info request about indoor microflight in NYC

[ahmet]

Does anyone one of clubs or groups for indoor microflight in New York City?

[PeteSchug]

Hi Ahmet,

I am in NY, but I fly a bit upstate. Last week some friends and I flew at a sport dome someplace near Brewster NY. (I wasn't driving, so I don't know the exact place.)

The venue was commercial and it cost $20 to fly. You could fly as long as you liked unless someone else requested your frequency. Some people flew the whole night. There were many people there, but to my knowledge, few frequency conflicts. It was an enjoyable evening and if it happens again I will post the location of the venue. The person running it (I guess he rents the dome and tries to make a profit) mentioned that he had located a larger place closer to the city.

Years ago there were adult evening centers in many schools in NYC and my computer club was often able to get space, but the city is so tight with money lately (they have to pay the custodians and guards overtime) that I think most of that kind of activity is over. I have been eyeing Grand Central at 2:00 AM as a venue, or at least day dreaming about it. Just a few homeless people, cops and National Guard types. It would be a fantastic place for a contest, and you could fly from the floor or upper galleries.

Sorry, aside from the already mentioned sports dome I know of no indoor flying, but there are domes in NYC on both the east side and the west side. There is a huge dome at Chelsea Piers that houses several basketball courts, and maybe they have off times like very early in the morning on Sunday.

I'll keep my ears open, but they have been open for some time and all I've found is already mentioned. Washington DC is not that long a drive and they have some events down there. Also, I think there is some freeflight indoor flying at Floyd Bennet or some such former airfield.

I've been trying to reply for a couple of days, but the system is acting weird and just sits there when I try to reply.

Pete

[ahmet]

Hi Pete,
Grand central is a grand place for such an event! I was hoping to find a club or group to join as spectator first, and then make my own planes and fly. Years ago, I heard of a flying gathering in the Columbia University rotunda, but missed it. I'd appreciate if you posted it when you hear about an upcoming event in the city. By the way, do you know if there is any law against flying an RC plane in central park? I am wondering because I've never seen anyone do it.
Ahmet

[PeteSchug]

Hi Ahmet,

Years ago I saw a guy with a large slope soaring glider (6 OR 7 ft) walking along the loop road. I stopped him and we spoke for a bit. He was test gliding it off a hill near 110th St. Aside from that I have heard occasional rumors of park flyers, but I can't imagine the cops allowing much of that activity, even though a well hit softball packs a lot more energy.

It might be possible to fly a float plane at the conservatory pond if you keep it low and over the water. Of course, that is directly under the abode of Pale Male and Lola, who might either think it is dinner or a rival for their territory.

I saw Pale Male nab a pigeon by the Hans Christian Anderson statue and spend fifteen minutes trimming off the unwanted parts before staggering aloft and carrying it to the nest. He actually needed ridge lift off the building faces to get up there.

The problem with Central Park is that it is almost always wall to wall people.

I'll keep listening, looking and asking.

Pete

[petermatra]

Hey guys

I am very much interested in the same thing? where do I fly in manhattan? I live in the LES.

I flew in Central Park once. The cops checked me out but never did anything. Now with security I would't do it. plus the people there...its too many. there ought to be a gym or something....

WE SHOULD ALL KEEP IN CONTACT BECAUSE WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO SORT OUT A FLYING PLACE. IT COULD BE REAL COOL....

p

[petermatra]

Another place to fly are those out of the way fields in prospect park

its just a pain to carry the planes and equipment around w/o a car!

[PeteSchug]

If we are going to look away from Manhattan and fly at outdoor sites then I would include Pelham Bay Park and Van Cortlandt Park. Also, Alley Pond Park in Queens and a friend of mine takes his son out to shoot rockets in Kassina(sp?) Park where the bicycle track is.

For indoor, I wonder about the building in Flushing Meadow where you can ice skate in the winter. What is it used for in non-skating part of the year? Flushing Meadow is very crowded these days and I would not dream of flying outdoors there unless there are some out of the way places where people don't picnic or play soccer.

Westchester County Center, where they hold the WRAM show is fantastic when the show folds up, but it is not open to the public. I wish there were someplace in NYC like it.

A zillion years ago my old RC club was invited to show our stuff at a hobby show in the New York Colliseum. A friend and I built a Pilatus Porter out of 1/32nd sheet at the show and it flew pretty good so we snuck down to an empty floor and managed to get 45 seconds out of it. (long motor of very thin Pirelli and no landing gear) Some workmen found us and we had to go back to the light and noise of the hobby show. I have one photo (B&W) of that event, probably 35 years old. I guess I am an early indoor flyer. We also taxied our full house multi's as they were called then, and I did a few full throttle runs with my Jensen Ugly Stick, but had to cut the throttle and turn the rudder hard left to skid to a stop before the wall. We did handlaunch a large RC glider after hours on a dare and that is a story and a half.

Pete

[PeteSchug]

[snip]

A zillion years ago my old RC club was invited to show our stuff at a hobby show in the New York Colliseum. A friend and I built a Pilatus Porter out of 1/32nd sheet at the show and it flew pretty good so we snuck down to an empty floor and managed to get 45 seconds out of it. (long motor of very thin Pirelli and no landing gear) Some workmen found us and we had to go back to the light and noise of the hobby show. I have one photo (B&W) of that event, probably 35 years old. I guess I am an early indoor flyer. We also taxied our full house multi's as they were called then, and I did a few full throttle runs with my Jensen Ugly Stick, but had to cut the throttle and turn the rudder hard left to skid to a stop before the wall. We did handlaunch a large RC glider after hours on a dare and that is a story and a half. Pete

Here is a small jpeg of flying in the NYC colosseum. That's me launching and my flying buddy Jim Kokiadis. I am in his house right now putting the finishing touches on my James Patrick Supercub. The guy in the background near my right shoulder is turning eighty this week and still flys! We are in the area reserve for taxiing demos. The plane was built over Walt Mooney plans.

Pete (Sorry folks, Manage Attachments doesn't seem to like my jpg)

[bob 83]

Bob 83
New Member
Count me in. I live in Manhattan and wish there were a place for indoor RC here in the borough.

[PeteSchug]

I got floats for my GWS Tiger Moth. I wonder if there are any swimming pools (in or out of NYC) that would make a good flying venue.

I used to do white water kayaking and my club always had access to a swiming pool for practice in the winter months. I know they payed for the pool, but how much?

This is partially in jest, but we though of this over the weekend at my friend's place in Pleasantville, since we both have indoor aspriations and suitable planes. We keep eyeing the high school and wondering about getting a gym. My friend is an ex-NYC teacher and has suggested that he could start a program for the local kids. As a senior citizen it costs me $4.50 to get there from Grand Central. Dunno what the off peak fare is normally, but coming in on Monday morning (peak) the fare is $9.50 for everyone.

Pete, still thinking about it.