Come Fly with Me 2006

A Radio control ready to launch Click on the image for the picture gallery

Washington Township Parks and Recreation would like to thank all of our enthusiastic participants for helping make our 3rd Annual "Come Fly With Me" event a huge success. Saturday, August 19th, was a little overcast, but the temperature was comfortable and the more than two hundred kids of all ages were all smiles.

We want to especially thank GCA (Ground Controlled Aircraft) for hosting the event and for providing an action packed program of radio controlled flight demonstrations, including helicopters.

There was excitement in the air and on the ground as these experts performed acrobatic stunts and even dropped nerf bombs over the spectators. The kids also had fun building intricate model airplanes and competing for prizes at the fly-off contests, which were held throughout the day.

Another attraction, which always gets the fans on the edge of the bleachers, is rocket launch and parachute retrieval. Glenn Romano would get a volunteer child to press the launch button, after a crowd countdown. Then, after seeing the parachute exit the rocket, a group of kids would scramble onto the field, monitor the decent, and race for the prize.

Last, but certainly not least was the "Flight Simulator Station", which was conducted at the Senior Center . This computer operated activity gave the kids an opportunity to learn and test their skills for operating a radio control device that simulates flight of a plane. Although ooh's and aagh's and sounds of crashes emanated from the center throughout the day, many of the future pilots received permission slips to test their flying skills on actual planes at GCA's flying field in Mansfield .

If you'd like more information regarding GCA membership or if you have questions about the hobby, you can reach them directly by contacting Art Peterson on 908-735-5462.