What Is It With R/C Airplanes Lately?

Less than a week after the (arguably) over-hyped crash of a model Piper Cub during a performance at a central California air show, now comes word out of Iowa that a local model airplane club has received shoot down threats for airplanes buzzing around the club's air space.

According to stories in The Hawk Eye newspaper of Burlington, IA, a member of the Burlington Model Airplane Club was recently approached while flying his plane alone by an unidentified man who threatened "to shoot airplanes out of the sky." It is believed the man was upset by the noise made by the model airplane's engine.

Sheriff Mike Johnstone told the R/C pilot, Jack Polson, that police are investigating the matter. Anyone caught shooting down a model airplane would be charged with destruction of private property, Johnstone added.

The club has an airfield at nearby Big Hollow, an area that allows residents to fly their model airplanes.

In another incident believed to be separate from the initial shoot down threat, three other members of the Burlington club were approached by another man while one of them was flying his airplane, who threatened that "next time he would shoot it out of the sky."

"This guy came unglued and started ranting and raving about flying over his house," wrote member Bob Deggendorf in an email to club president Ted Francis.

Tom Berenger, who lives less than one-quarter mile from the club's airfield, said that he understands why residents would be concerned with dangers posed by model airplanes. Berenger, who boards about 20 horses and allows owners to ride on his property, recently filed a complaint with a county park ranger about the planes.

"What if one of those planes hits one of those people?" Berenger asked. "Whose insurance is going to pay for that? Who's responsible?" Horses and other livestock can be very easily spooked by any loud noise, including that from model airplanes.

According to conservation director Jeff Bergman, however, Berenger isn't believed to be the person who has made the shoot down threats.

The club has issued a notice to its members that for the time being, out of concern for its members' personal safety, no one should fly at the field alone.

FMI: www.rc-model-airplanes.com/iowa-rc-model-airplane-clubs.html