District III
Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia
I received an email from Phillip Van Winkle, president of the Licking County Radio Control Club (LRCCC), inviting me to his club’s 60th anniversary celebration on August 14, 2022. Without hesitation, I said I would attend because there are not many clubs that have been around for 60 years!
I arrived early and had time to walk the club’s beautiful, manicured field, which features a nice, large pavilion with electric power for meetings and picnics. As members arrived, discussions began about the club’s history throughout the years. I was able to share my stories from the 1970s, when I flew in the club’s Pattern contests (at a different field), which was famous for having a huge set of power lines running parallel to the flightline. The lines were intimidating and looked closer than they were and, with 72 MHz radios,
At noon, food was served and the club officers gathered. I presented the club with the Award of Excellence, the highest award that a chartered club can achieve. After the award, the field was open for flying and celebrating LRCCC’s milestone achievement. Congratulations, LRCCC, for 60 years of representing our great hobby and the AMA. With the leadership and enthusiasm that I witnessed, your club will be around for many years to come.
On July 16, 2022, I flew into Springfield Beckley Airport in Ohio to attend the annual Dewey Davenport Barnstorming Carnival. This event celebrates the Golden Age of aviation, when biplanes and barnstorming were the norm. The air was filled with biplanes giving rides, kids racing pedal planes, a car show, and more. Model aircraft were included in the form of RC demonstrations and buddy-box flying, thanks to the Fairborn Flying Aces and the Springfield Model Airplane Club.
During the RC demonstrations, Dewey announced to the public the various maneuvers that were being flown and stated that model airplanes are what inspired him to become a corporate jet pilot—a testimony to how important our hobby is to inspire the next generation of aerospace engineers, mechanics, pilots, and more. For more information about Dewey, go to www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2022/july/flight-training-magazine/....
Until next month, stay safe and fly safely.
