Michelle Seeber
Woodward News
Woodward, Okla. —
Remote control pilots like to fly their planes as a group to share in the fun.
“It’s more fun than flying alone,” said John Crotts, a member of the Northwest Oklahoma Remote Control Flyers.
“You get to dare each other to do stupid things, such as flying your plane lower and lower -- oops! it’s too low,” he said.
Crotts of Woodward and other flying enthusiasts like Darwin Loomis and his son Matthew of Mooreland, are among the 9 remote control pilots hosting the 11th annual Fun-Fly Saturday and Sunday, starting at 10 a.m. near Mooreland.
They will be joined this week by other pilots who attend such events throughout the year, said Loomis, who is president of the local organization.
The pilots fly planes with a wing-span of up to 5 feet and during the weekend will be competing in several open flying and standard fun fly contests.
“These planes are under full control and fly like a full scale airplane,” Loomis said. “It’s actually harder to fly a remote control plane than a full scale plane, because it’s totally by sight.”
One of the more interesting contests is called balloon drop golf.
In this contest, pilots have their planes drop water balloons at a location where a person then must place a golf ball and putt it into a designated hole, Loomis said.
Another will involve tricks, where the plane must do a loop and 2 rolls followed by a spin, then land. This contest, like the balloon drop golf will be timed, Loomis said. A third contest, called “Okie Air Bowling,” involves dragging a 6-inch ball on a 60-foot string with points awards, and a fourth contest involves water balloons that are dropped to try to hit a target.
A 5th contest will involve guests and family members who want to try to fly a remote control plane to see what it feels like to be at the controls, Loomis said.
Trophies and plaques will be given to the top 3 winners of each contest, Loomis said. An awards ceremony will be held Sunday afternoon followed by a raffle in which a plane, an engine, and a radio will be given away.
The fun-fly will be held 5 miles north of the State Highway 50 and U.S. Highway 412 intersection in Mooreland then 2 miles west and another 1/2 mile north. Signs directing people will be posted at each turn to the destination -- a former field planted with Bermuda grass and it includes a pond with paddle boats for the kids, Loomis said.
“It’s fun,” Crotts said. “It draws folks from Texas, Kansas, New Mexico, Colorado and some people this year will be coming from Florida.”
Loomis called the event “the best group of people you’ll ever get together in one place.”
“We usually have about 20 pilots who show up and bring their families,” Loomis said. “All together 50 to 100 people will be here this year.”
Admission is free. There is a charge for a smoked brisked and turkey lunch on Saturday, then in the evening there is a free hot dog feed, Loomis said.
The entire fun-fly event is expected to conclude at 3 p.m. Sunday, he said.
People who have questions about the event may call Loomis at (580) 994-2427 or Crotts at (580) 254-3630.
