The Headwaters R/C Flying Club hosted their annual Fun Fly event from Aug. 28-29. It’s a chance for model aviation enthusiasts to gather, visit and fly model aircraft.
Rain disrupted flight schedules on Saturday morning, then windy conditions on Sunday allowed only the largest models and most skilled pilots to take to the air from the grass field, located west of Park Rapids.
“The larger planes can handle wind better. Smaller planes with a stabilizing receiver, that helps, but the pilot’s ability is a major part also,” explained Dick Reich, club president.
Dick Reich, a Headwaters R/C Flying Club member, points out that his plan has stability controls, which are handy in windy conditions.Shannon Geisen/Enterprise Aug. 2021
He said winds up to 10 miles per hour keep him grounded. “Most of what I’m flying is small. I don’t do the large-scale stuff.”
RELATED: Watch these video clips from the Headwaters Fun Fly 2021
Chuck Cravens lives by Benedict. He brought Ultimate Kaos, a plane he built last winter. It runs on alcohol and oil. “It’s designed for aerobatic competitions,” he said.
Chuck Cravens of Benedict built this Ultimate Kaos plane last winter. It runs on alcohol and oil. Shannon Geisen / Park Rapids Enterprise
Cravens has enjoyed this hobby for 40 years. His dad sparked his interest when he was a small boy.
“I’ve always been fascinated by aviation,” said the retired teacher. Cravens currently works at Aircorps Aviation, a Bemidji company that restores World War II fighter planes. He completes historical research on the planes. He also has a pilot’s license.
Brian Dorff hails from Grand Forks. He brought two brand-new model planes.
“My dad and I learned to fly together back in the 90s,” he said.
“This flies just like a real airplane. When you fly by, it looks like a real airplane,” Dorff said of his electric-powered plane with a 106-inch wing span. This quarter-scale model from the 2000s was originally designed for an engine.
Since technology has improved, Dorff opted to change the motor.
“Electric is quiet. It’s clean. It’s convenient, and so I set it up for electric. It’s neat because it flies probably better than what they thought back when they designed it 15 years ago,” he said.
Dorff’s planes are prefabricated. He sourced his own radio components and hardware.
Dorff recalled watching air shows as a kid.
“It’s like watching a painter paint,” he said. “Now when I fly, I get to make my own air show.”
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September 01, 2021 at 03:56AM
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Headwaters Fun Fly draws model aircraft fans - Park Rapids Enterprise
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