District III
Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia
With the outdoor flying season now well under way across District III, it is worth recognizing a pair of indoor events in Ohio that have helped pilots sharpen their skills in advance of spring.
On March 28, I attended an indoor RC gathering at the Kent State University Field House in Kent, Ohio, that was hosted by the Ohio Indoor RC Flyers. The venue remains one of the few large indoor flying sites of its kind in the state.
Events are generally held monthly in the evening, with the final session of the season expanding into the afternoon and evening. Not having flown in a facility of this size for several years, I was struck by both the scale of the venue and the impressive turnout of pilots and aircraft. Credit is due to organizer Marc Stermer and the Ohio Indoor RC Flyers for providing a welcome opportunity to fly and for helping to satisfy the strong winter demand for indoor RC activity.
Ohio Indoor RC Flyers organizer Marc Stermer and his B-17.
The flying Shrivers at the Ohio Indoor RC Flyers gathering at the Kent State Field House in Kent, Ohio. (L-R): Dad, Matt; mom, Shauna; and daughter, Lilly.
The second indoor event is not new, but it is a reinvention of one of District III’s best-known traditions: the Toledo R/C Swap Meet & Expo. It was held April 9-10 at the Glass City Center in Toledo, Ohio.
For anyone who has spent the past decade or more in the hobby, the Toledo Expo needs little introduction. After the pandemic, however, the original event, The Toledo Show: R/C Model Expo, came to an end because the Weak Signals RC Club faced the realities of shifting consumer habits and a changing marketplace. Rather than letting a legend fade, Ohio modeler Henry Rauhaus recognized an opportunity to reshape the show into a large-scale swap meet with renewed energy and appeal. Under his leadership, the event has grown stronger each year and now feels every bit as much like a major vendor expo as it does a traditional swap meet.
Master swapper and Toledo R/C Swap Meet & Expo organizer Henry Rauhaus.
This year also welcomed back the aircraft static display competition and featured an eye-catching array of aircraft, helicopters, boats, cars, and more. Friday evening’s auction added yet another highlight, with a meaningful share of the proceeds benefiting the AMA Foundation in support of Flying Site Assistance Grants, Club Disaster Grants, and other important programs. Du-Bro also deserves special recognition for matching the funds that were raised from the auction of an Ercoupe model—perhaps the most expensive Ercoupe model ever sold!
One of the many beautiful static display models at Toledo.
AMA staff were busy signing up members and answering questions.
The Du-Bro booth was very busy at Toledo.
Thanks to Henry and his team, the legendary Toledo Show is not only back but thriving—and it looks well-positioned to remain a standout event for years to come.
Happy flying!
