Model airplanes take to the skies Sept. 9

MOSES LAKE - A group of radio-controlled airplane pilots will sponsor a fly-in for pilots and spectators Sept. 9 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at McKay Field, about one mile south of town on Baseline Road.

The Casey McKay Fun Fly is for owners of model radio-controlled aircraft, whether they're built from scratch, from a kit or purchased ready-made. It is sponsored by the Moses Lake Radio Control Modelers club.

Airplanes with any of the common power plants can be flown, but pilots must be members of the Academy of Model Aeronautics.

Pilots will be asked to complete several simple tasks; they will include takeoffs and landings, loops and spins. The winners will receive prizes, with all contestants receiving a merchandise prize. A children's event, for kids 15 years of age and under, is scheduled for noon. Adults must pay an entry fee, but the kids event is free.

Spectators will be admitted free of charge, and lunch will be available at the field. Lunch will be provided for participating pilots. The field has both an asphalt and grass runway.

Model aircraft come in all sizes; "there is some really tiny stuff and there are some big ones," said Jim Tabor, event director for the club. Wingspans can range up to 10 to 12 feet. Some planes are biplanes, some are monoplanes, some are helicopters. Some are purchased ready to fly, some are built from kits, some are built from scratch. The one thing all have in common is that the pilot is standing on the ground.

Tabor said a few pilots of real planes fly model planes, but most modelers haven't flown full-scale planes. There's a slight advantage to flight experience, he said, but not a lot. Kids are the best students, Tabor said. "They learn it quick."

The Fun Fly attracts its share of spectators, he said. "We like that." Some of those spectators want to learn to fly, but Tabor said some planes are better than others for novices.

"A beginner shouldn't start off with a P-51 Mustang. Because they're hard to fly," he said. The P-51 was one of the most famous fighters of World War 11. Whether it's a real plane or a model plane, trouble can come in an instant. "In a matter of a partial second, or a second, you're done," Tabor said.

Novices should start with something that goes slow and is stable in the air, Tabor said. The club has a lot of members who have experimented and crashed, literally, and are willing to share their experiences, he said.

People who want more information can contact Tabor at 509-765-1073 or jtabor@homenetnw.net.