Author: B. Crookshanks
Edition: Model Aviation - 1999/07
Page Numbers: 60, 61
,

Wally's Squadron

Ben Crookshanks

As the country becomes more densely populated, finding a place to fly model airplanes is increasingly difficult for several reasons — primarily noise, a litigious society, and fear of accidents. Municipalities and individual landowners are reluctant to allow pilots to pursue the hobby. Members of Wally's Squadron RC Flyers, Summersville, West Virginia, are fortunate to have year‑round use of a field with an 1,800‑foot runway. The field has been an airport pasture for some time. A proposed site for a Kmart fell through when it was discovered the property was in a floodplain and would have required several feet of fill before construction could begin. In the past few years the location has become the site of the largest fly‑in in West Virginia.

Wally's Squadron got its start 13 years ago. Buck (real name James — don't ever call him Hamrick) had his wife give him a model airplane kit from Sears for Christmas. He put the airplane together and promptly crashed on the first flight. Right away it dawned on him that although he was involved with flying full‑scale airplanes in his life, he didn't know how to fly model airplanes. Buck has been a power‑company lineman for 20 years and has held a pilot's license since he became old enough; his father was a commercial pilot for 57 years and his uncle was the first commercial pilot in West Virginia.

Buck didn't give up after the crash. Instead he bought another kit and put it together. Determined to master the thing, he set about locating someone who could show him how to fly a model airplane. Buck's friend Keith Naye was in the same boat — he also wanted to get flying. Together they began networking and got in touch with Wally Henderson, who had flown model airplanes years ago but had drifted away. Wally agreed to teach Buck and Keith to fly models. The managers of the Summersville airport agreed to let them use the airport for lessons in their spare time. Wally spent the better part of a summer teaching Buck and Keith how to fly. As time went on several other pilots joined and they decided they needed a name. After tossing out several proposed names they settled on Wally's Squadron RC Flyers.

The day club has no charter, no dues, no bylaws, no president or vice‑president — it's just a bunch of guys who like to fly. A requirement is AMA membership so the group is eligible for AMA group insurance.

The group's first flying field was a small site near Glade Creek about six years ago. The guys were told about a location that had the makings of a perfect place to fly — a piece of property across the four‑lane highway that used to be part of the Nicholas County Airport and is currently part of Charlie Butler's farm. The airport closed in 1963; the hangar is long gone but it's still easy to make out the old runway. Charlie, who had flown full‑scale airplanes in his younger days, was happy to let the Squadron use the old runway as a flying field. Although he doesn't fly models, he loves to come out and watch the Squadron.

The group entered into a handshake lease agreement and could use the field free of charge as long as they kept it mowed. The Squadron took out liability insurance and members fenced the runway off from the rest of the pasture. Charlie's cows feed right up to the fence and, through the years, have become oblivious to the sight and sound of models. About a dozen pilots use the field on a regular basis with about another ten who fly when they can find time.

During the third weekend in August 1991 the Squadron held a late‑summer picnic for members and their families. A great deal of flying took place and people had such a good time the gathering became an annual event. In a few years the picnic grew largely by word of mouth. Although it lasts two days, people attending come from seven states. What began as a group of local fliers getting together to have a good time has become a show‑off for the hobby. There are no entry fees at the fly‑in — no flying fees of any kind. Money is raised by selling chances on several prizes donated by local businesses. Last year's grand prize was two tickets to a NASCAR race at Martinsville, Virginia. Trophies are awarded for best flight and best airplane. The Glade Creek Boy Scout troop provides free hot dogs and soft drinks at the event and a one‑gallon mayonnaise jar is on site if anyone wants to make a donation. After expenses the profits go to the Boy Scout troop.

During the 1998 fly‑in, 87 pilots came from as far away as South Carolina and Long Island, New York; a record 340 airplanes with up to 11‑foot wingspans filled the field. The Squadron holds three scheduled events a year:

  • Spring: float‑fly at Big Ditch Lake near Cowan, West Virginia
  • Summer: fly‑in in conjunction with Lake Fest, held in Summersville
  • Late summer: the big fly‑in, held the third or fourth weekend of August

The guys have an annual tradition of gathering at the field and flying on New Year's Day, regardless of the weather — rain, sleet, snow, high winds, or below‑zero temperatures. The theory is that if you fly on New Year's Day, you can fly all year.

Contact

Ben Crookshanks HC 83 Box 666 Rainelle, WV 25962

Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.