Sisters' second 'airport' is busy

Dusty Wilkerson flies his remote control helicopter on a Sunday outing with the Cascade Flyers. photo by Tom Chace

More airplanes land and take off at Sisters' second "airport," on any given Sunday, than at the regular, full-time airport in a month of Sundays.

This most active airport is the home of the Cascade Flyers Club, whose members fly miniature airplanes, models mostly made from kits.

About a dozen "pilots" from all over Central Oregon gather there at the field about nine miles east of town on Highway 20. They meet there virtually every Sunday year-round to fly their remote-controlled airplanes.

Some of the airplanes are quite exotic ranging from helicopters, costing upwards of $4,000, to gliders with 12-foot wingspans.

Most of the planes are "fixed wing and cost in the neighborhood of $500 to get started," said one of the club members. Helicopter kits start at about $1,200.

The first planes in the air on Sunday, August 3, were a couple of "dueling wings" flown by father and son, Tracy and Daniel Abernathy. The wings are called "Dagis."

They have battery powered electric motors, are made of foam similar to the new automobile bumpers for durability and have a wingspan of about four feet.

"We get a kick out of dueling each other," said Dan, the youngest member of the club. "Dad is a good flyer, with 20 to 30 years at the controls and I am just learning so he has some advantage, but I think we come out about equal in our dog fights."

Dan flew his own plane later, getting it to stand or hover on it's tail in the air.

"A rather difficult stunt," said Terry Thorne, a veteran flyer.

"We can teach newcomers, new members, to use the radio control panels with a 'buddy box' that has a connector wire between the student's radio unit and the control box of the teacher, much like dual controls in a student training automobile," he said.

Some members learn to fly with a simulator on their computer. A similar program was demonstrated at the Black Butte Computer Club last April by Jerry Christopherson.

Bud Wienker, who lives near Indian Ford in Sisters, is a newcomer to the club.

"I'm just getting started," he said. "I'm building a trainer airplane which I hope to complete soon and start taking lessons."

Most planes are this type of high-wing trainer. They do aerobatics and stunts through computerized controls in the cockpit. Many use electric power versus "glow" fuel, a commercial product, similar to gasoline for automobiles.

Coy Drohman, also of Sisters and owner of The Handy Man repair service here, told of a "disaster last week when my plane went into a tail slide, did a backward flip and came screaming down hitting the ground with a whack, doing about $150 worth of damage.

"That didn't do it any good," said the 23-year veteran pilot. "If you're going to fly, then you can expect that (expensive) accidents will happen."

"These planes can reach speeds of 50 to 60 miles an hour," said Thorne. "We don't race 'em nor do we compete in any way. We come out here and do this for the camaraderie and fellowship, just for the fun.

"It's a year-round thing," he said.

"We have that shack over there with a wood stove in it for the wintertime so we still meet, but we put skis on our planes instead of wheels," said Wienker. "Our wives think we're nuts, but it really is great fun, and we're outdoors."

The private club, limited by charter to 35 members, is affiliated with the AMA (American Models Association), and, at present, the membership is full.

The members fly "most every Sunday and almost every Wednesday," Thorne said. "Each member has a key to the gate and we're flying as soon as the lock is off. Could be any day, really," he said.

The club rents 80 acres and the members maintain it themselves.

"We have an old golf course mower that keeps our strip in order." Wienker said.

One of the most amazing demonstrations of operating a highly technical control box came from Dusty Wilkerson, out of Sunriver. His helicopter did tricks that made even the old-timers stand in awe as they watched: Swoops, glides, slides, upside down and to within an inch of the ground before taking off again, straight up.

"I built my helicopter from a kit," Wilkerson said, "but then had to get the right radio controls, the proper engine and learn to fly the thing."

To help avoid an in-air collision or other mistakes caused by radio interference between pilots, there is a board against the Retreat House where a member takes a tag numbered from one to 59 that defines a specific radio frequency.

"If we follow the rules and stay on our assigned frequency we get along fine. Once in a while we'll forget to change to our assigned code and then ...." said Thorne.

The public is invited to watch the constant action any time the gate is open. There is a sign requesting visitors not to get too close as the planes do tumble and crash.

To get there, drive 9.2 miles east of Sisters on Highway 20 toward Bend. Just a few yards beyond the "Viewpoint" turnout, turn right onto an unmarked dirt road between two wooden posts. The "airfield and hangers" are within sight of the main highway.