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| Copyright © 1997 & up Spirits of St. Louis R/C Flying Club. | |||
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Although
the Club became an Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA)
chartered Club in
1965, there were a number of Spirits activities that preceded this period.
When people with the same interests began to meet regularly and
share interests and activities, an organization was born.
At first, this group of modelers met with the McDonnell Club, which
had a field supplied by their employer.
These future “Spirits” members were allowed to fly with the
McDonnell Club members with a permit issued by that Club.
This didn't last long, as McDonnell informed them that their
presence might void their insurance. The Spirits became a Missouri not-for-profit corporation on Oct. 24, 1968. While
searching for a field of our own, we flew at various other sites.
The northern area of St. Louis County had many large fields, some
of which were suitable for flying R/C. Some
members participated in establishing Buder Park in South St. Louis County
as an R/C flying site. In
fact, it had many flying facilities – Control Line Circles; Free Flight;
and the baseball diamonds at the end of the park.
Today, it has paved runways for R/C flying. AMA
Charter and Club Activities
The
Spirits soon decided to become an AMA Chartered Club. We have charter #396 and have re-registered every year since.
As membership grew, we started to hold contests. Racing with the
little 'Top Dawgs' was one of the most popular.
We expanded into pattern contests, scale contests, and other
activities that could bring the members together such as Fun Flies. It
was about this time that the Spirits joined the GSLMA (Greater St. Louis
Modeling Association). This
organization meets monthly and plans activities that affect the entire
area. Events can be scheduled
so that they do not conflict. The
Spirits also became a Missouri Not-For-Profit Corporation for the
protection this offers. Activities
soon expanded with Mall Shows, Demonstrations, and Air Shows.
An Annual Swap Meet has been developed jointly with the McDonnell
Douglas R/C Flying Club. This Swap Meet is held early in the year (March), is very
successful and typically has attendance of over 600 modelers and
interested spectators. Groups of Spirits members regularly become involved
with various organizations such as the Boy Scouts or Cub Scouts and
present an educational show or put on a flying demonstration/performance. Usually, several volunteers step forward to participate in
these types of activities. These
events have helped establish the Spirits’ reputation for Service to the
community. Soon,
club meetings could no longer be held at members' homes.
The Club met at various places for the next few years in Community
Rooms at various schools, banks and Libraries.
The Spirits currently have monthly meetings at the Bridgeton Trails
Branch County Library, located on McKelvey Road just south of St. Charles
Rock Road. Field
History
Before
finding a field, the members met at each other’s homes and in the summer
months, at whatever flying site we were allowed to use.
Finally, in 1965, one of the members found a site on Creve Coeur
Mill Road, adjacent to Creve Coeur Lake, and the rent for the five acres
was within the club’s means. The
site was next to a well-traveled road and the north end of the field
bordered Creve Coeur County Park. Exposure
to the public proved very beneficial, as visitors to the park would stop
and watch members flying. Many
new members were recruited from these interested spectators.
In
1979, the Spirits were informed that the field we occupied was being sold
for development as a golf driving range and the Club was given notice to
leave. It was two years
before the Spirits found another site.
During that time we 'borrowed' two fields for our Warbirds
Contests. The St. Peters Prop-Nuts
and the East Side R/C Club graciously loaned their fields so the Spirits
could keep this event going. In
1980, one of the members learned that a site on Creve Coeur Mill road that
had been used as a construction training school by the Associated General
Contractors (AGC) of St. Louis was vacant.
Friends of friends were contacted and finally permission was given
to use the site with conditions. The
major requirements were to clean off the brush and debris and keep it
mowed. The site consisted of 40 acres of which 20 acres had to be brush-hogged
and mowed several times before it began to look like models could take
off. The purchase of a tractor with a mower and eventually our own brush
hog almost wiped out the treasury, but the Spirits survived.
Today the Club owns three tractors, one purchased brand new, and
several mowers. The
Club lost this flying site when a Hale Irwin Golf Driving Range was built
on the property just north of the site.
Thanks to the dedication of several of our members, another site
was quickly developed. The
new flying site was located east of Creve Coeur Lake on Morning Glory and
looked like an extension of the park that abutted the west end of the
field. Spectator benches, a
large pavilion, gravel parking lot, fencing, trash barrels, and a picnic
area added to the park-like atmosphere.
Once
again, in 1999, we lost our flying site to the 9-hole expansion of Crystal
Springs Quarry Golf Course and the addition of a driving range where our
runway was located. A reward
was offered to the member who found a new flying site.
Many members searched for months, until one found a site.
After months of acquiring permits and approvals, in
2000 we began development of the field, located off of Amrein Road and
Greens Bottom Road in St. Charles County.
This twelve-acre flying field is the best yet, with a 600-foot
asphalt runway, paved pits and taxiways, a protected pilots’ box, a
large pavilion, spectator benches, and a portable restroom.
It has a large gravel parking lot and access road.
It also has designated remote areas for helicopter hovering
practice and engine break-in. Development
of a Control Line area is being considered. Current
Flying Activities
The
Spirits have never had a closed contest.
Contests are open to all current AMA members who are in good
standing with the Spirits of St. Louis R/C Flying Club, Inc. Lots of contest/event activity takes place. On a yearly
basis, the Spirits host a number of contests/events, including Fun Flies
and racing events. Our annual Open House in September has always been a
success. In 2002, the Spirits put on a very successful Air Show for a
retired airline employees’ reunion.
We have been invited to do it again for coming reunions. The
Spirits originated the Warbirds Unlimited contest, a pylon race for W.W.
II scale models in 1979. Several
other Clubs in the country, with whom the Spirits have shared the original
Warbirds rules, have copied and expanded the concept. The event is now
enjoying wide spread popularity. The Club offers one of the best Flight Instruction programs in the
country. Qualified Flight
Instructors are available almost every day of the week.
Additional information can be obtained by contacting our Chief
Flight Instructor. You can also contact an instructor by visiting our web
site and going to the “Training Instructor Roster” link on the first
page. Occasionally, we publish the list of instructors in the club
newsletter. Aircraft are given a complete safety check along with
construction tips for improving the aircraft.
When the student completes the training, he/she receives a solo
certificate and is allowed to fly on his or her own.
Many former students are now instructors in this program. Spirits
Field is usually in use because the membership is so varied.
Saturdays and Sundays bring out the weekend flyers, all day long.
Throughout the week there are a variety of flyers ‑ Shift
workers, retirees, and students. When
the weather is acceptable, there is someone flying most weekday mornings
and late afternoons. Since
the field runs east/west, and pilots face almost north (off by 18°)
the sun is not an issue, except for an hour or
so in the evening.
Other
Facts
In 1989, the Club was asked to co-host the Scale Masters Finals with another Club, the St. Louis R/C Flying Association. Members of both Clubs formed a steering committee and planning was done to make this one of the best events held in the country. The committee gained permission to use nearby Arrowhead Airport as the contest site. Both Clubs cooperated to get the field mowed and cleaned up ‑ a big job. 178 members from both Clubs were actively involved in working to make it a success. The
Spirits’ publish a monthly newsletter called “FLIGHT LINES”.
Every issue is loaded with current and up-coming event information
keeping our members apprised of today’s fast paced R/C world.
Everyone is encouraged to contribute by submitting articles on
events, products, or people of interest.
Also available is our classified section to sell your used
equipment. If you have an
interest in being a part of the Newsletter Team, contact the Newsletter
Editor. The
Spirits have a very informative website. The address is: Spirits
of St. Louis R/C Flying Club, Inc.
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