On Saturday, the group will host a model helicopter show at its new home at Earl Thomas Conley Park in West Portsmouth.
The show will begin at 9 a.m. and will continue until the evening.
Group secretary Rex Sanders said about 20 pilots from Scioto County, Columbus, Lexington and Jackson are expected to attend.
“Flying attracts people from different backgrounds,” he said. “It's fascinating to learn how to fly and master it.”
Most of the group's members are in their 30s, Sanders said. But it does have two fliers in their 80s.
“Not too many young people are into it,” Sanders said.
The show will feature flying demonstrations of radio controlled helicopters. Sanders said there also may be a flying competition, although that is not definite.
The association used to fly in a field just off of U.S. 23.
“We were given a short notice and were told we had to leave in about three weeks,” he said. “The owner wanted to do something else with the property. But we talked to the county commissioners about Earl Thomas Conley (Park), and we moved into it smoothly.”
Some of the helicopters can cost about $2,000. The average helicopter weighs about 10 pounds and has a 60-inch blade span.
“Some people actually prefer building aircraft instead of flying them,” Sanders said. “It's a good hobby for those who want to get into it. It's also a social thing.”
Planes and helicopters occasionally crash. But Sanders, who has been flying for four years, said that is not always a bad thing.
“That's part of the fun, pushing it to the top of your ability without crashing,” he said. “New fliers are told to fly high so you can practice getting out of a crash if you have to.”
Even though the aircraft can be expensive, Sanders said it only costs about $100 to repair a crashed plane or helicopter.
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