PLYMOUTH TWP. — Larry Wright pumped gas into his remote-controlled airplane, then started its engine.
Within a matter of minutes, the Pilatus PC9 airplane was in the air doing flips and flying from one end of the 700 foot long, 300 foot wide field at Moon Lake Park.
Wright, 67, is president of the Wyoming Valley RC Flyers Club that meets weekly to fly remote-controlled aircrafts such as planes and helicopters.
The club is part of the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA), a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of model aviation as a recognized sport as well as a recreational activity.
“I’ve always enjoyed model airplanes in general,” said Wright. “It’s the closest thing I can find now to getting as close as I can to real flight without spending $40,000 on a real aircraft.”
The club has 46 members ranging in age from 18 to 84, all of whom fly different remote-controlled devices.
One piece of flying technology not used by club members are drones.
Drones are often used today by military services for various reasons such as launching missile strikes or locating specific targets.
Drones can be used by civilians for fun purposes, but places such as Montage Mountain Ski Resort carry laws that prevent the flying objects from being used.
Christina Galldieri, Director of Marketing and Sales for Montage Mountain, said the mountain adopted a policy against drones several months ago.
“We have not had drones fly around but we did this as a precaution,” she said. “We just wanted to take a precaution that nobody attempted to fly a drone for multiple safety reasons.”
Galldieri said any violation of drone usage involves a suspension of skiing or snowboarding privileges and confiscation of equipment.
Drones on the property are liable for any damage they may cause, as well as fines and legal fees.
Although drones are allowed to be used to scout the Montage Mountain Ski Resort area for safety purposes, Galldieri said there is no need to use the flying devices.
“We have cameras all throughout the resort so there is no need for drones,” she said.
Wright said the club has permission to fly remote-controlled objects at Moon Lake Park, which is owned by the state of Pennsylvania.
Despite club members flying mostly airplanes and helicopters, Wright said they are not opposed to flying drones.
“As long as they are members of the club, have an insurance card and fly according to the rules and regulations of the Academy of Model Aeronautics,” said Wright.
Fellow club member John DeRocco, 63, has been a member of the club for 15 years and said the club rekindled his love for flying remote-controlled aircraft.
“It was something I was into about 40 years ago and I got away with it,” he said. “When I got back into it, I was looking for something to do for retirement.”
Although policies prevent club members from flying at places like Montage Mountain, they are completely satisfied flying at Moon Lake Park.
DeRocco said going to Moon Lake Park and being with his fellow club members makes flying more enjoyable.
“I just enjoy the day and enjoy learning,” he said. “You’re always learning; every time we’re up here we’re learning something different.”
Dave Broden, left, and John DeRocco, right, help fellow radio control flyer Larry Wright prep his model Pilatus PC9 for flight.
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Dave Broden, left, and John DeRocco, right, help fellow radio control flyer Larry Wright prep his model Pilatus PC9 for flight.
Pete G. Wilcox | Times Leader
Radio control flyer Larry Wright flies his model Pilatus PC9 for flight.
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Radio control flyer Larry Wright flies his model Pilatus PC9 for flight.
Pete G. Wilcox | Times Leader
Larry Wright’s radio contolled model airplane, a Pilatus PC9, flies over Moon Lake Park.
http://timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_rcflyers04.jpg
Larry Wright’s radio contolled model airplane, a Pilatus PC9, flies over Moon Lake Park.
Pete G. Wilcox | Times Leader
Radio control flyer Larry Wright preps his model Pilatus PC9 for flight at Moon Lake Park.
http://timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_rcflyers01.jpg
Radio control flyer Larry Wright preps his model Pilatus PC9 for flight at Moon Lake Park.
Pete G. Wilcox | Times Leader
Drone policies don’t stop Wyoming Valley RC Flyers Club from taking flight
By Jimmy Fisher
jfisher@timesleader.com
To learn more about the Wyoming Valley RC Flyers Club, visit its website at www.wyomingvalleyrcflyers.com