BY ANNIE CARBUTT
ON A TYPICAL SUMMER MORNING, Tye Tomchak, Al Tucker and Bob Heard can be found out on the Desert Eagles flying field taking their model airplanes for a test run. They always head to the field when the weather’s good. And they’re not the only ones. The Desert Eagles Model Airplane Flying Club includes a whole community that comes together regularly to share in the fun.
The club takes anyone, wherever they’re at. No experience needed. For newcomers who have never flown a model airplane, the “resident instructor pilots” will gladly offer a helping hand. And for those who have been coming for years and years, there’s always something to keep things fresh and interesting.
The group has attracted a diverse range of people from ages 13 up into the 70s and beyond. No one ever gets bored. You can find models designed specifically for beginners and pros alike with limitless options for self-built planes. Members can even try a hand at flying drones if they want to change things up a bit.
Anyone is welcome, but one thing that really sets the club apart is the shared experience many of its members have as retired United States veterans. Members like Tye, Al and Bob have found a place where they can engage both in a hobby that has become a passion for each of them while also experiencing camaraderie with people they can relate to. The group is a safe haven for those seeking a community of kind, helpful friends.
As a gesture toward veterans who have served, the club hosts a yearly fundraiser to raise money for wheelchairs for vets and their families. This year the fundraiser was held in July with proceeds going specifically toward powered wheelchairs.
Community members participated in the fundraiser at the flying field just past Doug Andrus Trucking. For a mere $3, people had a chance to shoot paintballs at moving remotecontrolled planes or fly an RC plane under supervision. Raffle tickets were also available for a range of prizes, including a ride in a full-size Stearman biplane. Participants had fun meeting the gang and watching novelty airplanes in flight. In addition to the yearly fundraiser, the club also offers free educational opportunities to members of the community, from Elementary school groups to curious adults of all stripes. Club members enjoy teaching people about flight safety, flying regulations, and how to relax and have a good time. The more they give, the more they enjoy themselves. Al and Tye met at a model airplane build clinic years ago and became fast friends. Bob joined the group because he had an interest in learning to fly drones. Their circle of good friends is continually expanding as the club grows, and so are their individual collections of model airplanes.
If you’re looking for an interesting new hobby or even just a chance to connect with some great people, head out to the flying field on a fair summer morning. And watch for flying pterodactyls—or lawn mowers. Around these parts, anything is possible.
For more information: www.deserteaglesrcclub.com, Gayla Dumont, 208-524-1696