Radio controlled aircraft on display for veterans
By MIKE DONAHEY, TIMES-REPUBLICANArticle Photos
About 20 residents of the Iowa Veterans Home witnessed aerial combat, helicopters flying upside down and colorful airplanes with passengers doing acrobatics Saturday.
The event was not at the Des Moines International Airport. The combat and acrobatics were real, but the passengers were figurines and the aircraft were being controlled from the ground by sophisticated radios and experienced, trained hobbyists.
Members of the Marshalltown Radio Control Flyers Club were putting on the display for the IVH residents, staff and volunteers at their new location off 18th Avenue North, about one-half block from the E. Main Street and 18th Avenue intersection.
"Pretty good," was resident Robert Haub's response to a question about his impressions of the activities and model airplanes on the ground near him in the "pit" area.
"It's a dandy," he replied, when asked about the sunny and warm conditions.
The pit area held a variety of aircraft of all colors, shapes and sizes. Several were modeled after conventional aircraft while others were designed to resemble fighter planes.
The club of 41 central Iowa members had planned a busy day for the residents, who were also treated to lunch, beverages and plenty of shade.
Secretary Jim Zimmerman of Marshalltown said they wanted to entertain the residents and "show off" their new location.
For many years, club members flew their aircraft at the "old landfill" north of town. Then the site was purchased by another organization.
"The local hunt club bought it," club member Ed Boehm of Marshalltown said. "We worked with the city to get this property. It used to be a field for crops. We leveled the high points down and rolled it about three times." Boehm pointed to a large silver roller parked nearby.
Zimmerman said "the city had been very helpful and good to work with" in allowing the club to use the flood plain area. "The new location gives us more room and more visibility. Since we've moved here, we've added about eight new members"
The MRCFC was formed in 1981 and is a charter member of the Academy of Model Aeronautics. According to the AMA, "people who enjoy the hobby of miniature aircraft are called "model builders," or "aeromodelers."
Club members said aircraft can cost from $50 to $5,000 and aeromodelers on the average expect to spend in a range from $350 to $400 per year on fuel and aircraft accessories.
Some models can be built from kits or purchased assembled. Both can be purchased at a hobby shop in Des Moines.
Member Shawn Hovel of Marshalltown flew his helicopter before and during the event.
Hovel said he had flown airplanes for about 12 years before he started on helicopters six or seven years ago.
"Flying helicopters is something different" he said. "It is harder to balance them. I still enjoy flying planes, though."
A number of the aircraft used Saturday are gasoline powered, but Zimmerman said more and more members are using electric motor airplanes.
According to AMA promotional material provided by Beohm, the aircraft are controlled from the ground by means of a transmitter which sends radio signals to the model. The model carries a tiny receiver, which can receive as many as 14 channels of information from the transmitter. This information is "decoded" or sorted out and passed on to small electric motors which make the model go up, down, right, or left. Other motors may be used to control the airplane's engine speed, wheel brakes, retract the landing gear (wheels) and open hatches to drop parachutes or other items.
The club meets at 1:30 p.m. the first Sunday of the month from May through October at the field. From November through April, the club meets at 7 p.m. the first Monday of the month at the Fisher Community Center. Contact president Chad Witte at 641-753-8530.
---
Contact Mike Donahey at 641-753-6611 or mdonahey@ timesrepublican.com
