District X
Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii, Nevada, Utah
The Tri-Valley RC Modelers Giant Scale Fly-In in Santa Maria, California, once again proved why it has become one of District X’s premier Giant Scale events. This year’s gathering welcomed more than 40 pilots and featured approximately 60 Giant Scale aircraft, including warbirds, sport aircraft, turbines, helicopters, and gliders. With close to 25 RVs on site, the field had the atmosphere of a true weekend fly-in from the moment you arrived.
What makes this event especially meaningful is its history. The club called the property home for nearly 14 years before losing access and being forced to relocate its regular flying activities to another field. According to event organizer Chuck Barnes, the Giant Scale Fly-In grew from just 17 pilots in its early years to 66 pilots and 35 campers during its final year at the field before the club lost access to the property. After several years away, the club was given the opportunity to return to its original flying site once each year, specifically for the event. This marked the second consecutive year that the Giant Scale Fly-In has returned home, making the weekend especially meaningful to longtime members and pilots.
A special thank you goes to event organizer and AMA District X Associate Vice President Chuck Barnes, Jody McCoy, and the entire Tri-Valley RC Modelers membership. Their dedication and countless volunteer hours created an outstanding weekend. The excellent tri-tip dinner and welcoming atmosphere were just another example of the club’s hospitality.
One of my favorite stories from the weekend came from father-and-son pilots David and Peter Zagnoli. Peter began flying RC aircraft with his father at approximately 8 years old. Today, he works with UAS for a defense contractor and credits much of the knowledge and hands-on experience that helped lead him into his career to model aviation. Peter’s story is a reminder that our hobby brings families together, develops practical skills, creates lifelong friendships, and can even open doors to careers in aviation.
As pilot Robert Broomfield said, “From Piper Cubs to Mustangs, if you fly Giant Scale, this would be the event to come to.”
Congratulations to everyone who made the outstanding weekend possible. I look forward to seeing this great tradition continue for many years to come.
Safe flying and safe landings!
