High flying fun this weekend

Jack Elliott
Contributor

What’s that buzzing sound? Rainy River will be a beehive of activity on the weekend of July 22 and 23. Not only are there the Great Beaver Cardboard and Duct Tape Boat Races and the Community Music Festival, both in Hannam Park, on Sunday, July 23, but on Saturday and Sunday, the Rainy River Internationals Radio Control Flying Club is hosting their annual Fun Fly at their field one mile north of Rainy River on Byrnes Rd.
The Fun Fly generally has 35-40 radio control aircraft enthusiasts from our local Internationals as well as Thunder Bay, Northern Minnesota and Southern Manitoba, in for a couple of days of pure fun. Bill Hagarty, president of the Rainy River Internationals invites the world out to watch some spectacular precision aerobatics as well as seat-of-the-pants flying. (there may even be an unplanned sacrifice or two, to the Turf God). Flying gets under way Saturday morning around 10 a.m. and officially continues until 4:00 p.m., but often goes until dark as much of the most pleasant flying comes with the drop in winds often experienced in the evening.
The first spectators of the day are generally the local flock of turkey buzzards that cruise over on the thermals to check out the new birds circling their territory. Perhaps there is a potential meal down there. For the humans, there are spectator stands on the edge of the field with free admission, so bring your hat, binoculars and your camera to capture some of the action. Maybe a buzzard will buzz you. For safety sake, please observe the restricted no-go zones at the field.
Once considered the purview of the rich hobbyist, radio controlled aircraft has become very inexpensive, fun, and easy. Many of the new electric powered easy flyer models are available as quick assemble kits, even the novice can have up and away in very short order. If you are interested in learning more about flying a radio-controlled aircraft, call Bill Hagarty at (807) 852-3251