This Saturday local pilots will be taking to the skies with their radio controlled model airplanes to help raise money with a Relay For Life Fundraiser and to pay honor to local veterans with a model airplane static display and a model funfly.
This event is being hosted by the Model Association of Central Kansas flying club, it will be from noon to dusk at the Roger Brining Model Airport located at 114 SW 20 Ave., in Great Bend. Just south of the intersection of U.S. 56 and Railroad Ave.
“This is an important event for us,” Vice President of MACK Chuck Graham said. “Not only do we get to raise money for a great cause and help people but we also get to honor our veterans of the community as well.”
This is a come and go event and admission is a free will donation and lunch will be available for a small fee, which all proceeds from the event go to help Relay For Life.
During the event there will all types of planes being flown including helicopters and drones or quadcopters. There will be first person view station set up for people to see what it is like to be flying a quadcopter from the pilot’s seat.
The pilots will be taking part in different games with their aircraft. These games include spot landing, climb and glide and other games.
The veterans ceremony will begin with the playing of the National Anthem followed by a parade of planes.
Times for the veterans ceremony and the airplane games will be announced at the event and the club ask guests to bring lawn chairs with them. There will also be a handicapped assessable porta potty on hand.
MACK
According to MACK, the club was started by three men in Larned. Later they started flying at a field outside Pawnee Rock and for the last six years members of the club have been flying at the location in Great Bend.
The club plays host to many different events throughout the year. These events include: Fun Flys, Relay For Life Event, Pattern Flying Contest and an information booth set up during June Jaunt.
For many of these members the club is a way to interact with other people of the community that share the same interest of flying.
“I enjoy being around others that have the same interest as me and I enjoy flying these RC planes,” Club Member Joe Dunnaway said.
The airport
The Roger Brining Model Airport is located at 114 SW 20 Ave, just south of the intersection of U.S. 56 and Railroad Avenue.
There are a total of 12 acres with trees for shade, a nice parking area, bleachers for spectators and a portable rest room.
The 515 by 51 foot runway and 258 by 35 foot pit area are made of Geotex, a geotextile material normally used as underlayment for asphalt road construction.
Anyone is welcome to come out to field just to watch the planes fly or if they are interested in the hobby.
The members of the club are more than happy to help someone get into the hobby and enjoy what the hobby has to offer.
For more information about the club visit their website at www.mackrc.net.
