RC Flying Today: A New Midwest Flying Field
Abstract
Stolfus MAPT — retrieving models; LORAN and GPS.
North Four Flying Field (MAPT)
Lyle Stolfus RR #1, Fredericksburg, IA Tel.: (319) 237-5807
Lyle converted four acres of his farm into a model airport called the North Four Flying Field. The site includes a 650 × 65 ft sod runway aligned north/south to suit prevailing winds, parking for about 100 cars, large spool-type tables with tie-downs for models, and electric lights to allow packing up after dark. The only nuisance reported is bugs in season. Neighbors (two nearby cemeteries) do not complain, and there is little likelihood of buildings cropping up to interfere with flying. An instructor is available on site.
Facilities & Nearby Amenities
- On-site: 650 × 65 ft sod runway, parking for ~100 cars, spool tables with tie-downs, electric lights, spectator-flyer fence.
- Pond: man-made pond adjacent to the runway, approx. 60 × 300 ft and 20 ft deep (see Safety notes).
- No plans at present for an RC car track.
- Nearby (New Hampton, 14 miles): three motels, a large city park for RVs and camping.
- Within ~40 miles: four hobby shops.
- Fredericksburg amenities: nine-hole golf course, swimming pool, tennis courts, ball parks, city park with RV parking and dumping station, Carol’s family-style café, and two convenience stores.
Events
- Annual fun-fly hosted by Lyle during a three-day period in June.
- The Black Hawk Flying Club (Waterloo, IA) performs exhibitions for the public as part of Fredericksburg’s annual Dairy Days celebration.
- Dairy Days is a week-long June festival with parades, demonstrations, and other activities. Fredericksburg bills itself the “Dairy Capital of Iowa.”
Pond & Safety
- Pond dimensions: ~60 × 300 ft, 20 ft deep.
- Likely too short for seaplanes; Lyle is willing to host boat races.
- Bring a life jacket if you go near the water — 20 ft is quite deep, and sunken boats or planes may require SCUBA to recover.
Rules, Access & Courtesy
- Open flying is permitted to AMA members, daily, year-round, weather permitting.
- The North Four Flying Field is private property — be a polite guest and respect the site.
- If you visit, tell Lyle “George sent you.” Be grateful that a fellow modeler created this site without public funds.
Location & Suitability
- Road distances from Minneapolis, Rochester (MN), Cedar Rapids (IA), and Chicago (IL) make the site reasonable for weekend events and contests.
- Lyle provided pictures, drawings, and descriptions sufficient for inclusion in a flying-site database.
Slope Flying: Wind vs. Hill
Wind is more critical than hill
- Favorable wind can sustain flight on marginal hills; conversely, even an excellent hill is of little use with the wrong wind direction.
- In flatlands, when thermals are scarce, ridge lift from a treeline can often give many minutes of flight time.
Examples & tips
- Dave Thornberg once glided for two minutes in lift produced by a pile of dirt left after excavation.
- During a thermal sailplane contest in 20–25 mph winds, one round was won by staying aloft four minutes in the lift generated by a single tree. (Wind direction must be favorable for these tricks to work.)
How to test a site
- You need wind fast enough to generate lift for your particular model: light models require lower wind; heavier/faster models require stronger wind.
- To test lift on a hill: stand at the top and hold the model in launch position. If the wind tends to raise the model out of your hand, there’s enough lift for flying.
- If the model doesn’t lighten in your hand but there’s plenty of wind, a small high-start may help launch the plane into productive lift.
How much wind is too much?
- If you can’t stand up in the wind, you’ll have trouble flying — that’s about the upper limit. The author has flown a Douglas Quicksilver for an hour in 30-knot (34 mph) winds.
The conclusion next month will discuss how and where to find good slope sites.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
