Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) | Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) | Int'l RC Helicopter Association (IRCHA)
League of Silent Flight (LSF) | National Association of Rocketry (NAR) | National Free Flight Society (NFFS) | Society of Antique Modelers (SAM)

On July 17, 2011, the Bean Hill Flyers held an informal control line fun fly at their field located in Albion, Pennsylvania. The club has members from as far east as Erie and Meadville, PA, and stretching west all the way to Cleveland, OH. It was a perfect summer day with temperatures in the low to mid-80s, light winds, and a clear, blue sky. Field proprietor Dalton Hammett graciously keeps the flying area mowed with a closely cropped circle to facilitate aircraft with smaller wheels. Portable tents were erected to provide shade against the unrelenting sun. Northerners consider this weather to be brutal; it's the 100+ inches of snow in the winter that we handle with ease.

Melanie and I arrived at around 10 am. It was our first visit to the field. Dalton had invited us when we met him in Erie to retrieve a package of Jetex fuel pellets that he volunteered to being back from the Brodak event in June (I didn't attend, but vow to in 2012). It was the first time I had ever watched a control-line event. For that matter, other than watching YouTube videos, it was my first time actually seeing someone flying the full AMA stunt pattern. The guys made it look easy. My own experiences attempting maneuvers like a triangular loop usually did not end well. My cloverleafs qualify as such only from the standpoint that they somewhat include four loops in sort of the right order, but no two ever crossed a common midpoint. The larger models with larger engines executed the most graceful looking maneuvers, as you might expect.

A large variety of model sizes and types were on display in the staging area. During the three hours we were there, I did not see and combat or carrier planes. Most were stunters, ranging from profile 1/2As to built-up jobs with 60s for power. My personal favorite was the Sig Super Chipmunk. I've always loved the shape and color scheme from Art Scholl's full-size aircraft. There was one electric-powered stunt model present, but the majority were gas-powered ...as you might expect at Bean Hill  ;-)

Thanks to Dalton for providing captions.

Super Chipmunk built by Dennis Thomas of Sinclairville, NY	Dennis Thomas and Duane Hammett of Albion, PA	Woody Woodpecker is PIC Super Firecat built and flown by Dave Evar of Brooklyn, OH
Dalton Hammett (L) and son Duane, both from Albion, PA	Bean Hill Flyers T-Shirt	Dennis Thomas and Duane Hammett with combat model
Dalton Hammett (field proprietor)	Dalton flying his Wedell-Williams Racer, profile model with ST .51	Ken Keller from Girard, OH
George Towns of Erie, PA	Albeert Bergener (L) holds for Chris Keller, Erie, PA	Albert Bergener from Utica, PA
Refuge from the sun	Chris Keller launching for George Towns	Sig Banshee by Dennis Thomas
Ron Basin from Conneaut, OH	Ron Basin from Conneaut, OH	Sumner Forrest from Slippery Rock, PA
Bill Stewart's Stiletto stunter. Bill is from Conneautville, PA	Art Nordquist (Espyville, PA) holding for Sumner Forrest	21
Staging area - models lined up with control lines extended, ready to fly. It looked like the arrestor lines on a carrier deck; careful treading required.

Here are a few short videos from the event. I apologize for the slanted view (the field is actually level). The filming was done without looking through the viewfinder. I held the camera out and followed the airplane, which at least for me tends to do a much better of keeping the airplane in view rather than straying off the screen. For some reason I tend to lean CCW.

 

Videos

 


 

Here is a page featuring other flying clubs and hobby shops in the Erie, PA, area.


Bean Hill Flyers
Control Line
Rt. 6N, just east of Albion, PA
Contact: Joe Daniels
Phone: 814-881-1895

AMA Chartered Club #4673


View Larger Map

Posted 7/24/2011