Local News

Wingnut RC Flyers take to the air — indoors at Vogel

NEW ULM -- Wingnut RC (remote control) Flyers club members flew their battery-powered planes and helicopters almost silently around two basketball courts at Vogel Field house Saturday.

Participants included Lake Crystal corn and soybean farmer John Greenough. He said for the past decade, he has often flown his RC planes and helicopters during the winter months in the field house.

"My dad flew real airplanes and I could actually fly one if I got a license," Greenough said. "I followed his footsteps, taking aviation lessons in Mankato and joining the flying club there. My dad joined the Civil Air Patrol and flew, then took up model (RC) flying in his later years."

Greenough said the Key City Bald Eagles RC Club is located on Highway 60 between Lake Crystal and Mankato. In addition, he flies his RC planes, helicopters and a drone at his farm, to help him assess field conditions.

Only RC micro helicopters are allowed to fly in the field house, in order to avoid mid-air collisions, Greenough said.

"If a helicopter hit a plane, it would look like it went through a blender," Greenough said.

Remote control equipment is not cheap. Controllers and aircraft cost several hundred dollars or more.

Greenhough said flying an RC helicopter is much more challenging than flying an RC airplane. Although skilled operators can fly helicopters and airplanes almost motionless, suspended in mid-air.

"These are grown-up toys," Greenough said. "It's a lot of fun. We enjoy being able to do it. It's a privilege to be able to recreate in a place like this during inclement weather. Some people enjoy playing basketball or bowling. We go flying."

Dale Cordes of New Ulm coordinated the event and flew his YAK 54 airplane in the arena, doing a number of acrobatic maneuvers including, rolls, loops, "hanging by the prop," (standing nearly still, straight up and down) and a "knife edge" (flying with wings completely vertical).

Cordes said he learned to fly RC planes while stationed at Roswell, N.M. in 1956.

Years ago, RC planes were flown in New Ulm in the old middle school parking lot near the old Emerson school building. As more and more plays took place at the school, the group decided to move to Vogel Fieldhouse when the weather was cold.

In August, the Wingnut RC Flyers will hold a fun fly event in a farm field near Evan.

"This is a lot of fun," Cordes said.

Talking with other RC flyers, Cordes recalled his first flying lesson in a regulation-size airplane when he was stationed at Roswell.

"The engine failed. We landed on a highway," Cordes said. "Luckily, there wasn't much traffic down there then, so we could land on the highway."

In addition, Cordes has the distinction of teaching a U.S. Navy Blue Angel pilot how to fly an RC airplane. Cordes met a Blue Angel pilot when they were at a Mankato air show a few years ago and quickly taught him how to fly RC planes.

"It was quite amazing how quickly he learned to fly remote control aircraft," Cordes said.

Anyone interested in radio-controlled flight is invited to come out and watch the Wingnut RC Flyers who will hold fun fly events for airplanes, helicopters and drones, 1-3 p.m. on Saturday, March 2, 9 and 16 at Vogel Field house.

Anyone with indoor RC aircraft who is a member of the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA), can join the fun for a $5 fee. Proof of AMA membership is required. There is no charge to watch.

fbusch@nujournal.com