District III

Edition: Model Aviation - 2024/12
Page Numbers: 111

District III

Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia

Every year, for the past 60 years on Labor Day weekend, the Burke Lakefront Airport has hosted the Cleveland National Airshow. For 50 of those years, the Mentor Area Radio Control Society (MARCS) and friends have been involved in RC flying demonstrations and AMA/club awareness for model aviation.

In celebration of this anniversary, the club’s patriarch, Bernie Oldenburgh, was presented with AMA’s Distinguished Service Award for being the thrust behind the club’s lasting contributions. I was honored to assist District III Associate Vice President (AVP) Tony Husak in the presentation. Before the air show, several of the club members and invited guests put on a rapid-paced mini air show for roughly a half hour.

A young family of brothers performed RC aerobatics demonstrations that were supported by their father and mentor; they are all accomplished pilots. This event, of course, is a full-scale air show, which, this year, included the U.S. Navy Blue Angels.

Family of model aircraft fliers with airplanes — (L-R): The Hershberger family fliers Eddie, mentor Barry Ruble, Ethan, Marcus, dad Ray, and Timothy.

MARCS members and their invited guest fliers and families.

Group of MARCS members and guest fliers — MARCS members and their invited guest fliers and families.

On September 12-15, at Springfield-Beckly Municipal Airport in Springfield, Ohio, the Great War Aeroplanes Association (GWAA) hosted the rebranded version of the Dawn Patrol Rendezvous. The last event was held in 2022 at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio, and was a recurring event every two years starting in 2003.

The 2024 version resulted in many positive changes, with coordinated efforts between RC operations and full-scale replicas, while the airport remained open. The event was well attended for a new venue. Numerous sorties were flown by both groups.

As in the past, the pilots choose “Best of” winners in three categories. This year’s winners were Greg Hahn’s Caproni (Best of Show), Bryan Baumer’s Fokker D.VII (Best Central Powers), and Randy Adams’ Nieuport 17 (Best Entente Powers). Photos courtesy of Lee McDuffee.