June 30, 1999
High flying fun
In his 10 years of flying, you name it and Kim Couturier has flown it: F-16 Falcons, F-15 Eagles, F-18 Hornets; even seven of the world's premier aerobatic airplanes. No doubt an amazing feat, especially considering his feet never left the earth.
As a model radio control airplane pilot, Couturier belongs to a group of hobbyists who pursue this scale model sport with anything but a diminutive passion. This weekend nearly 60 model aircraft pilots showed off that moxie and their sport and giant scale flying machines at the annual Traverse Area Model Pilots Society Air Show and Fly-In.
Held on the T.R.A.M.P.S. flying field off Rennie School Road in Blair Township, the two-day event featured demonstrations of high-flying stunt planes, jet fighters, helicopters - even a flying lawn mower.
Lined along the 300 by 400 foot mowed grass field were any number of WWII era fighters, Piper Cubs and biplanes; some with the likes of Barbie and Bugs Bunny in the cockpit. But don't let the dolls fool you, there is little toying around in this sport.
"A lot of people think these are all toys, but we get pretty serious about it," said Couturier, a T.R.A.M.P.S. member, who noted that pilots traveled from Green Bay and Texas to take part in this year's air show.
Of course when you're at the controls of something traveling at 120 mph things tend to get serious. Just ask Richard Eggleston of Grand Rapids. As owner of a two-stroke gasoline engine F-16 fighter jet, the veteran R/C pilot relies on good eye-hand coordination and a favorable cross wind.
"These (jets) fly very realistically. There is a real technique involved in flying successfully," said Eggleston, whose $500 F-16 kit is considered on the low end of a price spectrum that can reach $5,000. "The wind is another factor, with such a big rudder the crosswind tries to whip the plane around like a weather vane."
Sometimes, however, being a successful pilot is as much luck as it is skill. While you might pull off a mid-air "hammer head" stall or a "Slot S" maneuver without a hitch, other times the mere act of flying in a straight line can be disastrous. Those in the sport know that when it comes to crashing it's not a matter of if its going to happen, but when.
"I had this beautiful giant scale fun flyer and on the fifth flight the radio glitched and we watched it plow into the side of a hill. There was nothing but toothpicks and a motor left," said Couturier, who noted that most planes are composed of balsa wood and light plywood.
Despite the inescapable rough landings, for many the sport of scale model airplanes remains the joyous endeavor of watching a dream take wings and fly.
"I've had a love of airplanes since I was 10 years old and my uncle would let me take the sticks and fly his airplane," Couturier said.
"My eyesight won't let me fly the real ones, but models let me feel the thrill of flight."
- Garret Leiva