RCCK looking for fliers, and a place to fly

LIHUE — Paul Sugitan remembers the gas-powered airplanes tethered by two lines from its wings.

“I used to fly those things, too,” Sugitan said, while watching the Radio Control Club of Kauai table Saturday at the Kukui Grove Center’s Father’s Day weekend. “Today, this is the only gas-powered aircraft here. The rest are all powered by electric motors.”

Ken Dorlan said not only was Sugitan’s plane the only gas-powered model, it was the only one not made of plastic foam.

“Back when we were flying the string-tethered aircraft, everything was primarily made of balsa wood,” Sugitan said. “Today, it’s electric motors and foam.”

Strings have been replaced by radio waves, and instead of line harnesses, operators use radio boxes to control a wide variety of aircraft from vintage planes to contemporary four-prop helicopters.

A flier at the table states RCCK is a group of modeling enthusiasts who enjoy building and flying model airplanes and helicpters.

Andrew Bergeron was chatting with a young shopper curious about the new helicopter with a miniature camera attached to its underside with a special rig.

“This type of aircraft is regulated,” Bergeron said. “You can’t just attach a camera and go.”

The club invites people who have an interest in learning to fly, or have flown model aircraft to join the organization and enjoy the camaraderie and knowledge of the hobby.

Dorlan said the club is insured and looking for additional sites where it can fly aircraft.

“We’ve worked it out with the county’s Department of Parks and Recreation where we can use certain county parks to fly,” Dorlan said. “Until recently, we also had a place where we could fly. But we can always use new places to fly.”

For more information, contact Kahula Mahikoa at haulamahikoa@gmail.com, or 651-7983, or Stephen Shioi at tacoturbo@gmail.com, or 651-6170.