BY SCOTT HUNTER HADDOW
Look up in the sky it's a bird? a plane?
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Don Huntington, director of public relations and engineering - special projects with the Sudbury Model Aircraft Club is hoping for clear skies this weekend, June 14, 15. |
No it's radio controlled model airplanes and the skies over Garson will be filled with the miniature versions on Father Day's weekend as the Sudbury Model Aircraft Club hosts their annual airshow.
This year's event will take place June 14 and 15 , weather permitting.
"We hope for clear, sunny skies," said Don Huntington, director of public relations and engineering - special projects with the club.
"It will be fun for all ages."
The event will showcase model airplanes of all sizes and types from the First and Second World Wars to present day aircraft and every thing in-between.
"Almost every type of aircraft will be there," said Huntington. "There will be people from all across Ontario there with their planes."
Fans, enthusiasts and people interested in the hobby will have a chance to see the models airplanes performing amazing stunts and fly-bys.
They will also have the chance to meet all the pilots and see their planes up close and personal.
"In an area we call the pits, people can go in and look at all the aircraft and ask the pilots questions about their planes and the hobby," said Huntington.
"It will be a nice feature to the event."
The Sudbury model Aircraft Club has been in existence since 1964 and has been staging the airshow basically since it was inaugurated.
This year's airshow will feature a new and unique feature for people attending.
"We will have a camera mounted in an airplane and it will transmit a signal to a monitor down on the ground so everybody can get a bird's eye view of the landscape surrounding the Garson area," said Huntington.
"It will be something else and I think everybody will get a kick out of it."
Huntington will be on hand showcasing his own hand made from scratch, custom aircraft. He will have a brand, new plane this year to display.
"Over the winter I constructed a Fokker DR-1 Triplane. It's a replica of the infamous Red Baron's plane he flew in World War I, but mine is bright orange."
Building model airplanes from scratch and flying them is Huntington's passion.
"I wanted to be pilot and it didn't work so this is the next best thing," said Huntington.
"It's such a thrill to fly one of these planes." His passion also gives him great satisfaction.
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These planes aren't toys and they can do anything a real plane does, so one has to respect these models," said Huntington.
"It gives me great satisfaction to build these planes and see them fly."
The club is welcoming one and all out to the event and it's free admission.
"We're trying to promote interest in the hobby because it's a good way to spend your time."
Anyone wanting to learn how to fly model airplanes need only go out to the club and ask for lessons because the club provides free instruction.
For more information, contact the club or just show up at the air field on Garson - Coniston Road.
"If the gate is open, people are welcomed to come in and ask questions and enjoy themselves," said Huntington.
