Welcome to Radio Control Flyers Unlimited!
To give you a little idea of how this club cane about, we’ll
have to go back the year 1992. The Modesto R/C Club was looking for a nice place to fly,
that would not interfere with other businesses or people around them.
In this search, Woodward Reservoir seemed to be a likely spot.
As you will note, Ward Hendricks field sits on a hill with no real
obstructions, do to the great insight and thoughtfulness of Ward Hendricks (one
of the original members). Ward
would come out to the sight and watch wind directions and imagine possible
layouts of the landing strip, long before any grading was ever done.
Once county approval was given to the Modesto Club, grading
of the large runway and parking lot took place. In 1995 paving of the runway would have to wait for a short
period of time until funding and cost estimates were gathered for the 650 foot
runway. Ideas for the site included
having two runways, to have one runway build to run north and south, and the
present design.
Prior to construction of the runway, planes had to takeoff
and land on a dirt runway. The main
problem with this was the planes got dirty by the end of the day of flying.
The runway area and parking area were constructed using the funds
received by a one time special assessment fee.
This fees was and is still assessed as a one time charge to all members.
This is to allow further improvements and upkeep to the flying site.
About 5 months after the proposal to pave a runway, members
were enjoying taking off and landing from one of the nicest paved runways in
California.
A few years later during a hot summer in 1999, the members at
the field stated that something had to be done about being under the hot sun all
day. After seeing what other flying
fields used to keep out of the sun, the
membership decided to build large and solid sun shades.
The shades were build by the members of the club to save money and had
them build on only about a month. The
members built two 20’ by 80’ open sided shade structures with a 20’ high
ceiling. The large size allowed all
flyers to be out of the sun and the high ceiling prevented the radiant heat from
reaching the people under the shade.
The members of this club strive to have the best flying field
anywhere. The members are
continuously coming up with suggestions to further improve the flying site.
As you visit the field you will see that we have a relaxed atmosphere
with all types of pilots and all type of flying machines.
You will find that nobody cares what you fly as long as it is airworthy
and safe. Therefore, we hope you
will find your experience as a club member very enjoyable.
You will find that with as many members that we have, you will always
have help, ideas, or just swap stories most times you are at the flying field.
Thank you for your interest and hope to see you at the field.