Popular Resident Club Has Successful Yearly Event!

12th Annual RC Flyers Fun Fly-In • October 6, 2012
by M. Keith Nadel

The On Top of the World Communities (OTOW) resident run RC Flyers Club opened their 12th Annual Fun Fly-In not with planes but with sophisticated helicopters whose dazzling acrobatics made the spectators of this coveted event gasp with amazement. 

Thirty-three flyers and their planes arrived from all over Florida including Orlando, Crystal River, Dunnellon, Eustis, Chiefland, Newberry, Archer, Mt. Plymouth, Deland, Mateo, Morriston, The Villages, Maitland, Clermont, Trenton, as well as the Ocala Model Flying Club. Approximately 30 of the 33 actually flew their crafts, 12 were OTOW RC Flyers Club members and 21 were from other areas.

The windsock located at the OTOW RC Airplane Field was a model of decorum...no wind whatsoever. Superior flying conditions; the same for spectators. As atmospheric conditions improved, spectators arrived, the parking crew assigned spaces, planes were exposed and placed on the starting tables. 

Following their flights, 23 planes were observed by the crowd and judged for the quality of their craftsmanship. Three were chosen for prizes by pilots. The $100 first place prize went to Gary West of the Ocala Model Flying Club who presented a FW-190 (Stuka) with a 102-inch wingspan. The $50 second place award was presented to Jerry Luyck from the OTOW RC Flyers Club who flew a JU 87-DZ with a wingspan of 102 inches. Al Ward of the RC Association of Central Florida was awarded the third place prize of $25 for his Bronco (OB-10) whose wingspan was 90 inches.

The entire affair was beautifully synchronized and credited to the acumen of the event chairman, contest director and astute announcer.

M. Keith Nadel is a resident of OTOW and contributor to the OTOW World News.