Aviation is the kind of hobby that grabs hold of you at a young age and never lets go, according to a group of enthusiasts.
Tim Holt of Iola remembers when he got his first radio-controlled airplane. He was 10, and crashed it the same day. It took him a year to get it back in flying condition.
Monroe Trester of Iola was 7 and living in LaHarpe when he heard his first sonic boom. He’s kept an eye to the sky ever since.
Fred Ermel of Bronson laughed and nodded as he listened to Trester’s story. “When I was a kid, my dad got mad at me because I was always looking up.”
Scott Murray of Chanute used to pilot full-sized planes.
“I don’t anymore, but I still want to enjoy aviation,” he said.
Holt, Trester and Murray are three members of the SEK RC Squadron, a group that gathers regularly at the Allen County Regional Airport to fly RC planes. Ermel is a former pilot who enjoys watching the RC planes.
The three members of the RC group attended an open house at the airport on Saturday. A few planes flew in for the event. County leaders were on hand to discuss recent improvements to the airport, such as an improved runway, taxiway, lighting and a remodeled office.
The airport designated a small section of land on the southwest side for the RC group to take off and land. Group leaders maintain a grass runway.
They call it Little K88, because the FAA identifier for the Allen County airport is K88.
“I don’t know another place where our hobby is allowed at an airport,” Trester said. “We’re very fortunate to be able to do it here.”
The group members said they wanted to come out Saturday to show their support for the airport.
“It’s such an important part of the community and we want to keep it moving forward,” Trester said, citing advantages such as a long runway, cheaper fuel, relationships with area businesses and support for agricultural industries such as crop dusting.
TRESTER joked that the group has two units.
Squadron A are the RC plane owners such as himself, Holt and Murray. They get together to build and fly the aircraft.
