Welcome to Dare County Radio Control Flyers
Interested in Radio Control Aircraft? Then Dare County Radio Control Flyers is for you!
We are an Academy of Model Aeronautics chartered club that promotes radio control model aviation as a sport and recreational activity at the home of the first flight, the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
Membership in Dare County Radio Control Flyers is open to any person interested in participating in radio control aviation. Whether you are an experienced radio control pilot, a beginner, or just interested in learning more about this rewarding hobby, we have the resources, expertise, and desire to make your experience into the world of radio control aviation enjoyable and gratifying!
Club Bulletin Board
Dare County Radio Control Flyers Named Club of the Month: 06/01/22
Dare County Radio Control Flyers was recognized by the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) as "Club of the Month" for June 2022 on a recent AMA podcast. The announcement was made by the AMA's social media manager, Lee Ray. You may watch an excerpt of that podcast announcement in the accompanying video link to the left.
We are very proud of our members for their efforts as a team over the past few years, and this national-level recognition is the most recent accomplishment that makes our club truly noteworthy.
New Member Promotion Prize Awarded: 05/20/22
We held the raffle to determine the winner of our new member promotion package that included a complete ready-to-fly AeroScout radio controlled airplane at our meeting on May 19, 2022. Unfortunately the winner of our drawing, Philip Garey, was unable to attend our meeting due to working late into the evening. However, the following morning our club's vice president, Robert Yanacek, was able to catch up with Philip at our pilot's breakfast and present him with his prize. Congratulations Philip! We hope you enjoy the plane and wish you many good landings at our field.
Club Awarded 2022 Takeoff and Grow Grant: 05/19/21
Dare County Radio Control Flyers received a $1,000 "Take Off and Grow" grant from the Academy of Model Aviation (AMA) Foundation recently, according to the club's president, Jim Davis. Seventeen such grants were awarded nationally, and these funds will be used to hold a public event in our community during mid-September, Davis added.
The event entitled the "Outer Banks Festival of Model Aviation" will afford local residents the opportunity to learn about the hobby of radio control model aviation, and to actually fly a radio control aircraft under the supervision of one of the club's instructor pilots. In addition to flight operations, other activities will include handing out, building, and flying balsa glider for the youngsters, raffle prizes that will be awarded to non-club members who give flying a try, and lunch consisting of hot dogs, hamburgers, chips, and soft drink.
Admission to this event will be one non-perishable food item per attendee, and these items will subsequently be donated to a local food bank.
Further information about this event will made available in the near future.
Club Advanced by AMA to Silver Leader Club: 05/12/22
Dare County Radio Control Flyers was recently advanced to the level of a Silver Leader Club by the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA), according to its club president, Jim Davis. This recognition was granted following a determination by the AMA that the club had attained 14 of the 15 elements used to evaluate clubs for Leader Club status. Currently, only about 8-percent of the AMA's 2,500 charted clubs are Leader Clubs, and this distinction serves as a testament to the commitment of its members to safety protocols, community service, and positive contributions to radio control model aviation. The club had previously been designated in 2021 as a Bronze Leader Club, and with this new honor, Dare County Radio Control Flyers continues to advance the sport and recreational activity of radio control model aviation on throughout the Outer Banks community.
Return to Primary Meeting Location: 05/01/22
Our usual meeting location in the meeting room at the rear of the Dare County Public Library in Kill Devil Hills has reopened, and we have been approved to meet there for the months of May and June 2022. Updates for meeting locations for the remainder of the year will be provided as they become available. Details about this location, including an interactive map and driving directions, is available at the link below.
Club Awarded 2021 Flying Site Improvement Grant: 12/14/21
Club president Jim Davis announced at our annual Christmas Party that Dare County Radio Control Flyers recently received a Flying Site Improvement Grant in the amount of $2,763.75 from the Academy of Model Aeronautics Foundation. These funds will be utilized for the construction of a new storage shed on the western perimeter of our flying field and will enable us to store our club's field maintenance equipment. The new storage shed will also incorporate a retractable fabric canopy to the structure to provide a shaded area for those not flying or working on the flight line.
Club members, under Jim's expert supervision as a builder, will begin construction of this new structure in early 2022 and anticipate that the project will be completed by the time flying season begins in early April. In addition to the storage shed, the club's parking area will also be expanded by clearing brush on the western side of the field.
The members of Dare County Radio Control Flyers extend their gratitude to the Academy of Model Aeronautics Foundation for their generosity in assisting us with this much-needed project.
New Club Website Launched: 08/09/21
We have redesigned our entire website to make it more useful to our club members, and to provide an improved source of information to the general public. Improvements include: a completely new user interface; an integrated search engine; interactive maps displaying our meeting location and flying field; a tool that provides current and predicted weather conditions; a calendar listing all club meetings and events; exclusive information that may be viewed only by our club members, and; a dedicated telephone number so that we may be contacted more easily.
Club Receives New Trainer Aircraft: 08/02/21
Through the generosity of an anonymous member, our club received a new HobbyZone Apprentice S2 that will be used for training those who have never flown a radio control model aircraft. This aircraft is a ready-to-fly package that comes complete with everything necessary to take our club's flight training program to the next level.
In addition to the aircraft with it's 48-inch wingspan and Spektrum receiver, the equipment in the package includes: two Spektrum transmitters, neck straps, and rechargeable transmitter batteries; a charger for the transmitter batteries; a flight battery and charger, and; a Spektrum Smart battery programmer/checker.
Program for New Pilots Implemented: 06/24/21
Club members Jim Davis, Grant Dick, Steve Smith, and Robert Yanacek were recently approved by the Academy of Model Aeronautics as Introductory Pilot Program instructors/mentors. This innovative program seeks to encourage those with little or no previous knowledge of radio control aviation to try out the hobby at no cost, while providing 90 days of liability insurance coverage in addition to the knowledge, experience, and guidance of our club's designated instructors/mentors.
Recreational UAS Safety Test Now Available: 06/22/21
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has released their long-awaited safety test that is now required for all radio control pilots. The test, known as TRUST, will now be required for a recreational-use pilot to register with the FAA as required by law. Although it is referred to as a "test," it is in all actuality little more than a 30-minute course of instruction designed to ensure that model aircraft pilots understand their obligation to operate both safely and lawfully when using airspace. The test is available free of charge, through a number of FAA approved TRUST test administrators.
FAA Releases Improved Mobile Application: 11/16/20
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has redeveloped their mobile application to provide situational awareness to recreational flyers in knowing whether it is safe and lawful to fly their model aircraft in a particular area. This application, known as B4UFLY, utilizes interactive maps and GPS technology to alert radio control pilots where they can and cannot fly. This application is highly recommended for all club members because it alerts you in real time to areas where flight operations are restricted, controlled, or under a temporary flight restriction. The application may be downloaded at no cost, and is available for both iOS and Android mobile platforms.
Radio Control Pilots Must Register with the FAA: 12/21/15
Those flying Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UASs), which includes model aircraft, are now statutorily required to register with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The registration for recreational-use pilots covers all of the model aircraft you operate for a period of three years. In addition, as part of the statutory requirement, pilots must also ensure that their FAA issued UAS registration number is displayed on an outer surface of any aircraft or drone they own and operate. Registration is inexpensivem quick, and easy.
