This past Sunday, the Syracuse Thunderbirds Aero Radio Society (STARS) flying field in Phoenix, NY saw a group of veteran and new control line pilots get together for a control line flying session the likes of which the STARS field has not seen in decades. I’ve been told that the last time the control line area of the STARS field was actively used for control line flying was back in the early 1980’s. When I joined the STARS club last year, one of my goals was to be able to fly my control line planes at the field. The STARS leadership and members have been extremely supportive in making that goal a reality. And this past Sunday we realized the dream!
The STARS ground crew has done a superb job all summer long keeping the field mowed like a golf course fairway and the grass is in superb condition. Unfortunately, the heavy rains over the preceding week did not cooperate leaving areas of standing water on the field. Still, there was sufficient area for flight operations.
Seven pilots showed up for the flying session including some seasoned control line veterans and some new rookie pilots. And between them, a collection of at least a dozen control line planes were assembled and ready to fly. They included both big and small planes, vintage models and the latest ARF’s, and trainers, sport, and stunt varieties.
The action was constant for 3 hours as one pilot after another staged their planes, laid out their lines, started their engines, and flew their hearts out. A great time was had by all!
My hearty thanks go out to all the STARS leaders and members who have been so gracious in their support of this control line activity!
The above video documents just some of the flying action that happened over the course of the 3 hour flying session. The flight scenes depicted in the video are documented here:
Scene 1 – Freeman Four flying his Top Flite ‘Flite Streak’
Scene 2 – Corey O’Neill flying the Cox .049 powered ‘Li’l Wizard’
Scene 3 – Matt Dwyer making his first ever control line flight on ‘Evans Flyer’
Scene 4 – Corey O’Neill making his first flight on the vintage Sterling P-51D Mustang
Scene 5 – Steve Dwyer flying his rebuilt ‘Big Red’
Scene 6 – Mike O’Neill flying the Cox .049 powered ‘Li’l Wizard’
Scene 7 – Veteran control line pilots Freeman Four, Carl Wells, and Warren Wagner
Scene 8 – Rookie control line pilots Matt Dwyer and Corey O’Neill
Scene 9 – After the flying session, the STARS graciously featured my vintage Sterling P-51D Mustang on their Facebook Page!
The below 2 videos document Corey O’Neill making his first flight on the vintage Sterling P-51D Mustang and Steve Dwyer flying his rebuilt ‘Big Red’.
Keep the Dream Alive!
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