Fall fly-in set for Saturday in Wellsville
By BRIAN WILLIAMS, Herald Staff Writer
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Watching and flying — model airplane enthusiasts will have the opportunity to do both Saturday.
The Franklin County Flyers Fall Fun Fly and Training Day will have not only flyers with their planes, but the club will offer flying lessons to the public, John Fleer, president of the Franklin County Flyers, said.
A flight simulator will be brought to the field so novice flyers can learn the basics. Then, novice flyers will get to take the controls of radio-controlled trainer airplanes, he said.
Although there is a $10 landing fee for pilots, there is no charge for the novice flyers to take the controls in their hands, Daryl Shutt, one of the organizers, said.
Sign-in begins at 9:30 a.m. at the Franklin County Flyers Flying Field, 4026 Stafford Road, Wellsville. Girl Scout No. 5312 will sell lunch and drinks. Candy will be dropped for children during the lunch hour, Shutt said.
Several different types of planes and probably a couple of helicopters will be flying, Shutt said.
Fleer said he expects some people to show off their “giant scale” model airplanes, which can have wingspans that reach 100 feet — larger than some actual small airplanes.
“They’re always pretty fascinating,” Fleer said.
Flying radio-controlled model airplanes has been growing in popularity in the area, he said.
The Franklin County Flyers has 28 members, one of its largest memberships, and a new local group interested in electric-powered R/C planes recently started, he said.
“There are quite a few people with planes here in town,” he said.
The hobby has attracted people who want to experience the thrill of flight but can’t afford the costs of owning and operating actual airplanes, he said.
All spectators are welcome and should dress according to the weather, Shutt said.
“We’ve had them [fly-ins] when it’s been brisk cold and other times it’s been blazing hot.”
Herald Senior Writer Cleon Rickel contributed to this article.
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