wingspan B-25 warbird; club Safety Officer Bob Wilcox, with his Slick 580 airplane; and Mike Murphy, presenting an AMA model airplane to a youngster.

Composite of people displaying and flying model aircraft — (L-R): Pictured above are Ken Hall, with his 42% O’ Tiger racer; Phil Camp, with his scale 101-inch wingspan B-25 warbird; club Safety Officer Bob Wilcox, with his Slick 580 airplane; and Mike Murphy, presenting an AMA model airplane to a youngster.