Wingbusters Model Airplane Club (WMAC) president Michael Denholm requested that the club secretary, Bob Mandeville, extend invitations to Associate Vice President Kevin Ryan and me to attend their Inter-Club Fun Fly event on July 13 at the WMAC flying site in Halifax, Massachusetts.
One of the primary goals of hosting the event was to introduce and inspire an interest in RC Soaring among club members in both thermal and sailplanes, utilizing hand launches, bungee systems, or electric motors to facilitate takeoff.
To accomplish this, the club also sent an invitation to the Rhode Island Soaring Club (RISC) president, Maarten Broess, whose club was recognized as one of New England’s premier RC Soaring Special Interest Groups, to attend. Furthermore, in light of the Bog Hogs RC Club’s recent loss of its flying site, WMAC thoughtfully extended an invitation to its president, Edward Brito, for members to attend.
The consensus among the officers and pilots regarding the event was highly positive, particularly with the Soaring group, which rarely shares the same airspace during typical single-theme club events. The day was marked by excellent attendance, favorable weather, and the opportunity for everyone to enjoy flying various types of aircraft.
President Denholm emphasized that the key elements of a successful event are ensuring safe flight operations, fostering respect among all pilots and disciplines, and maintaining an enjoyable atmosphere.
Kevin and I agree that clubs aiming to increase their membership or enhance retention should strive to be more welcoming to prospective members and, where possible, consider introducing new model aircraft types and disciplines into the club’s activities. We extend our appreciation to WMAC for its continued efforts in promoting and advancing AMA and the hobby of model aircraft flying.
