This RC aviation organization will help your dreams take off around Topeka

Evert Nelson, Topeka Capital-Journal
Updated ·4 min read
Custom workbenches help members of the Foundation for Aeronautical Education work on their model airplanes between flights at the airstrip in North Topeka.
Custom workbenches help members of the Foundation for Aeronautical Education work on their model airplanes between flights at the airstrip in North Topeka.

Planes flying high over Topeka are a pretty common sight considering the city is surrounded by a plethora of public and private airstrips.

Unlike Forbes Field or Billard Airport, one of those airstrips is not like the others, and the planes being flown are much, much smaller.

Just north of the Sardou Avenue bridge is a small patch of Bermuda grass, the same used on some golf courses, cut into a corn field where the Foundation for Aeronautical Education created its own runway for remote-controlled planes to take to the sky.

On May 15, a group of FAE members brought out their model aircrafts to practice maneuvers, show off their latest builds and hang out with other like-minded people as they have for the past 20 years.

“We want it to be an asset to the community," said Greg Inkmann, an organizer with the organization. "We want to involve youngsters as much as possible, mentor them in both mechanical and social skills and bring them along.”

Learning to fly

Greg Inkmann, president of the Foundation for Aeronautical Education, helps 9-year-old Liam Robbins straighten the nose wheel on his AeroScout after a flight May 15. Inkmann says learning the mechanics of rc planes is just as important as flying them.
Greg Inkmann, president of the Foundation for Aeronautical Education, helps 9-year-old Liam Robbins straighten the nose wheel on his AeroScout after a flight May 15. Inkmann says learning the mechanics of rc planes is just as important as flying them.

Along with bringing out a few of his personal planes, Inkmann was helping one of the youngest members, 9-year-old Liam Robbins, dust off his controller.

The plane Liam was using is a HobbyZone AeroScout, which Inkmann says is the perfect plane for beginners and one they use for their free trial flights. By using a separate controller, or buddy box, Inkmann is able to connect to the same frequency used on the main controller piloting the plane, so he can take control for those just starting out.

“I soloed a few times, it was kind of difficult but kind of easy at the same time," Liam said.

All eyes are on Liam Robbins' AeroScout plane as the 9-year-old controls the rc plane alongside Greg Inkmann in North Topeka.
All eyes are on Liam Robbins' AeroScout plane as the 9-year-old controls the rc plane alongside Greg Inkmann in North Topeka.

Before starting out, Liam ran through his pre-flight checklist and followed the directions of Inkmann to prepares his plane for takeoff on the custom workbenches behind a white fencing.

"Ninety-nine percent of what we do is directly related to full-scale," Inkmann said as he ran through the controls operating the various moving pieces on the model plane.

After everything seemed to be working correctly it was time to take flight.

Liam and Inkmann approached the runway and taxi the plane to position before yelling "clear" and taking off.

Taking the hobby to new heights

Rich Carpenter's Stinson Reliant flies south toward the Saudou Avenue bridge in North Topeka after taking off from the FAE airstrip.
Rich Carpenter's Stinson Reliant flies south toward the Saudou Avenue bridge in North Topeka after taking off from the FAE airstrip.

Rich Carpenter, who is the field manager for FAE, said he enjoys a style of flying known as getting low as he took his model Stinson Reliant plane on its maiden flights with its new owner.

"I like flying slow," Carpenter said as the plane makes a pass a few feet above the runway. "We call that poking the bear. You're in danger the whole time.“

Rich Carpenter, field manager for FAE, starts to taxi his Stinson Reliant model airplane to the runway.
Rich Carpenter, field manager for FAE, starts to taxi his Stinson Reliant model airplane to the runway.

For Carpenter and others flying that evening, the joy of seeing their model in action has brought countless smiles over the years.

Many members have collections of 30 or so aircrafts, all with different features and aspects to geek out about.

Patrick Deuser's Sig Fazer quickly starts to climb through the air after takeoff on a flight May 15 in North Topeka.
Patrick Deuser's Sig Fazer quickly starts to climb through the air after takeoff on a flight May 15 in North Topeka.

Patrick Deuser was trying out his Sig Fazer, which he says is a balsa wood model from the 1990s made for “fun-fly competitions." The striking red plane with a 48-inch wingspan could be seen doing flips and aerial acrobatics.

“For whatever reason, I was blessed with a love of airplanes," Deuser said. "And so I build them, fly them, crash them, and rebuild them.”

After an off-field landing in a cornfield, Patrick Deuser inspects his SIG Fazer rc aircraft May 15 after an inverted flight caused the engine to quit. "Normally you like to land on the runway," Deuser said.
After an off-field landing in a cornfield, Patrick Deuser inspects his SIG Fazer rc aircraft May 15 after an inverted flight caused the engine to quit. "Normally you like to land on the runway," Deuser said.

Deuser, who started flying around 1980, said one can learn applicable skills from the hobby.

"Part of the fun of scratch building an airplane is thinking about how you're going to do something," he said. "I’ve built a flying lawnmower and a flying doghouse."

Try for yourself

There are seven clubs and organizations within 25 miles of Topeka to learn to fly rc planes, including the Foundation for Aeronautical Education. Capital City RC Club Inc. operates a airfield by Perry Lake, and N.E. Kansas Blue Sky Squadron has an airfield in Berryton.

All three are in the network of the Academy of Model Aeronautics, or AMA, which is a national organization and associate member of the National Aeronautic Association. Memberships range from $15 a year for youths to $85 a year for a full membership.

The FAE also offers free trial flights by contacting Inkmann at 785-215-7009 or g.inkmann@sbcglobal.net.

Randy Linderman, a FAE member from Silver Lake, describes how his ultra-light rc plane, called "The Floppy," works. Linderman said a friend of his in Texas designed the plane, which he later built himself.
Randy Linderman, a FAE member from Silver Lake, describes how his ultra-light rc plane, called "The Floppy," works. Linderman said a friend of his in Texas designed the plane, which he later built himself.

"Once you're a member with this organization, you can go to any of those fields in any place," Inkmann said. "Show them your AMA card, and they'll let you fly.“

Model airplanes are available locally for sale at Dee & Mee Hobbies at Fairlawn Plaza Mall and at online retails. Prices range from less than $100 to — as some members put it — the sky's the limit.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Topeka RC plane organization helps takes education to new heights