Nutmeg R/C Flyers, Inc.
- About our Club -
Nutmeg R/C Flyers is a non-profit radio control model aircraft club located in Northwest Connecticut. The club is a chartered member of the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) and as such actively promotes the sport and hobby of flying radio controlled model aircraft.
The club was founded in 1975 and currently has 90 active members. The club, in a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, maintains an airfield at the Leadmine Brook Area of the Thomaston Dam. The airfield is grass and is approximately 600 feet long by 150 feet wide. The club has several designated instructors and trainer aircraft on hand to help out any persons interested in pursuing radio controlled modeling.
Club meetings are held at the Thomaston Town Hall, Teen Center on the Ground floor (enter via double doors at the rear parking lot, then left through two set of doors and turn right at opera house Box office ) , at 7:30 P.M. on the second Thursday of the months of January, March, May, and November. Prospective members are invited to attend the meetings and everyone is always welcome to stop down at the field to check out the action for themselves.
-Some frequently Asked Questions-
How much does it cost to get started?
Although this is not an inexpensive hobby, the costs have come down considerably in recent years. There have also been significant technology advances that make getting into the hobby and learning to fly much easier than in the past. You can now buy ARFs or Almost-Ready-to-Fly airplanes at reasonable prices that can be assembled in about 10 - 20 hours with minimal tools. For beginners we would recommend the Nexstar trainer package from Hobbico. This plane comes with the engine and radio gear already installed! As far as trainers go it looks pretty nice too:
Many of the local hobby shops carry the Nexstar in stock and are more than happy to answer your questions as well as help you over any rough construction spots.
OK, so how much?
|
Item |
Cost |
|
Nexstar with radio and engine included |
$389 |
|
Miscellaneous Field Accessories |
$50 |
|
Adult club membership with initiation fee |
$75 |
|
AMA membership |
$58 |
|
Total |
$563 |
Some explanation:
Miscellaneous field accessories include the items needed to get your plane into the air such as a starter to start the engine, a glow driver to light up the glow plug (this is kind of like a spark plug for the engine), fuel, etc.
The annual club membership is $50 for adults, $40 for seniors, and $10 for those under 18 years of age. If you are a new member you must pay a $25 initiation fee. This is a one time only charge.
Most clubs require AMA (Academy of Model Aeronautics) membership and ours is no exception. This is the national governing body of aeromodelers. With membership you receive a monthly magazine, insurance, and several other perks that go along with it.
How fast do they go?
Most planes fly in the 40-80 mph range, this is typical. Some planes can go as fast as 150-200 mph!
How far can they go?
The main limitation to your airplane’s range is your eyesight. Today’s radio transmitters can control the plane well beyond your range of sight (we wouldn’t recommend trying this!).
How long can they fly?
This depends on the size of the plane, the engine, wind conditions, and how fast you fly it. In most cases your typical flight will last about 10 minutes.
So, that’s a brief introduction to our club and getting started in R/C aircraft. You are more than welcome to stop down by the field and check things out. But be careful, you might just get hooked!
The Nutmeg R/C Flyers
