Georgia Model Aviators to Demonstrate Hobby at Open House & Air Show

By Cady Schulman

Members of the Georgia Model Aviators club say that many people who drive by their 66-acre property on Old Federal Road in Ball Ground think the men on the field are just “playing with toys”. That’s one misconception they hope to correct during their annual Open House & Air Show this weekend.
“We want to promote the (radio-controlled) hobby, which is really very, very big if you’re in the circles,” said Christopher Kennedy, one of the club’s 350 members.

The event will feature various radio-controlled aircraft demonstrations, such as a war bird demonstration, a jet demonstration and a precision aerobatic competition.

“We have a lot of our members who participate in those competitions, so they’ll be doing a demonstration,” Kennedy said. “It’s showing off what we’re about because we don’t believe the community knows.”

There also will be a flight simulator.

“I think it will be a lot of fun for everybody,” Kennedy said. “We’re going to have a lot of interaction.”

The models flown range in price from $100-$15,000.

“We have some turbine jets that are literally miniature versions of the real thing,” Kennedy said. “They run on jet fuel. They will go at excess of 120 mph. (But), that’s the exception. Not everybody has one of those.”

Some of the planes are modeled after real civilian planes.

“They are very, very realistic from a distance,” Kennedy said. “If you’re not paying attention, you could think it was a real plane.”

While the models could be mistaken for real planes, they typically aren’t mistaken for drones.

“Drone is a misused term,” Kennedy said. “People will label anything and everything a drone. No, I don’t think anyone would mistake it for a drone, but it’s (amazing) how realistic (they are).”

The event also will include concessions and a raffle, and all proceeds will benefit the Independence Fund, an organization that provides veterans with wheelchairs. The club hopes to raise $15,000.

In addition, the club helps support a model aviation and rocketry club at Creekview High School in Cherokee County.

“We supply them with a lot of planes and parts, and all the things that you need to be in the hobby,” Kennedy said.

The club also supports the high school’s group monetarily and has sent students to Washington D.C. for a competition in the past.

The Georgia Model Aviators’ Open House & Air Show will be held Saturday, Sept. 28 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 8250 Old Federal Road in Ball Ground. Admission is free. More information is available at www.gmarc.com.