Imperial RC Club Fly-In
By Tom Griffin
Small-town air shows leave a lasting, good feeling for everyone who attends. You can get close to the action and those creating it, and you feel as though you are part of what is happening — even if you are not one of the fliers.
Such was the case in Mulberry, Florida, when the Imperial R/C Club held its annual Spring Fly-In and Airshow in March 1996. The club is made up of enthusiasts living within a radius of about 50 miles of the Lakeland–Mulberry–Bartow–Winter Haven area.
Event overview
- Contest Director: John Burdin
- Date: March 1996
- Location: Mulberry, Florida (Imperial R/C Club field)
- Admission: No landing fee; proceeds from parking and concessions go toward field improvements
- Weather: Two glorious days of sunshine and calm air
John Burdin organized the event effectively; when asked how he handled complaints from fliers he quipped, "They know better than to complain, because I'll give 'em a job to do."
Flying activities and demonstrations
Flying was steady over the two-day event with a limit of four models in the air at any time. Demonstrations were held each afternoon and included:
- Jets
- Helicopters
- Scale models
- Stunt models
- Combat exhibition
- Cub race
The Imperial R/C Club's paved runway easily handled the jets, so spectators enjoyed quite a few jet flights.
Instruction and newcomer activities
Of special interest to newcomers was the opportunity to test their flying skill using a buddy-box while an instructor stood by with advice and encouragement. Young and old availed themselves of this opportunity, with more than 50 introductory flights given.
Instructors and experienced fliers emphasized camaraderie and helping others; keeping newcomers and spectators informed was a priority.
Notable pilots and demonstrations
- Jason Shulman and Kenny Fiddler (Orlando) — demonstration flights and practice for Top Gun; real crowd-pleasers.
- John Burdin, Rex Rexroat, Tony (Anthony) Greco, and Randy Ott — kept the crowd excited with a wide range of maneuvers.
- Anthony Greco — particularly impressive in his beefed-up Sig Cub, emblazoned "Cubs Can't Do That."
- Bobby Daniel — demonstrated helicopter flying capably despite being confined to a wheelchair; a helper started the engine and positioned the transmitter with enlarged levers on his lap, and Bobby flew the model from there.
A number of models used smoke to good effect; some stunt pilots created smoke trails comparable to full-scale events.
Incidents
Crashes were few, but notable mishaps included:
- A Monocoupe 90A piloted by George Jenkins of Sarasota, Florida, sheared a wing in flight. George had recently traded for the model and was undaunted.
- Rex Rexroat got a little too low on an inverted pass, resulting in minor damage (a wiped-out fin and rudder). Rex graciously admitted it was "probably" pilot error.
Closing
The Imperial R/C Club Fly-In was a well-organized, low-key event that provided a positive experience for fliers and spectators alike. For clubs interested in putting on a similar event, contact John Burdin at (813) 667-1785 for pointers on how to do it right.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
