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Show . Aircraft Clbb .. . August 13. 1998 . - l I . members stay on ground by SSgt. Timothy Trager Hilltop Times staff - t'sjust after dawn and each breath of morning air is crisp and refreshing. You take a final sip of coffee andyou're ready to geTstarted on your checklist. The tires look good. Flight control surfaces, rudder? Check. Ailerons? Check. Elevator? Check. Throttle response proves positive, so it's time to go. You take a deep breath; fix your eyes forward and advance the throttle to full. Your aircraft speeds ((own the runway and lifts into the air high above p ht your head. High above your head? While the pilots of Hill's Falcon Remote Control Aircraft Club stay oh the ground as they fly their planes of all types and sizes, the adrenaline rush is still present. The club has been in existence for more than three years and has a small runway on the west side of the base on Wardleigh Road near the Hill Rod and Gun Club. "Having a flying site on base is very convenient and provides a controlled environment for the base and the flyers," said Lee Kranendonk, club president. "It's like having our own private flying field." The club and the base require flyers to have flight insurance that is available for around $45 a year and in some cases includes a monthly magazine. "Although we are not trying to compete with the clubs downtown, we purposely made our club very I Photos by SSgt. Timothy Trager Calvin Earl, above, readies his remote controlled Hobbis-ta- r Trainer for take- off. Lt. Col. Tim Hardy, left, brings his I on PinAr J-- 3 the Cuh in final approacn. Lee Kranendonk' Tigershark takes off from the club landing strip, below. F-- affordable to give military members and base employ- ees with limited incomes an opportunity to join in a hobby that's challenging and fun," said Kranendonk. ' Nowdays, model airplanes are amazingly realistic. They have the same basic flight controls as full size aircraft and can easily fly at scale speeds and faster. "I've always loved gadgets and have always been interested in electronics and technology, and this is an extension of those interests," said Lt. Col. Tim Hardy, 75th Security Forces Squadron commander. "I love to fly, and it's a lot more expensive to fly the real thing. I get a lot of enjoyment out of flying models. Sometimes I will come out here and fly and fly until something breaks, then I have to go home and make repairs. I have a private pilot license, so I have the knowledge of how an airplane flies, but after having done it I wouldn't recommend that someone teach himself to fly remotes." Flying RC airplanes takes considerable skill. It can be learned, in most cases, in a few weekends with a good trainer. "We have enough seasoned pilots in the club to make a good pool of trainers," said Kranendonk. "Our trainers are more then willing to help new members get in the air and teach them to fly suc- ? cessfully. "Starting in the hobby is not as expensive as you might think," said Kranendonk "The way most people get started is to buy an airplane kit and some glue and just start building. When you get to the point that you need to put in an engine then you can buy one. You just piece it together as you go along, and before you know it you're ready for the flying field. It's very rewarding to see an airplane that you built fly, and more rewarding to take it home in one piece." Most crashes result in some extra gluing and using that stash of "just in case" balsa for repairs, but usually the motor and radio equipment survives just II fine. Occasionally one does have that hole-diggin- g, parts-smashin- gravity-provin- blank stare-causin- crash that may result in having to plead with your spouse for some extra hobby funds. That's just the way the model aircraft crumbles. The modelers have a saying, a sort of code if you will, "You build'em to fly'em. If you fly 'em you're going to crash'em. When you crash'em, you just dry your eyes and rebuild'em." If you don't want to spend the time building there models available in the $100 range, are also p crowd-pleasin- g lt " II II J and you simply install the motor and radio equipment. Remote control radios start in price around $100. For around $275 you can get started with everything you need, maybe not everything you want, but plenty to get started. As with most hobbies you can spend more if you like. If you are interested in learning more about the hobby or would like to join the club, the Falcons meets at the Hill Chapel Annex the fourth Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. For more information call Lee Kranendonk. or Jeff Ingraham, Ext. 543-337- 7, |