Written by Susana Young
Sam Hiatt, son of Molly and Edward Hiatt, went to the Kanab RC Fly-In last year and got interested in the Remote Control (RC) hobby. He enjoyed flying the simulator. As his parents learned more about the art and skill of flying an RC, they thought it would be a great hobby for Sam to help him “work on self-control.” Every move you make at the controls does something to the object in the air to make it fly, or to make it crash. As a birthday present, his parents gave him what he needed to get started: a lesson on a Buddy Box system with flight instructor Aaron Wilson, materials to make his own plane, and lessons to learn how to fly.
Sam’s dad also built his own RC, right alongside his son. Sam is a little ahead of his dad at this point as far as learning to fly goes, but both are well on their way to being able to fly their own Versa Wings.
Sam, who is in fifth grade, is the youngest member of the Kanab RC Modelers Club and a proud member of the Academy of Model Aeronautics, the largest model airplane association. He would like to see more kids like himself get interested in RC flying. He’s thinking that when he is ready to fly his own model, perhaps his school could have an assembly at the airport where he could do a demonstration. I think he could also teach others a bit about aerodynamics and the physics of flying. Words like “servo,” “controller,” “lift,” “torque,” and “banking” roll off his tongue as if any grown-up would understand what he is talking about.
He’s thinking about being a charter pilot one day. But for now, he is working hard on RC flying. He is excited about the progress on the new RC flying field being constructed near the KanePlex.
“They already have the land and next need to level the ground to create a runway,” Sam enthusiastically explains. The RC Club has had a vision for years of having their own field. That vision is about to become a reality.
Sam wants everyone to know that the Kanab RC Fly-In this Saturday at the Kanab Airport will be a lot of fun. The event will start with World War I and World War II war birds, with one towing the U.S. flag to the tune of the National Anthem. There will be scale, aerobatic, and 3-D stunt airplanes performing amazing aerial feats. There will be an RC flying simulator. There will also be jet airplanes doing low fly-bys at speeds up to 200 mph! The show will end with wing airplanes dueling it out in an aerial combat-swarm—always a crowd-thriller.
Two other local boys are interested in RC flying. Beau and Colton Johnson, sons of Laurie Johnson, have each built their own blunt nose versas in identical designs but painted differently. Beau and his mom met Aaron at the Ranchos Park one day as he was flying his RC. Beau was hooked! He then convinced his big brother to get involved, too. Building their planes took them several Saturdays. Right now, Aaron has the controllers for their planes to make sure they are properly programmed. The boys take lessons from Aaron using his Buddy Box system. At the Kanab RC Fly-In, people will be able to take a turn at the Buddy Box controls. You, too, might become hooked!
Free short, scenic flights around Kanab in Dave Baird’s Cessna 182 will also be available starting at 8 a.m. The Kanab RC Fly-In is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. You can make it a fun day for the entire family, including lunch for $5.
If you want to know more about the fly-in or how to get lessons, email Buck Brown of the Kanab RC Modelers Club, or call him at (928) 660-8221 or (928) 660-0205.
