By Eve Mitchell, Contra Costa Times – MercuryNews.com
PITTSBURG — Remote-controlled model airplanes will soar in the skies Saturday during an open house sponsored by the Diablo Valley Radio Controllers.
Demonstrations of various planes flown by club members will include models depicting World War 11 military aircraft. And one of the planes will drop candy for the kids to go after.
Some planes will be doing what’s called 3-D flying, explained club president Mel Nash.
That’s when the controllers “can make them stop and spin in midair. They turn around, and do all sorts of aerial maneuvers,” he said. “The kids really get a kick out of that.”
The club has 78 members who come from all over the Bay Area. The planes they fly range in size from 3 feet to 6 feet. Most of the planes are gasoline-powered, but some are electric-powered.
Controllers will also give lessons to people who want to learn how to direct the planes through a dual-control “buddy box” system. Think of it as the remote-controlled flying version of taking a driving lesson with an instructor who can take over the cars’ controls if you get into trouble.
“At least five of us are going to let people fly,” Nash said. “If they get into trouble, we can take over. It’s a dual control. The don’t have to worry about crashing.”
Reach Eve Mitchell at 925-779-7189. Follow her on Twitter.com/EastCounty_Girl.
When: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, September 15, 2012
Where: 3500 John Henry Johnson Parkway, south of Delta View Golf Course, Pittsburg
Details: Admission is free. For more information, contact Mel Nash, president, Diablo Valley Radio Controllers, AMA Chartered Club 123, at 925-432-8364.