District I
Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont
Associate Vice President (AVP) Andrew Figlar provided the following report on the Fairfield Flying Aces Club for this month’s column. The photographs were taken by his cousin, Richard Renkavinsky.
Cold winters, low sun angle, and relentless wind are not conducive to those RC fliers who want year-round flying fun, so indoor flying at local schools, buildings, or gyms is a popular way to enjoy flying during the winter season.
The Bigelow Center for Senior Activities in Fairfield, Connecticut, opened its doors to a few RC fliers in 2013, at the request of local pilots Rick DeAngelis and Ron Atwater. The group grew to a dozen fliers who, on Wednesday afternoons each week, from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m., utilize the facility for RC flying enjoyment. They named themselves the Flying Aces.
The Bigelow gym dimensions are 72 x 55 feet with a ceiling height of 30 feet. Although roughly 30 feet shorter than a high school gym, it’s conducive to flying small RC airplanes such as a Horizon Hobby ultramicro UMX Vapor, Ember 2, and J-3 Cub, an Eratix, or the Twisted Hobby’ mini 3D 24-inch model airplanes.
Remarkable flying maneuvers are routinely performed in the gym by 25-year-old Nick Mocciola with his Tech One Hobbies 32-inch SU-29 ARF powered by a 1,700 Kv motor.
A second notable flier is Nan Jackson of Fairfield. This senior, full-scale pilot has been flying indoor RC for about 8 years. She is a Smith College and Harvard graduate who flies a Yak 54.
Two of our fliers selflessly help other members with setting up their models, flying, and repairing damaged aircraft. They are Art Fressola, who has been doing this for 10 years, and Jeff Cronin, an electrical wizard who has been helping others for roughly 5 years. Both men willingly give up their own flying time to aid members in the group.
Thanks Andrew, Richard, and Fairfield Flying Aces club members for reporting on how you all enjoy indoor RC flying during the winter months.
