Sleepyc
09-25-2008, 11:20 AM
Hey guys, I have heard that there were quite a few heli's that attended this event, and proceeded to rip it up! (CR's own CSpaced being one of them)
Also, this entire event is for a really great cause so check this out!
Magic over the tobacco fields…
by Robert Vess
Yes, there was magic in the air over the rural tobacco farm where the Raleigh-Durham Radio Control club (RDRC) operates and held its’ annual Fly-for-Tots Children’s Charity Fly-In this past weekend. Amazing things just kept happening. Sure, 219 pilots came to fly with us. And they brought probably over 700 flying machines of all shapes and sizes with them that each found their way into the Carolina skies. Yes, the public came in droves and their jaws dropped as they became an integral part of this carnival-like happening. It became a sensory sensation with plenty to see, hear, and smell. The tantalizing aromas from the concession grilles stayed in the air and somehow mixed perfectly with the exhaust from the non-stop flying activity. Vendors peddled their wares and buyers eyes twinkled. Friends were made and stories were traded.
But this happens at many RC events around the country. So where’s the magic? Imagine all of this occurring for one purpose; to raise money in an effort to somehow enhance the lives of less fortunate children. In this case, we were all doing this to support the Victory Junction Gang Camp where chronically or even critically ill children are given an opportunity to forget about their health problems for a while as they get to act like any other kid at a really fun camp! The RDRC membership chose this charity based upon what we had read and heard about it. But once we visited the camp, we were all changed forever and were thereafter driven by a strong desire to help make a difference.
This same feeling must have affected the hundreds (or maybe thousands) who came together at RDRC on Sept. 20-21. There was a spirit of friendship and giving everywhere. You could feel it in the air and see it in the actions around you. And it also emanated in the many “gee-wiz” things that seemed to keep occurring all weekend. How about a brave Army Sergeant who chose this event for his forth and final re-enlistment ceremony in front of God, all present veterans, active duty soldiers, the grateful public, and a hovering Yak! He’s re-deploying to the Middle East very soon. Or what about the two young fellows who were so inspired by what they saw at FFT 2006 that they and several others from their church group held a yard sale and donated the $2300 proceeds to us on-site in an impromptu ceremony. It was so touching that we had to fight hard to hold back tears! Oh, and what about the young man who presented his raffle prize 2.4 ghz radio to the man who had helped him so much in his younger RC years. Kids were giving other kids their “pickings” from the “candy drop” and winners of the 50-50 raffle were donating back their sizable cash prize to the charity. It was happening everywhere!
Someone said that it must be the “magic dust” from David Hayes’ Top Gun winning Rockwell Thrush crop dusters’ spraying passes. But, in reality, it was a display of true compassion of men, women, and children at a very special model airplane event. We are so very proud to say that we will be presenting the Victory Junction Gang Camp with a check in excess of $25,000 due to the generosity of our sponsors and new/old friends. But for most of us, this event was much more than that….there WAS magic over RDRC!
If you were with us this year, feel free to give your personal “story” or upload your pictures and videos to the Fly-for-Tots “Big Events” gallery. If you weren’t, enjoy the accounts and lend your comments.
THANKS TO ALL INVOLVED AND WE’LL SEE YOU AT FFT 2009!
Also, this entire event is for a really great cause so check this out!
Magic over the tobacco fields…
by Robert Vess
Yes, there was magic in the air over the rural tobacco farm where the Raleigh-Durham Radio Control club (RDRC) operates and held its’ annual Fly-for-Tots Children’s Charity Fly-In this past weekend. Amazing things just kept happening. Sure, 219 pilots came to fly with us. And they brought probably over 700 flying machines of all shapes and sizes with them that each found their way into the Carolina skies. Yes, the public came in droves and their jaws dropped as they became an integral part of this carnival-like happening. It became a sensory sensation with plenty to see, hear, and smell. The tantalizing aromas from the concession grilles stayed in the air and somehow mixed perfectly with the exhaust from the non-stop flying activity. Vendors peddled their wares and buyers eyes twinkled. Friends were made and stories were traded.
But this happens at many RC events around the country. So where’s the magic? Imagine all of this occurring for one purpose; to raise money in an effort to somehow enhance the lives of less fortunate children. In this case, we were all doing this to support the Victory Junction Gang Camp where chronically or even critically ill children are given an opportunity to forget about their health problems for a while as they get to act like any other kid at a really fun camp! The RDRC membership chose this charity based upon what we had read and heard about it. But once we visited the camp, we were all changed forever and were thereafter driven by a strong desire to help make a difference.
This same feeling must have affected the hundreds (or maybe thousands) who came together at RDRC on Sept. 20-21. There was a spirit of friendship and giving everywhere. You could feel it in the air and see it in the actions around you. And it also emanated in the many “gee-wiz” things that seemed to keep occurring all weekend. How about a brave Army Sergeant who chose this event for his forth and final re-enlistment ceremony in front of God, all present veterans, active duty soldiers, the grateful public, and a hovering Yak! He’s re-deploying to the Middle East very soon. Or what about the two young fellows who were so inspired by what they saw at FFT 2006 that they and several others from their church group held a yard sale and donated the $2300 proceeds to us on-site in an impromptu ceremony. It was so touching that we had to fight hard to hold back tears! Oh, and what about the young man who presented his raffle prize 2.4 ghz radio to the man who had helped him so much in his younger RC years. Kids were giving other kids their “pickings” from the “candy drop” and winners of the 50-50 raffle were donating back their sizable cash prize to the charity. It was happening everywhere!
Someone said that it must be the “magic dust” from David Hayes’ Top Gun winning Rockwell Thrush crop dusters’ spraying passes. But, in reality, it was a display of true compassion of men, women, and children at a very special model airplane event. We are so very proud to say that we will be presenting the Victory Junction Gang Camp with a check in excess of $25,000 due to the generosity of our sponsors and new/old friends. But for most of us, this event was much more than that….there WAS magic over RDRC!
If you were with us this year, feel free to give your personal “story” or upload your pictures and videos to the Fly-for-Tots “Big Events” gallery. If you weren’t, enjoy the accounts and lend your comments.
THANKS TO ALL INVOLVED AND WE’LL SEE YOU AT FFT 2009!