Fly-for-Tots RC Event in Louisburg / Raleigh NC September 2009

Below are my own aerial photos of flying at this RC event above the annual gathering.

When I attended my first RC event, my initial impressions included:

  • These guys are great at what they do. They make lawnmowers fly. Whoever dreamed of being able to do such a thing?
  • They are so organized. They take turns. They like each other. They are congenial and inviting.
  • People at RC events appear to have turned fellow RC hobbyists into friends, spectators friends and have even turned their friends into family. How cool is that in today’s world?
  • These people are having fun. Genuine old-fashioned fun showing off their RC toys, except these remote control planes they are flying are definitely not toys.
  • They take turns flying their RC planes.
  • They cook hot dogs, hamburgers, fries, barbecued chicken and serve up ice-cold beverages. I didn’t see a beer anywhere. They share.
  • Many have their kids with them, safely positioned in the spectator area. What fun it must be to have a father or brother who takes you to an RC event to watch skilled professionals demonstrate tricks they do with their remote control planes. And with their lawn mowers and flying pigs.
  • Even better, these guys raise money for all sorts of charitable events.

The first RC event I attended in September, 2009 was a charity event to raise money for children with special needs. They called it Fly-for-Tots. It was easy to hand over $5.00 per raffle ticket, knowing the proceeds were going to a great cause. I happily purchased four raffle tickets, not really caring whether I won anything. The day’s outing with my husband and brother were well worth twenty bucks.

RC clubs and their members had donated lots of prizes, most of them accessories, tools, and things associated with flying remote control planes. There were even a few RC planes, smaller trainer RC planes and a few giant RC airplanes.

View Aerial Photos of the Fly-in from a Helicopter

My brother, husband and I took a helicopter ride during the event, where I shot aerial photos of the airfield. The RDRC airfield is in rural Wake County, NC, near Louisburg and Raleigh. In true RCRodeo form, I rounded up the photos I took and made my first Animoto video. I used the free 30-second version, so it’s far from professional. By this time next year, I hope to have some better videos when I do attend an event.

That’s a steep learning curve for me, so I’ll be linking to other RC videos to learn more (and to teach?) about RC events and the hobby in general.

Thanks for watching!

RC Events: RDRC Raleigh / Durham Fly-for-Tots Event Sept 2009

A Higher Plane Production

Raleigh / Durham Radio Control

NC’s Premier RC Modeling Club

FDC Fly-for-Tots RC Event (Annual Two-Day RC Event)

I came across this video by Chris Hockaday promoting the RC event I attended.

This is a promotional video that raises money annually so that special kids can attend Victory Junction, a camp in North Carolina for children who are chronically ill or who suffer from serious illnesses.

Victory Junction is an outgrowth of Adam Petty’s dream. Adam died in 2000, and his parents, Kyle and Pattie, helped make his dream a reality.

The camp has enabled thousands of children to enjoy enriching activities with family and new friends in a safe environment catering to their unique needs.

In 2009 more than $27,000. was raised for Victory Junction.

This particular video gets up close and personal with RC aero modelers and as they fly RC planes that takes the sport to a whole new level.

“I love this hobby!” shouts one enthusiastic attendee. So do many others in the video, as is obvious by their intent on what they do.

The RDRC flying site, or airfield, in which they are flying is the same one as in my Louisburg video. It is located in rural Wake County, NC just north of Raleigh and between Rolesville and Zebulon.

Aircraft include almost every type of RC plane imaginable: Warbirds, jets, helicopters, full-scale aircraft, aerobatic planes and more. Not many trainer RC planes are out today, however, unless the ones at the vendor stalls count.