Enthusiasts who like to fly remote control planes and jets, drones, short course trucks and anything in between need to look no further than the Radio Control Club of Estevan, Sun City Prop Busters.
“We showcase our projects to other members and the general public,” said club president Art Dougherty. “It’s sort of like a show and tell for us.”
Propbusters set up several tables with members’ projects, for the annual static display, at the Estevan Shoppers Mall, last weekend.
The event showcased what the club has been up to all winter, and what sorts of vehicles members have been working on, and which ones are taken out to the field to fly and race in the warmer months. There was also a flying simulator set up on a TV at the display, where guests could get a taste of what it’s like to operate RC vehicles.
“It’s all radio controlled, with planes and gliders. We have model jets, but those tend to be one of the more expensive parts of the hobby. Everyone knows we’re also getting into drones, and we’re looking to do some drone racing,” said Dougherty. “There are trucks, RC racers and heavy equipment caterpillars, and they basically play in a giant sandbox we have in our field.”
Dougherty noted that some of the vehicles that members fly are capable of some significant speeds, with plane models hitting speeds as high as 80 m.p.h. and the jet models reaching 180 to 200 m.p.h.
Dougherty said the technology of many of the models the club uses has come a long way since the club’s inception in 1988. In addition to high speeds, some of the models have been outfitted with advanced technology that aids the vehicles and their operators other ways.
Dougherty said some of the models have telemetry equipment installed, allowing for users to know the air speed, altitude, and battery condition. Many of the drones have GPS-guided autopilot programming which allows them to “return home,” if they fly too far away from the person controlling them.
“With drones, we’re finding that there’s a younger generation getting involved with the club, with an interest in them,” Dougherty said. “Ultimately, our big thing is building. The roots of model aviation is building the models. It started out with just balsam and plywood. We’re seeing a move from radio equipment to electric-powered models with powerful engines that are easy to install and run.”
The event also promoted the upcoming grand opening of the club’s new field, slated for June 25. The event will entail a number of demonstrations of the models on land and in the sky.
“We had an older field but it got mined out, several years ago, and we had to get established again. It was a long process,” said Dougherty. “We’ve now got a clubhouse, an office, a 150-foot runway and a circle track on our property.”
The new field will also feature a radio controlled vehicle track to facilitate regular racing of terrestrial vehicles.
“We’re at about 13 members now,” said Rick Shulson, a club member exhibiting some of the short course trucks to passersby at the mall. “But just now, we had two people join up. We race, everyone has a good time, and the attitude we have is that everyone has a good laugh.”
Both Dougherty and Shulson acknowledged the enormous help of Dougherty’s father, Elroy Dougherty, in spearheading the construction and establishment of the club’s new field. The elder Dougherty was credited with the effort of canvassing local businesses in Estevan for donations, to raise the $250,000 needed to renovate and build the new facility.
“He basically built the field,” said Dougherty.
Dougherty encouraged everyone to visit the field out on Shand Road, near the Estevan Motor Speedway, noting that there is complete freedom to fly models around the airspace, since the property is certified by the Model Aeronautics Association of Canada and the airfield does not conflict with the Estevan Airport.
Dougherty said, “This year, we just want everyone to know we’re still around.”
