Model plane enthusiasts fly high

A nice, sunny day set the stage for the Aeromodelers' Fun Fly Saturday, where model airplane club members entertained more than 100 spectators and participants.

Radio controlled flying machines of varying types, sizes and prices whizzed in the air at Riley Field, located on Placid Lakes Boulevard, and equipped with a 400-foot long and 100-foot wide grass runway.

John Draper, club president, was busy preparing one of the three training planes used by beginners. The planes have dual controls, which enable the instructors to take over to avoid crash landings, especially as keeping the plane in the air is not as easy as it looks.

The club has 50 members of all age groups. The youngest is 7 years old. One nine-year-old junior member of the club, who has been flying for two years, hopes to have her own plane by the time she is 13.

The highlight of the day was having world competitor Gabriel Altuz from Puerto Rico attending the show and flying the largest and most expensive aircraft at the event.

Altuz has been flying model planes for 16 1/2 years since he was 3 and has participated in numerous events. He is also currently one of the top five world radio controlled (RC) pilots.

The plane he was flying was a third of the size of a real plane, has a twin-cylinder gas engine and cost owner Nelvick Berrios of Sebring approximately $5,000.

Berrios worked on the plane for four hours a day.

"They say it can be built in 24 hours, but unless you are someone who has built 500 aircraft, I can't see how; it took me a week and a half to complete mine," he said.

To build one from scratch, Berrios said that it could take up to 6 months.

The club members are also environmentally conscious while using the field, which is owned by Florida Fish and Wildlife.

They even have catch trays to avoid spillage in the event of an over-filled tank.

"We have to negotiate a letter of understanding with them to use the field," Draper said.

Negotiations were held every two years but will be conducted annually from now on.