7/31/08

Model airplanes fly high over Marysville field

by Beckye Randall

It’s hard to imagine that the friendly group of men gathered in a Marysville field caused such a ruckus in the neighborhood just a few years ago.

Members of the Evergreen Radio Modelers Association (ERMA) lease the 24-acre field to fly model airplanes, some of which have wingspans of over 6 feet. In the past, neighbors complained about the noise of the planes’ gas engines and the risk of debris falling into adjacent grazing fields. At the height of the problem, a local farmhand even shot one of the radio-controlled craft out of the sky with a shotgun.

In 2000 the organization devised a comprehensive set of rules for operating in the field, located at 6832-112th St. NE, and as a result, received a permit from Snohomish County’s planning division to fly there. Club members agree to abide by the rules and, for the most part, the neighborhood truce has held.

Long-time club member Bruce “Doc” Lamus pointed out the flags flying at the field’s boundaries on a recent sunny Monday. “We post those to keep a 100-foot boundary between our airfield and neighboring properties,” he said. “And we make a conscious effort to stay to the west end of the property,” away from adjacent farms and homes.

Much of the noise associated with RC airplanes is diminishing these days, as hobbyists turn to electric engines powered by revolutionary batteries developed for other electronic uses.

Dave H., a member taking his turn at the field, demonstrated one of his quieter battery-powered airplane. Constructed of heavy-duty Styrofoam, the 3-D model was especially designed for aerobatic maneuvers like steep dives and loops. The model came nearly fully assembled, requiring Dave to simply attach wings, wheels and affix the battery unit.

Some model airplane hobbyists prefer a more hands-on approach. Brien Buttke builds his planes from scratch, creating a precise balsa wood skeleton that is covered with a translucent material called MonoKote, which shrinks to fit the frame when it’s heated.

“You can buy a kit called an ARF (Almost Ready to Fly) from hobby shops,” said Buttke, “but I really like building my own.” That attention to detail means 80 to 100 hours invested in the construction of a model airplane.

Buttke, a mechanic by trade, also builds his own gas- and diesel-powered engines for his models, although he’s begun experimenting with electric motors driven by lithium batteries.

According to Doc, the method of propulsion is in a state of transition. Electric engines are quieter but don’t have as much power as those running on model airplane fuel, often called Glow. The fuel, a powerful mixture of methane and nitroglycerine, comes from China, which has shut down its production to present a “cleaner” image for the Olympics.

“Maybe when the Olympics are over, they’ll start making it again,” said Doc. “But right now, that fuel is scarce and expensive.”

In fact, motorists would cringe to know that filling up the tank of a model airplane or helicopter can cost up to $50 per gallon.

The Evergreen Radio Modelers Association is open to new members, and veteran instructors provide training for newcomers. In fact, before a member can fly at the field they must demonstrate an understanding of aviation safety, takeoff and landing skills.

ERMA meets the first Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the Marysville Public Library. Meetings are open to the public. For more information, check out the association’s Web site at www.ermarc.org.