I joined a (gasp) R/C club!

[Will Hinton]

Well, I never thought it would happen, but I lost my flying site.  It was a private field belonging to a friend who used to fly C/L with me and he loved keeping it up even after he quit flying.  However, as with the current scheme of things in this collapsing economy, he ended up needing to sell the remainder of their farm ground to bail a daughter out of losing her house because of a company closing.
hey, I understand, I woulda done the same thing. - That left me wondering about a fying field.  There's park with a baseball complexin town whereI could fly, but there's houses in the area and it's a 60 yard haul from the parking lot to the diamonds and just didn't have a good feeling about flying there.
I contacted the local R/C club which has fantastic field a mile & a half closer to my house so that's real plus.  They seem kinda excited about it, so I'm very blessed to find a field so quickly and so close!
Merry Christmas to Will!
And from Will to all of you, MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

[Bill Hodges]

Well, shame on you and me too, I guess.  I belong to an RC club in Lake Wales called the Ridge Barnstormers.  It is primarily an RC club but Phil Coopy has gotton CL going again in the club.  I joined because my two daughters live close by in Winter Haven and it gave me a place to fly when I am visiting them.  After beginning flying there, I got the RC itch again and I am now flying and enjoying both.  If fact, at the new X47 Flyers "Field of Dreams", we have two circles and an RC runway.  However, this field is primarily CL with only two of us dabbling in RC and RC is not allowed when CL flying is taking place. 

Ok, now the whole world knows.  I play on both sides of the fence.

Actually, I think you are going to see more dual purpose flying sites in the future.  I know that the IRKS site in Cocoa is dual purpose and so is the Imperial RC site in Bartow.  There is power in numbers and if you combine RC and CL forces in one club, it may be easier to get government or other officials attention when the time comes.

Hope you get some of the RC guys to give CL a try.

Bill Hodges

[Tim Wescott]

I'm just getting back into control line after a long hiatus.  So I've belonged to an RC club for years.  Several years ago I mentioned that there was room for a fine C/L circle if they'd just mow a patch off to the side of the runway a bit bigger -- and dang it if they didn't do it!

And it's only now that I'm getting around to finishing my Nobler.  Fortunately there's one other C/L guy in the club whose been keeping the circle alive.  Hopefully I'll be flying there regularly next year, and hopefully it'll interest all the folks who never imagined you could fly a plane with strings.

[Richard Grogan]

I think the Tulsa Gluedobbers were a "all-in-one" club at one time...but.er. maybe Bob,De, or Elwyn can tell that story!

I hope it works out well, Will! There does seem to be a trend of this here lately. One RC club, near here, made a circle at their field.Flying Buddy went by to check it out, but was told by the club VP that they have a cap on membership, and he wasn't going to stick his neck out to let any non-club member fly on it.Even with AMA card! Sounded familiarly private, I don't know if they even have any CL flyers...but I think Dee Rice is flying at a RC club near Tomball Texas and they welcomed him with open arms! So I guess its a roll of a dice if we can co-habitate...

[Jim Kraft]

I belong to the Salina Ks. R/C club, and fly both. We put in a new field about 10 years ago, and they said, "you fly controline don't you", I said yep, they said, " why don't we put in a circle for you with a couple of concrete pads for takeoff, and where you stand when you are flying". At the time I was the only one flying controline. Now there are a couple of others flying C/L also. One nice thing is, our field is located out of town far enough that I can fly my sparkers there without problems with the noise. It is about 25 highway miles to the field, but that is a lot better than some of you having to drive clear accross town through traffic. Our field is grass, but we have an irrigation pump to water it, and mow it once a week. There are no trees, and all in all it is a very nice place to fly both.

[Hoss Cain]

Great to hear about you guys having the RC Club assist you in having a place to fly CL. My RC Club says OK however I have to maintain the facility when I wish to fly. I have to even use my own mower to mow the grass so I have hook up the trailer, load the mower, go cut the grass, and kill the fire-ants. Needless to say my flying CL is suffering. 
Several other members have expressed a wish to also fly some CL, however they don't care to contribute to doing any work.  Oh well, tomorrow is another day and when the bug bites enough, I'm betting help will be happening. 

[Warren Wagner]

You'll find out, that R/Cers love model aviation just like C/L folks do.   And here in Palmento, Florida is about as good an example of this as you'll find.

When the "Tampa Bay Line Flyers" lost their flying field in St. Petersburg, they approached the "Manatee Country Radio Contollers" club and asked if they might be receptive to creating a CL circle for the fellows to fly on.   They were greeted with open arms, and here is the results of the efforts put forth by a R/C club to provide a place for fellow controlliners to fly.

Check out the details:  To provide relief from the warm Florida sun, MCRC put up a metal 'sun shade' with a concrete base, no less.  Even a picnic table is available !!   In the center of the flying circle, which is kept trimmed like a putting green, the club installed an 8' diameter concrete pad which provides good level footing.   A little hard to see is a concrete take-off strip which is about 1/8 of the circumference of the circle.   A safety fence is installed to keep spectators from wandering into the circle.

For the annual Stunt Contest, and second circle is mowed on the main RC runway, and RC flying is shut down for the duration of the stunt flying.

Best of all, the facility is there for flying seven days a week, from dawn to dusk, except for a later 9:00 starting time on Sunday.

Does it get any better than this??  Not very often.

Cheers.

Warren Wagner

[Roger Vizioli]

Well, shame on you and me too, I guess.  I belong to an RC club in Lake Wales called the Ridge Barnstormers.  It is primarily an RC club but Phil Coopy has gotton CL going again in the club.  I joined because my two daughters live close by in Winter Haven and it gave me a place to fly when I am visiting them.  After beginning flying there, I got the RC itch again and I am now flying and enjoying both.  If fact, at the new X47 Flyers "Field of Dreams", we have two circles and an RC runway.  However, this field is primarily CL with only two of us dabbling in RC and RC is not allowed when CL flying is taking place.  

Ok, now the whole world knows.  I play on both sides of the fence.

Actually, I think you are going to see more dual purpose flying sites in the future.  I know that the IRKS site in Cocoa is dual purpose and so is the Imperial RC site in Bartow.  There is power in numbers and if you combine RC and CL forces in one club, it may be easier to get government or other officials attention when the time comes.

Hope you get some of the RC guys to give CL a try.

Bill Hodges

Bill and Warren have given two great examples of various model disciplines co-existing at a common site.
Yes, as Bill said, IRKS (Indian River Kontrol Society) is a multi purpose "Kontrol" club.
Now, to blow our own horn!
IRKS has all disciplines working well together to provide "power in numbers". The site is huge, approx 90 acres. We can, and have, simultaneously flown CL on four circles, RC on a 700' runway, RC helos and park flyers in a dedicated area and sailplanes off their 800' dia dedicated launch area, all with huge separation areas for safety. RC pylon racing is possible at the site and  will be a future event. RC flyers frequently "drive" over to our area, watch, comment , question and some become "hooked". A few are now building CL models. Control line models draw alot of attention at the monthly meetings during "show and tell" and model of the month sessions.
Some of the CL guys are now building RC sailplanes.
Dont hesitate approaching your local RC club if you are having problems finding a flying site. There are many examples of multi-disciplined clubs working well together.  
Roger V.

[Larrys4227]

Another example from Florida ...... Imperial R/C Club in Mulberry. Field has been there since the 70's and primarily RC planes and Helis.  That is, until I came along.  They were very receptive to C/L flying. Found a home on a corner of the field, just as you drive in.  Its fenced in and has a heavy rubber pad runway/pilot pad and a fenced pit area. Max lines is about 65' and the entire circle is pretty flat except one area. I do all the mowing and weedwacking. The RC and heli areas have shelters to get out of the sun, and theres been some talk about putting one up for me.  I also fly RC, but just a few times per year ... so you could say that I'm the full-time C/L guy. Theres another fella that flies C/L with me on sundays, and a whole bunch of others that are interested.  Since I like to get up early in the AM, I can fly as soon as the sun comes up ... theres no residential homes anywhere nearby.  Because of the C/L circle location, I get alot of exposure to people driving in/out of the field, as well as anyone driving by on  SR60 (major highway that runs east/west across Florida) .... I'm told that when I'm flying, ya cant miss it!  The edge of the circle is 100' from the road, and sometimes I'll notice cars pulled onto the grass to watch.

The club has been great to me, and pretty much lets me do anything I please within my lil' corner.

Larry

[Bob Reeves]

I think the Tulsa Gluedobbers were a "all-in-one" club at one time...but.er. maybe Bob,De, or Elwyn can tell that story!

<snip>

Actually twice.. The Gluedobbers was originally an all in one club, I wasn't around when the split happened but from what I've heard it was kinda nasty. For several years the CL club flew in a members front yard then joined an RC club in South Tulsa. The second marriage with an RC club was a good one for everyone, the RC guys gave up the landing strip and helped with our contests. This is when I started flying again and from what I understand the CL contests added more to the club treasury than the RC events. When we lost this flying site the RC guys joined another RC club that was too far away or most of the CL guys and we again went out on our own.

Joining an RC club is a good option if you don't have a flying site and most will welcome you even if you might have to put up with the occasional jerk, we have them also.. You just have to be like a duck and let the BS roll off your back and not take it personally. Easy to say, sometimes hard to do.

[John Stiles]

As long as I live and my kubota still cranks, I will have a place in Arkansas where Control Line flying will be welcome. Heck, I even have a nice cornfield converted to hay meadow that is RC friendly. I believe in sharing my blessings!

[Will Hinton]

The comment was made by the president of the club here that maube I will convert a few r/c ers to c/l also and the reverse might happen.  I've been quite pleased at the attitude of cooperation and acceptance.
Hey, why shouldn't it be this way, airplanes is airplanes Pogo!
Will

[john e. holliday]

R/C modelers/flyers are modelers also.  At least most of the old timers are that flew CL in their early years.  I joined the Shawnee Mission R/C Club when the son and I wanted to learn R/C.  But, then I remembered there was a circle on the other side of the road.  The first time I flew there I caused a traffic jam.  Didn't realize there were that many people that had never seen a control line plane.  But, then the R/C field was moved because of housing on the other side of the fence.  Used to be a horse pasture.  No mention of moving the control line circle.  In fact one of the club members wanted to add CL to the club agenda.  I thought he was going to get tarred and feathered.  No it was not me and I tried to back him up.

Later I started flying with John Bender at the Argosy Casino recreation area.  We had to put up with soccor players.  The baseball diamonds were on the other side of the road.  Then John mentioned the circle at the Norther Knights R/C Club field.  It had not been maintained.  We stopped there on the way home from an Iowa contest to look at it.  Grass was sparse with a lot of weeds.  John mowed and cleaned it up.  He called me and said lets fly.  I have been flying there almost all the time.  I joined the club so I could have a key to the gate.  Even the Minor brothers have joined the club to have a place to fly.  This past summer I was lax in keeping it mowed.  Yes I do the mowing.  Have an Ariens 46 inch cut zero turn mower.  At one time there would be as many as 5 of us flying there.  Now I can't get the grand kids to go help me.  I think the club tolerates me and it is 28 miles one way to fly there.  I do have permission to fly at the grade school I do crossing duty at.  Of course all planes are muffled at the school.

Have offered some of the youngsters at the R/C field a chance to try CL, but, they are afraid they would crash the plane.  I tell them that if you don't try you will not learn how not to crash.  At times I wished I lived closer to the field.