CELINA — For radio control aircraft enthusiasts, seeing dreams take flight is a reality.
Enthusiasts from multiple states landed in Celina on Sunday for the Celina Flying Sportsmen Radio Control Club’s 29th annual swap meet at Celina High School, clearing out attics, garages and workshops to make some extra cash or find that last piece needed to take their own model planes and helicopters to new heights.
“It was a good crowd here today,” club President Chip Felver said. “You go to an event like this, and you have people who come from a good distance. We had someone come up from Nashville just for this, and we’ve had others come from places like Indiana and Texas.”
Not only is this a chance for finding that needed part for a model plane, but it is also a chance for radio control enthusiasts to reconnect, perhaps only seeing each other at swap meets like this one.
“There’s a common bond, a common interest,” Felver said. “Most of the guys you run into are really friendly and helpful.”
While Felver said there was a wide range of ages in attendance Sunday, ranging from high schoolers to octogenarians, efforts are continuing to bring younger people into the ranks of the Academy of Model Aeronautics, the national body overseeing the Celina Flying Sportsmen.
“There are over 150,000 members nationwide,” club Vice President Tom Saddler said. “We had a promotion today that anyone under 19 could get a free membership.”
The club has also worked with Boy Scouts, getting them acquainted with operating remote control aircraft.
“It’s amazing how fast they took to it,” he said. “They’re so adept at technology that they didn’t have a problem with it.”
For information on the Celina Flying Sportsmen Radio Control Club, search for “Celina Flying Sportsmen” on Facebook. Information on the Academy of Model Aeronautics can be found at http://modelaircraft.org.
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