OCR Text |
Show www.thespectrum.com — The Spectrum ST. GEORGE NEIGHBORHOODS For the week of November 14, 2008 — 13 Gerry Law secures the wings and cockpit to his Extra 300 radio controlled model airplane Saturday before taking flight on the new Remote Possibilities’ airstrip. Brayden Forsyth, 7, checks out one of the many model airplanes on the flight deck Saturday. A model pilot awaits takeoff in Al "Bones" Martin's model RIC airplane Saturday. RC e Continued from pg. 12 spent close to $50,000 of their own money for the airport, Lott said. “We've been saving for years, knowing this was going to happen, he said. “When things finally started to click and we got a site, the club pulled together’ Lott said more plans are in store for the site, including grass around the runway, trees, and spectator stands. The goal is to make the site ideal for watching air shows, or just spending time as a family at the site, he said. As field marshal, Waldvogel was heavily involved in creating the new site. “I was supposed to be the one that takes care of field maintenance, enforce rules, and clean up the site,’ Waldvogel said of his position. “But lately it means build a new airport: He said the runway was originally planned to stretch north and south. However, with that configuration, the pilots would have the sun in their eyes. Building the runway east to west would cause it to stretch into Shane Forsyth pilots aradio contaiied aiiplans from the Saturday. the Remot e Possibilities club's new ste wound on the edge of The Remote Possibilities flying club is raising money for _their new airstrip in Bloomington. State Trust Lands, so the club had to strike an agreement with the agency. “We worked through the issue. In March, we started moving the fence out there and in April, we started moving dirt,’ he said. The avid radio controlled pilot said he thinks the club now has one the “premier airports” in the region. “Tt was absolutely worth it, because the sun is always at our backs; the field marshal said, who owns at least 20 radio controlled airplanes. On Saturday morning, almost every nook in the new airport's pit was taken by a club member who was either flying — or getting ready to fly — a plane. Pilots taxi their planes to the runway, and then start the engines. Many are scale model airplanes that are replicas of real aircrafts. Waldvogel called the pastime an ‘infectious hobby, a sentiment repeated by many pilots. “There's no greater thrill than having a guided missile flying in the air and controlling it from the ground, Harris said. Remote Possibilities club was organized in 1978, Harris said, and became an Academy of Model Aeronautics Chartered Club in Club members vary in age, Lott said, from retired, to working dads and their young sons. This year’s membership ranges in age-from 10 to 85, he said. “It’s a good, clean family hobby, Lott said. For more information about the Remote Possibilities club, visit www.remoterc.com. |