Casa Grande RC Flyers Club prepares for a full season

Members and guests enjoy the food vendor at one of the club events.

Members and guests enjoy the food vendor at one of the club events.

Robson residents Susan McDowell, left, and Nancy Friedman, center, visit with a club member.

Robson residents Susan McDowell, left, and Nancy Friedman, center, visit with a club member.

Robson residents Alan Friedman, left, Loretta Sutton, right, with Valley Humane Society representive, center, collect donations for The Valley Humane Society.

Robson residents Alan Friedman, left, Loretta Sutton, right, with Valley Humane Society representive, center, collect donations for The Valley Humane Society.

Casa Grande Food Bank volunteers collect donations at a club event.

Casa Grande Food Bank volunteers collect donations at a club event.

Alan Friedman

The Casa Grande RC Flyers is getting ready for its fall and winter flying season. Now at 144 members, which include many Robson residents, the Casa Grande RC Flyers is one of the largest and most active Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) clubs in the valley. The officers have scheduled major events, which include their third annual National Model Aviation Day Celebration on November 12, 2016 and their second annual Air Show on March 11, 2017, plus monthly Fun Fly contests, Swap Meets and informational meetings, the next one being in December 2016.

The club has food and retail vendors at its major events. The club is also installing a radio controlled car track at the field as an added benefit to members. However, the primary purpose of the club is radio controlled aviation. Robson RC Club members are welcome to use the Casa Grande club car track during open events.

Casa Grande Club members have use of the field at any time; however, those looking for the company of fellow flyers tend to fly on Saturday mornings over the summer months. Because of the heat, flying usually starts about one hour after sunrise and finishes two hours later on most Saturdays. Starting in November the club will move to its fall and winter schedule where organized flying takes place on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings around 9:00 a.m.

Visitors are welcome to watch the pilots fly all kinds of model aircraft including helicopters, sailplanes, jets, biplanes and regular fixed wing models. The club members also enjoy answering questions from guests. There are benches at the club field, free parking and toilet facilities. The Casa Grande RC Flyers Club and its flying field should not be confused with the RC club area located within Robson Ranch. Directions to the Casa Grande RC Flyers field are found on the club website: www.CasaGrandeRCFlyers.com.

Membership in the club is open to anyone wanting to fly or learn to fly radio controlled aircraft regardless of their residence. Free lessons are offered by any of eight AMA certified instructors. Membership in the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) is required because AMA membership provides the pilot with the required liability insurance coverage. Details about both the AMA and the Casa Grande RC Flyers are on the club website as well as a list of all club activities and other area AMA club activities. Club members also receive discounts on purchases from area hobby suppliers when their membership card is presented.

The Casa Grande RC Flyers is an Arizona non-profit corporation dedicated to sharing the joy of flying with the public and giving back to the community. The club has supported The Casa Grande Food Bank and The Valley Humane Society in the past along with other charities.

For more information about the club contact Alan Friedman, the club president and AMA Associate District Vice President, at his Robson Ranch home, or visit the club website:  www.CasaGrandeRCFlyers.com.