Old Town Valley Flyers to host 2-day event
Bob Draman, a longtime club member, said it is in the assembly and first flights stage that a club like Old Town Flyers can really help a newcomer.
Not every dream of flight involves going into the air. Old Town Valley Flyers RC Club gathers men and women who love to send their flying creations into the sky as model aircraft or drones.
The group will host a two-day event on July 21 and 22 that should give those with an interest in radio-controlled flight a good idea of how to become involved in the hobby. The event is split over two locations.
Club members will show their planes under a tent on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Magic Hobbies at 9929 state Route 21 NW, just north of Strasburg. The event will move to the club’s field at 4371 Hardy Ridge Road NW in Dundee on Sunday from 1-5 p.m. Both days are free and open to the public.
“We really want to encourage younger people, especially who might have an interest in learning about radio-controlled flying,” said Robert Draman of Old Town Valley Flyers, who talked about what it takes to start flying a radio-controlled plane or drone. “You can get a good start in the hobby by finding an already-assembled plane, ready to go, at a swap meet or from another flyer for around $250. Or you can buy what is called an ARF kit, which stands for Almost Ready to Fly. It’s mostly assembled, and you just add some of the landing gear and things like that.”
For serious purists, one also can buy the wood and parts and build a plane from scratch. “That used to be the way everyone did it, but you don’t see it much anymore,” Draman said.
Draman said it is in the assembly and first flights stage that a club like Old Town Flyers can really help a newcomer.
“Of course you can buy a plane or a drone and just go out and starting flying,” he said, “but you can start running into questions pretty quickly during assembly and setup. And once that process is complete, it’s helpful to have someone with experience to explain how to get your radio-controlled craft into the air safely. Many people are unaware there are regulations and rules you have to follow to fly an RC plane or drone. They might go out and start flying the thing higher than allowed or close to things you are required to avoid. That’s where club members can really help.”
The group, numbering around 30, tries to get together at least once a month to fly their planes and share problems and success stories.
“In February,” Draman said, “we sponsor a swap meet every year. It helps raise a little money for our club and is also a great place to see planes and learn something new. The experience and support our members offer is really valuable. The people in our club really enjoy flying and love to share what they know with others.”
Club member Doug Shoup will have a flight simulator on hand July 22 inside the building beside the club field, also allowing visitors to experience flight from the ground.
“We also do something called a buddy box setup,” Draman said, “where someone unfamiliar with flying a radio-controlled craft can take over the controls while a more experienced flyer is ready to jump in and help if needed.”
The Old Town Valley Flyers RC Club website is at www.oldtownvalleyflyers.org.