RC Flyers to bring scaled-down warbirds to the skies over Valley

By: Donathan Prater Staff Writer | Opelika Auburn News
Published: May 29, 2008

Classic bombers and fighters will take to the skies over Valley this weekend.

The Valley RC Flyers (www.valley-rc-flyers.org) presents Warbirds Over Valley, an air show that will feature remote-controlled replicas of World War I and World War II aircraft.

“The single and multi-engine aircraft are replica World War biplanes and fighters,”said Howard Keney, treasurer for the Valley RC Flyers.

All Valley RC Flyers members are also members of the Academy of Model Aeronautics(AMA).

Keney said that each year there’s always at least one plane a participant brings to the air show that’s meticulously detailed that sticks in his mind.

Retractable landing gears, rotating turrets and even brakes are some of the features seen on the giant RC aircraft that boast wingspans between 7 and 20 feet.

Many of the airplanes have engines that use gasoline or nitromethane fuels, while a few are battery-powered and can weigh anywhere between 55 and 100 pounds.

In the hands of a skilled pilot, Keney said the radio-controlled airplanes are capable of putting on quite an aerial acrobatics show.

“Some of these radio-controlled planes can reach speeds up to 100 miles per hour,”said Keney, who owns more than 150 radio-controlled airplanes of varying sizes.

While those in attendance will no doubt be entertained at the air show, Keney hopes they walk away with a greater appreciation of aviation history.

“That’s one of the goals of an event like this,”Keney said. “Many of the model planes people will see at this show don’t exist anymore so this becomes a great way to preserve history.”