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Sunday, September 30, 2012

FCRCC Static display and RC Flying Demonstration at the Fremont County Airport and EAA Fly-In

I would like to take a moment and thank everyone for their participation from the Fremont County Radio Control Club of Fremont County, the Sky-Corral Radio Control Club of Pueblo County and also the Pikes Peak Radio Control Club of El Paso County.
Without everyone's hard work and willing participation at this event, it would not have went off without a hitch and on schedule like it did. Things went very smoothly from everyone I spoke to, including all the various club's members, along with airport personnel, airport management, airport board members and also numerous EAA members and several other full scale pilots in attendance who attended the airshow, whom all of them were giving our setup and participation high marks for everything we all did to support the Fremont County Airport and EAA Fly-In on 09-29-2012. We also collected a small amount of donated funds to go towards our charitable donation works for the FCRCC Club endeavors.
 I certainly feel that both the airshow and fly-in were extremely well attended by the general public throughout the entire duration of the event, and our static display setup was attended by numerous folks all throughout the day.
I did notice what I believe it to be was, the KOAA Channel 5 News team reporter/videographer crew were there at the airport taking lots of photographs and film footage all over the property during the show, so we may also make the local newscasts and newspapers too. Has anyone seen anything of that sort yet?
 Several of the owners of various classic cars that were also in attendance at the car show at the airport, came by our display area and gave good comments about all of the regions clubs working together so well to put on the demonstrations and displays that we all worked so hard on together. Several of the classic car owners are also fellow RC pilots as well too.
We seemed to have had a lot of interest and questions from the public in attendance about the club locally in Fremont County, as well as the other RC clubs in the region, and what we all are about. There were handouts of general information printed up for the spectators to take home with them, and also some membership applications were given out to folks that attended our display area. I hope that bears some new members for the club locally here, as well as the other clubs in the region, and I feel it sure never hurts us to get the word out about our organizations, and all the community involvement that we all do as clubs throughout the region.
Kids of all ages both young and old, were telling tales and stories about what they still have to fly now, as well as what they built and flew way back when, and also what they still have laying about in the attic and such places from long ago, and it seemed to really put a warm smile on the faces of those good folks telling the stories, and remembering all the fun they both have and had while building and flying their models. More than one full scale pilot came up to us and said that the building and modeling and flying of RC style aircraft was a great helping step in them going on to get their full scale pilot training also.
Once again, I would like to personally thank each and every one of you for helping out with this show, and I would also like to say it is definitely something that I look forward to helping out our regional airport with again in the future, should the clubs decide to do this again.
Warm Regards,
Mark J. Sullivan

Saturday, September 29, 2012

EAA Fly-In

This was a great airshow and well attended by planes and people and classic cars. We had good participation from both the Fremont R/C Club and also Pueblo Sky Corral Club.

We had a static display of a bunch of models plus R/C flying demonstration by several members.

Just some of the models on display. We ended up with twice as many

Santa Claus is early this year ... no that is Buzz behind the beard!   
   
We flew off a taxi strip at the west of the airport. Dennis' Yellow trainer is on the left.
 Around 9:30AM we had an opportunity to get in some R/C flying that got some attention. Dennis and Bob Crofford from our club and Kiwi from Sky Corral put on flying demonstrations.

Later in front of the hangers Jeff put on a great demo with his E-flite Ultra-Micro Carbon Cub. It had amazing capabilities and Jeff wowed the crowd with his aerobatics.
Bob Crofford put on a great aerobatic show with his Eratix 3D

Eratix 3D

Kiwi and Jeff from Sky Corral. Kiwi is flying and Jeff is handling comm with Flight Operations

On far left Dennis is flying his yellow trainer
There were some great full-scale planes. Below are a few pictures:
Two Yak advanced trainers giving us some smoke

Closeup of one of the Yaks

It was a thrill to see the Hawker Sea Furry

The Sea Furry had Australian markings

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Fremont County Airport/EAA Fly-In update and Temporary Runway Closure

RC Flying Field Runway Temporary Closure Information is contained in this following email letter.
Thanks to everyone for their understanding and support of this unique situation.
Mark J. Sullivan

P.S. I will post a notice at the entrance to the field of the Temporary Runway Closure and also I'll leave a copy of this following letter on the Info Kiosk at the field and also inside the Impound building too.



Hello everyone,
I just got out of the final planning meeting at the Fremont County airport in regards to the upcoming EAA/Fremont County Airport Fly-In on Monday morning at 8 AM.
 There were 9 different individuals involved in this morning planning meeting, and it appears that there will be a tremendous amount of both static displayed, and live transient air traffic aircraft during this coming Saturday September 29th, 2012 event. We will be given a walkie-talkie type of hand-held radio to monitor inbound and outbound air traffic at the airport during the event for both ours and everyone else's safety involved in this event. We are tentatively scheduled to perform an RC Flight demonstration for the public between the times of 09:30-10:00 AM with our RC aircraft on the West parallel taxiway area West of the Main Ramp parking and tie-down area using the East-West taxiway as our runway for our use. We will also monitor the airport aircraft traffic throughout the entire event, and will be able to perform other flights during other times, with considerations of weather, wind and airport fly-in traffic dictating when we are able to fly at other times.
In addition to the RC flying demonstrations including both helicopters and airplanes, we will also have a reserved area in front of the airport main terminal building where almost all of the public  foot traffic will be concentrated at for viewing our displays. We were given permission also to put out a donation jar for our charitable fundraising activities for the Sangre DeCristo Hospice and the Fremont County Boys and Girls Club charities at our static display area. Dependent upon the amount of air traffic in the vicinity of the airport we may not be able to conduct any free buddy-box flying with prospective students at that time at the flight demonstration area, so we will just simply have to play that one by ear for now. I will pre-stage my open trailer in front of the airport terminal either late Friday evening or very early on Saturday morning, before the event gets underway. The event people that I had to meet with this morning asked that we  try to have all of our displays set up by 08:00-08:30 AM Saturday morning at the very latest. I will have the flatbed ready long before then for fellow pilots to bring their various types of aircraft for display, and we will need some members to stay near the display area to answer questions from the public and to keep an eye on our models on display, in case any winds start blowing them around also. I'd appreciate seeing several members of our club in attendance at both the static display area and also the flight demonstration line to the West of the ramp. We may need someone to escort students over to the flight demonstration area for buddy box flights, and then back over to the general viewing area also, as needed. Please bring chairs and such with you to attend the display and flight areas during our clubs involvement with this event. I will have my shade canopy available if needed also during this event too.
As the meeting progressed and all the different aspects of the day's busy activities were being discussed around the table, it became quite clear that there would be a significant amount of airport traffic, both inside the normal flight patterns, taking off and landing, as well as air traffic not following the normal flight patterns around the airport during fly overs and demonstrations, along with skydiving demonstrations landing at the airport ramp area, as well as helicopter rides being given all day long throughout the day coming and going across the pattern possibly, rather than in the usual East and West patterns, and for this reason of safety concerns being first and foremost, it was decided to ask our club to restrict any and all use of our own runway and club areas for our RC flying use, between the hours of 08:30 AM until 12:00 PM noon MST on Saturday October 29th, 2012 upon the request of Dick Baker and the Fremont County Airport Board in attendance during this mornings meeting. Anytime before or after those times is perfectly ok to use our facility for flying on that day, unless some other unexpected event occurs that day, and if so, there will be notice given then at that time to the members of our club wishing to fly then at the club field after the scheduled flight restriction time.
I will have a schedule of events with me for everyone to see what all is scheduled throughout the event, so please contact me anytime to see the final schedule if needed. I was also given a top-view type of a map overlooking the airport and the planned layout of all of the various parts of the event going on that day, so please let me know if you need to see either the schedule of events or the top view map layouts.
 I hope to see a tremendous turnout of club members, and also their families and friends with them, participating in and enjoying the entire event, and assisting fellow club members with this event, the same that I've had the pleasure of witnessing in conjunction with other past club events. Bring lots of planes, helicopters and flight equipment and such for display to the public, and also we can be there to answer the publics questions about our club and various types of aircraft and equipment on display.
Please pass this letter on to anyone that you can think of that may need to know about our club field temporary flight restrictions and also about our clubs participation during the EAA/Fremont County Airport Fly-In event that I may not have any other way of contacting those individuals.
Thanks in advance to everyone for their participation during the upcoming event, and also for their understanding in the upcoming temporary flight restrictions at our club field.
If anyone has questions or comments please contact me anytime on my cell phone at 719-240-6805 and also to let us know when you can volunteer to assist us during the event.
Regards,
Mark J. Sullivan
 
CC  to FCRCC club email members; Dick Baker airport manager; John Marietta airport board member; Hans Miesler RV-4 Renegades flight captain and coordinator and others

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Anybody recognize this pilot???

I had the pleasure of watching Rhett Sharp testing out his Sky-Bolt, and then getting it up in the air flying with NO TRIM NEEDED!!!!
Don't we all wish all of our planes flew this good right off the flight stand??? Congratulations on a great flight Rhett, and I hope to see it back at the field with the final trim color scheme completed on it, and flying as great as the first flight was.

Pre-Flight jitters!!!!!!!!!!

Making sure it is right.

Run it up to check it out.

Taxi testing before its first flight.

And a great landing and first flight!!!

Doesn't that look really nice!!!!

Monday, September 17, 2012

Fremont County Airport Event



The Fremont R/C Flying Club will be giving R/C flying demonstrations at the following Airport Event on Saturday September 29th



Sunday, September 16, 2012

A HUGE TURNOUT!!!! What a great success.

The Fremont County Radio Control Club held their annual Hammer Bellino Memorial Fun-Fly on Saturday, September 15th 2012 at the FCRCC airfield to a HUGE turnout of pilots, friends and spectators.
The Fremont County Boys and Girls Club brought out several boys and girls to the field to try their hand at buddy box flying and some introductory flight instruction.
 Numerous fellow RC pilots from the Sky-Corral RC Club came up from Pueblo, CO. to support our fund raising activities and have a look at our field. They jumped at the chance to fire up several of their planes and enjoy some absolutely perfect Colorado weather for flying. We all certainly appreciate their support of our club activities, and fund raisers by all means.
Several FCRCC member pilots attended the day's activities as well, and brought planes and heli's to fly and display throughout the day also. As the noon hour approached we got ready to feed at least 50 or more people and Steve Stafford had to make a fast dash back to town for more food, so nobody left without eating. There were hamburgers, brats, hot dogs and Polish sausages to grill for everyone, along with all the fixings including fruit salad, pasta salad, chips, dips, watermelon, cookies, doughnuts and all sorts of water and sodas. If you left hungry it was a shame.
After the noontime lunch meal that was provided by the FCRCC members, we then held two drawings for give away prizes. First up was the Club-purchased Pandora airplane drawing, which was won by fellow club member Terry Davis. Congratulations Terry, and we hope you enjoy building and flying your new plane.
Next up for the drawing was a Glider kit donated by Buzz Haviland, and was won by one of the Fremont County Boys and Girls Club kids, who's name I do not recall. (Any help here anyone?)
After the drawings and lunch, the buddy box student flying, as well as flying enjoyed by several fellow AMA pilots continued for awhile longer, with great weather and light breezes to compliment the fantastic support and fellowship of everyone in attendance. The kids and not so young kids had a great time of flying and visiting.
Thanks to everyone for all their hard work and support for this great Memorial Fun-Fly.

 Enjoy the pictures of a great time and join us again for more fun and festivities.

Buzz Haviland with several friends and visitors.

Terry Davis wins the Pandora Club Drawing airplane kit.

Some of the various RC Planes at the Memorial Fun-Fly event.




Some of the Boys and Girls Club members with the winner's glider kit.

Kenny's 1/3 scale Piper Cub, and it flies so beautifully.

Kiwi, who hails from New Zealand joined us for the  great time of flying today.

Some of the kids looking over the glider kit that one of them won .

Friday, September 14, 2012

Newest Member

Our newest member, Casey Crofford and some of the flying activities Friday morning are pictured below.

Casey Crofford

Casey and father Bob on the buddy box
The Crofford's planes


Dennis observing the training

Mark brought and flew the planes on the right of the picture

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Just a reminder of our club's annual Hammer Bellino Fun-Fly event



Howdy Everybody,
Just a quick reminder to everyone that the Fremont County Radio Control Club is hosting their annual Hammer Bellino Memorial Fly-In this coming Saturday, September 15th 2012, at the club airfield, located at the South-Western corner of the Fremont County Airport property. Take Highway 50 to the junction of Highway 67, which is located near the front of the Fremont County Airport at the Highway 50 and Highway 67 junction stoplight. From that intersection, turn South on Highway 67 heading towards Florence, CO. and travel only 1.1 miles to the entry gate for the Fremont County Radio Control Club Hammer Bellino Airfield. The field entry gate is located right near the South side of the large  tan colored water tank, located alongside the East side of Highway 67 heading South towards Florence, CO.
Spectators are always welcome at anytime year round, as well as during the numerous club events.
No pilot landing fees are being charged for this event, but a suggested minimum of $1.00 Dollar donation to the club to donate to their favorite charities, which are the Fremont County Boys and Girls Club and also the Sangre DeCristo Hospice of Southern Colorado. We also have invited members and sponsors of the Fremont County Boys and Girls club to this Fun-Fly event, to both watch and possibly do some buddy-box flying at this event.
We are also hosting a Pot-Luck Lunch at the noon-time hour during the Memorial fly-in, and suggested foods to bring to share with everyone are desserts, salads, chips, condiments and the like items. Please bring a chair, along with your family, and the club will be supplying the hot dogs, hamburgers, brats and/or polish sausages. We will also supply the buns, sodas and refreshments free of charge too. Some members will be starting to get to the field at 8 AM Saturday morning or earlier, in preparation of the days events, and we expect the festivities to last all throughout the day. The quote "official" unquote starting time for this event is listed as 10 AM, but feel free to join in the festivities at your convenience.
Any and all sorts of powered aircraft are welcome to fly, with the exception of non-powered free-flight style gliders and the like, since our lease restricts that particular activity due to the close proximity to the active airport, so please bring your RC planes and helicopters and such with you. We encourage the flying all sorts of airplanes and helicopters, including gassers, nitro and electrics. AMA is also required to fly, but definitely not to just come enjoy the visit, and watching the flying. Bring the nitro and electric off-road RC trucks and crawlers also, if you would like to.
 The "Weather-Bug" extended weather forecast for Saturday around the area and around the field is saying: "Mostly clear and sunny with light breezes 3-6 mph expected. High temperatures Saturday are expected to be 76-83 degrees throughout the day also.
Please check out our Club web site anytime at  www.fcrcc.blogspot.com for lots more information about this event and lots of other club events and activities too.
Feel free to give me a phone call anytime day or night in regards to this event or any other questions or concerns at (719)-240-6805.
 We all hope to see you there Saturday, and throughout the rest of the year also,
 
Regards,
Mark J. Sullivan
 
P.S.
In case I have inadvertently missed out emailing this to any of the members of the Fremont County RC Club or the Sky Corral RC Club, please feel free to forward this email to anyone I may have missed. Also, since I do not have a current listing of email addresses for the Pikes Peak Radio Control Club's members, if anyone else has a way to contact them, to let them know about this event, as well as any other AMA registered pilots anywhere, please forward this email to them to let them know they are most definitely invited also. I would certainly be most grateful for the assistance. Thanks again everyone.

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Another maiden flight...well for me since I've owned it anyhow

Tower Hobbies Uproar is missing the bubble canopy.
I purchased this Tower Hobbies Uproar from an old club member before he got out of RC airplanes for awhile, by the name of Jim Green who lives up in Colorado Springs. I got both the Tower Hobbies Uproar, and my now deceased Great Planes Big Stick from him about a year or so ago, and I flew the wing off of the Big Stick (both literally and figuratively) for a good number of months and numerous flights, using a new OS .55AX for power. That Big Stick was the one that the wing separated on it in flight, due to a wing mounting lug failure, while up at the Flying Giants sponsored Midwest Giant Scale Huck fest in Rapid City, South Dakota this past June. The fuselage plunged to the ground rapidly, destroying the fuselage, while the wing that separated away, just floated down to the ground slowly. I have finally just now gotten around to feeling that I may have enough skill to attempt flying this fast moving acrobatic Uproar airplane of mine. It is definitely a sweet flying plane with the real thick cord "Hershey Bar" style airfoil wing and will give you  change back from turning on a dime. I maidened it this morning for my first time, with Bill Worthen Sr. in attendance standing nearby to assist in trim work and coaching, and I certainly appreciate all of his great help. Thank you again Bill.
 Later in the afternoon I went out and met Ed Vincent and Steve Stafford and flew the Uproar again a few flights, and also put Ed on the sticks for a flight. We are both pleasantly surprised at how light it really feels in the air, and just how nimble it handles, even in the blustery and variable winds that we were flying in at the time.
 It is definitely a different one to land compared to all of the other hot and fast landing ones I've been used to flying here lately. Not overly difficult to accomplish so far, by any means....just different.

Tower Hobbies Uproar

Story and photos submitted by Mark J. Sullivan, 09-11-2012

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Sunday flying 09-09-2012

I arrived at the field around 9:30 AM or so, and found Dennis Sporing already there enjoying the cool morning temperatures after his first flight of the day, with his gorgeous yellow trainer looking plane. I've nicknamed it "The TWIST # 2" as he flies that thing like its a fully acrobatic aircraft, including inverted flight for a considerable amount of time. Taking into account that this trainer plane has a considerably large amount of dihedral built into the wing, and is also a flat bottom style airfoil, that is a big accomplishment to do. Soon after arriving at the field, I got my GP Escapade sport plane out, and did a short test flight of it after doing a small repair to the bottom of the tail surface back at the hangar. It still flies extremely quick and has great roll and climb rates for such a heavy plane.
 Next to arrive is Terry Davis with his beautiful Pulse .60 sport style airplane. That thing really hauls the mail in Terry's competent hands also. Now to the field comes Bill Worthen Sr. flying his Saito powered Super Sport speedster and he flies it so sweetly. It is just a joy to listen to that Saito 4 stroke growling and hustling around the skies. In between Dennis and  the other pilots flying, I took my GP Escapade back up for a few more flights throughout the morning.
 Soon Bill Worthen Jr. arrived at the field to fly his GP Big Stick, when he discovered the aileron servos were not functioning correctly as commanded by his radio, so he returned it to the truck and brought out his gorgeous Hangar 9 Piper Cub, and after a very thorough pre-flight inspection and range testing the radio system, he and his Dad Bill Sr. took to the runway for taxi testing and preparations for it's maiden flight.
After a couple of attempts, and a few small tweaks and checks, they returned to the runway and took off with this beautiful flying airplane. A very successful maiden flight ensued for a long period of smooth flying, and then some passes at low altitude down the runway getting set up for Bill Jr's. first landing attempt with this new airplane. A textbook picture-perfect landing for a great ending to this planes maiden flight and a deep sigh of relief on behalf of the owner Bill Jr. and a very proud Father Bill Sr. ensued. Too bad I don't own a Kodak camera to get better quality pictures of the great Kodak moments, but something is better than nothing they say.
Here are some pictures of the beautiful day and a successful maiden flight:

Bill Worthen Jr. and his Father Bill Sr.


Taxi Testing.

Son with his Father flying.

STEADDDDYYY.....OK......here you go!!!!


What a beautiful flying plane!!!

Touching Down after a very successful Maiden Flight!!!


Isn't she a beauty.

My GP Escapade sport plane.

Terry Davis prepping his Pulse .60 acrobatic plane.
Story and pictures submitted by Mark J. Sullivan on 09-09-2012

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Additional Warbirds Photos

Mark did a great job with his photos and commentary of the event. I've included a few extra flight photos.