Dear MVRC members,

It is with great sadness that I must inform you that one of our members, Ray Baker, passed away suddenly in January 2008. Ray was a dedicated member of Mid-Virginia Radio Control Club and a close friend to many of us.

Throughout his membership with MVRC, Ray was always helpful and willing to serve our club. Ray was mostly known as a RC helicopter pilot. Ray was a regular attendee at our club meetings and took great pride and seriousness in his responsibility to make sure our Wagoner Field was mowed on a regular basis. We will always remember Ray as an easy going fellow that always had a soft joke or joyful remark to share that earned smiles from his fellow modelers.

On behalf of the Mid-Virginia Radio Control Club, we offer our sympathy and condolences to Ray’s family and the many friends he leaves behind. We will all miss him.

Lowell Carrington
President, Mid-Virginia Radio Control Club

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See you at the next meeting or at the flying field.

First off, I’d like to apologize for letting the site languish over the summer. It has been too hot, hot, hot much of the time to stay enthusiastic about standing in the sun to pursue the hobby. But the spin of the big blue marble we call home is about to bless us with a turn in the weather.

This coming weekend marks the start of the fall flying season. Although we’ll be losing Fort Lee on Saturdays for the short term, the crisp September sky is ours seven days a week at Wagner. Let’s take advantage of it! Haul out that hardware and fly slow circles or huck it hard. Fall is for flying.

In other news… The Hobby Corner at 360 West has now reopened under new ownership. I’m working on a story, with photos, to bring you the scoop on the new management and the remodel. The coolest thing is Yvonne is still there, part-time! Watch for the full story coming soon. In the meantime, drop in and check it out. They’re open six days a week and building new inventory all of the time.

I am also working on a pilot training program for the club that will offer 60-days of instructor-supervised flying to interested individuals using their own, or a club-supplied and maintained plane. The plan will require the student pilot do a bit of paperwork to be covered by the AMA liability insurance and qualify for the program, so it’s definitely not a walk-up thing. We will be actively recruiting at least three instructors for this program, so embrace your inner teacher, dig out those nerves of steel and volunteer.

Fort Lee is reminding the public that military ranges, impact areas and training areas are restricted to authorized personnel only.

Nonauthorized personnel must stay away from danger areas for active ranges, areas known to contain unexploded munitions, also known as “duds,” and comply with range-safety regulations.

The true size and shape of an impact zone and danger areas may change daily, depending upon the training mission and type of weapon being fired.

Entry into any rage, training area or impact zone is prohibited without prior coordination. Also, unexploded ordnance and munitions may be present in areas other than the ranges. Some of the ordnance may be more than 100 years old but can remain dangerous.

If suspected ordnance is found, it should not be touched. Report it immediately to the Fort Lee Provost Marshall Office 24-h our duty desk at 804.734.7400.