Modelers take to the air for Cape Fly Hi

Area residents joined dedicated hobbyists to fly remote-control model aircraft at Galaxy Park in Cape Girardeau on Saturday morning as part of the Southeast Missouri Modelers Association's annual Cape Fly Hi event.

Club secretary Mike Montgomery said this year's event was a success.

"It's a big turnout today," he said. "The weather's just about perfect. A little humid, but no wind."

Buzzing and swooping over the hills north of town were all manner of models, including World War II-era replicas, helicopters and even drone-style quadcopters. Some were toylike, but others were powerful machines.

"That's probably about 2 to 3 horsepower," Montgomery said, pointing to one of the more serious-looking mini helicopters. "It's like flying a lawn mower."

The purpose of the event was to show members of the community what can be a fulfilling hobby, SMMA member John Coffman said. He started flying after he retired in 2013.

"My wife made the mistake of buying me a little helicopter, which I immediately crashed," he said. "That, I guess, is what started the obsession with flying."

Montgomery, a licensed pilot of full-scale aircraft as well, said on top of the simple fun of flying, he enjoys the socialization of being a part of the local modeling community.

"It's relaxing, but for the most part, I like the camaraderie," he said.

Some of the children controlled planes in tandem with grown-ups, but Montgomery said technological advances have made flying model aircraft more accessible than ever.

"There are electronics now, gyro systems, planes that can take off and land themselves so you don't have to crash before you learn how to really control them," he said.

He learned to fly at 5 years old, and he said it's not a daunting prospect.

"In probably half a day, you could be taking off and landing, but you're always learning," he said. "Always crashing."

Alex and Chayse Armour took turns flying one of the larger models once it was in the air.

"It made me feel powerful," Alex said. "And it was hard to control."

"We have a little cheap one at home that we keep crashing," his mother Sara Armour said. "We can't get it off the ground sometimes."

But the 8- and 6-year-old Armour brothers didn't crash. Like the rest of the fliers, they were enjoying themselves.

tgraef@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3627

Pertinent address:

Galaxy Park, 441 Gizmo Lane, Cape Girardeau, Mo.