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Fort Scott flyers: RC pilots come together for Fort Scott flight competition
By Justin Messner
The Fort Scott Tribune
Young and old alike made their way out to Fort Scott Airport Saturday and Sunday, all looking to participate in a hobby which continues to grow in popularity -- pattern flying remote controlled planes.
These are not small store bought planes though. Most planes on the field Saturday measure about 75 inches in length and width, run on four-cycle engines and require two people to fly successful patterns.
Governed in the United States by the Academy of Model Aeronautics and largely organized by the National Society of Radio Control Aerobatics, RC pattern flying has become an international sport.
Last weekend marked the fifth annual pattern competition hosted by the Bourbon County RC Flyers.
Bourbon County RC Flyers Secretary Ken Lyon said it was another successful year as fifteen flyers participated in the two day event from six states, including; Minnesota, Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Oklahoma and Kansas.
"It's a unique year," said Lyon. "We have flyers from several states including a man all the way from Minnesota."
Though traveling from Minnesota is no simple task, it does not compare to the distance traveled by some at last year's event, according to Lyon.
"Last year was pretty incredible," he said. "We had people here from Venezuela, Jamaica and Mongolia ... and Korea."
Bringing in competitors from out of state was not the only way the flying show grew this year.
13-year-old Adam Barry-Ford and 9-year-old Jerrett Lyon were there as first timers. Both said they have been flying for less than a year and competed in the sportsman (beginner) class.
"I believe these are the youngest (pilots) we've ever had in this competition," said Ken.
Both youths had similar reasons for becoming flyers as well -- "dad."
So, what goes into preparing someone to fly a model airplane of this caliper? About two years of practice according to Jerrett and his father Kevin, Fort Scott. Jerrett said he has been used a flight simulator for about eight months and had more than 70 flights in two months before entering into a competition.
"I practice every day after school," said Jerrett.
As for Ford, this was not his first competition, but, it is his first year for flying. The eighth-grade student from Lee Summit, Mo., said he picked up the hobby watching his father, John Ford who has been flying since 1972.
Flying alongside the two newbies, were many who have been participating in RC flights for decades.
One of which was Tom Gilkey, Minneapolis, Minn., who has been flying on and off since 1959. Gilkey was partnered with Mark Woytassek, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, a 37-year member of the activity.
The reason flyers participate as pairs, is due to the difficulty in navigating a plane through different patterns. One person operates the plane, while the other calls out directions and upcoming patterns.
"The reason we have callers," said Woytassek, "is because the flight sequence is so difficult you can't remember all of it."
Of course flight pattern sequences become more difficult and complex as competitors move up in classes. There are five classes of competition in pattern flying. The classes include: Sportsman, intermediate, advanced, masters and FAI. The FAI class is for flyers ready to compete in international World Aerobatic RC Championships which are held every two years.
While pattern flying may be an activity most can enjoy, becoming a flyer does carry a fairly large price tag. Starting at about the $500 mark for cheaper or used planes and parts, these little jets can cost $3,000 or more to build.
As for the competitive aspect of flying, Gilkey claims camaraderie usually outweighs competition.
"We all help each other out," he said. "We all compete also.
"This is one of those sports that no matter how competitive it gets, if you need a part for you plane, you can always find someone who will let you have one of their parts."
For more information about remote controlled planes or pattern flying visit the Bourbon County RC Flyers Web site at www.bcrcflyers.com.