Thursday, January 20, 2000
THESE PILOTS KEEP THEIR FEET FIRMLY ON GROUND
R/C JET ENTHUSIASTS FLY ON MORE THAN WING, PRAYER
By CORMAC MEINERS-VOLLERS
The Daytona Beach News-Journal Neighbors Correspondent
The skies over the DeLand airport will be filled with thousands of aircraft performing stunts and aerial maneuvers Jan. 27. Their pilots, however, will be rooted firmly on the ground.
The Golden Hawks Radio Control Club will conduct its 11th annual "Jets over DeLand" and "Winter Festival of Giants" events on the deactivated portion of the airport's runway 18.
"We expect about 4,000 to 6,000 people will come through here by the time it's over," said Tom Beckman, one of the event's organizers. Beckman has been involved with R/C aircraft since the sport's inception in the early 1950's. Then operators had to build both their aircraft and their radio control sets by hand.
The first event, Jets Over DeLand, is Jan. 27-30, and will feature sophisticated model aircraft equipped with fan jets and miniature turbine engines. These scaled-down versions of the real thing are capable of speeds up to 150 mph, and "pilots" will compete for trophies as they execute precision acrobatic maneuvers for onlookers.
"You could theoretically fly those things up out of sight," said Beckman. "But the FAA will only let us go to 1,000 feet."
Some of the jet aircraft can cost up to $15,000, and take up to a year to put together. They are meticulously constructed, accurate down to every last rivet and fleck of paint. They even have a miniature model pilot in the cockpit.
The second competition/show is the following weekend, Feb. 3-6. The "Winter Festival of Giants" indeed will feature gigantic model aircraft, all of which must have a wingspan of 80 inches or larger, and be propeller-driven.
Many of these planes will be re-creations of vintage World War II bombers, as well as civilian transports.
Landing a bomber with a 10-foot wingspan travelling at more than 40 miles per hour isn't the easiest thing in the world to do. R/C owners who want to join the GoldenHawks or compete in the events must learn the rules and regulations of the airport and undergo a safety check-out flight.
"It's a difficult thing to learn at first, because it's not like flying a real airplane," said Beckman. "In a real airplane you can feel where you're going, because you're in the cockpit. With this, it's all eye-hand coordination.
"Some people get the hang of it in three or four hours. Some people don't ever learn," he said.
Although participants are thoroughly schooled in the operation of their aircraft, there are the inevitable crashes at some events.
However, the site for these competitions will be set up with safety barriers and spotters to ensure that any possible mishaps do not pose a danger to the spectators.
Both events will be at the north end of the DeLand Airport. To get there, take Marsh road off of Route 92 to the Sperling Sport Complex. There will be a Golden Hawks sign at the end, and a dirt road leading to the tarmac.
Cost for spectators is $3. Children under 12 will be admitted free. There will be concession stands and vendor booths for food and drinks as well.
Serial story: THE MOUSE AND THE MOTORCYCLE