JACKSON – A group of model aircraft enthusiasts will open the friendly skies above Jackson to the general public in order to share their love of flying while supporting veterans.
From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 15, the Ocean County Modelers (OCM) will let everyone from rookies to ace pilots fly model airplanes at Wiskow Field, off Homestead Road, Jackson, in support of the Wounded Warrior Project.
As an affiliated club of the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA), the Ocean County Modelers decided to host its first public fundraiser on National Model Aviation Day.
According to the AMA, more than 200 model aircraft clubs throughout the United States participate on National Model Aviation Day and host special events that further the hobby while collecting funds for the Wounded Warrior Project.
Last year the AMA raised $100,000 in support of the Wounded Warrior Project from collections that were held at National Model Aviation Day events.
All donations and a portion of the proceeds collected at the OCM event in Jackson will go directly to the Wounded Warrior Project — a nonprofit organization that has supported veterans following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
Club member Michael Cook said a significant number of the OCM’s membership roster of men and women represent multiple generations of veterans. The club has about 115 members.
“Many of our members are veterans … so the Wounded Warrior Project is a worthy cause to give back to,” Cook said.
During the Aug. 15 event, attendees will be able to participate in a number of flightrelated activities.
There will be on-site computer flight simulators and displays of various aspects of remote controlled flight, plus live flight demonstrations conducted by club members, including some model turbine jet engine aircraft.
Club members will help more adventurous guests fly a model aircraft through the use of a “buddy box,” which allows two people to assume control of an aircraft.
“[Attendees] can get up and fly with the experienced person being able to take over at any time if they get in trouble,” Cook said. “It will be a good opportunity for someone who has never flown (a model plane) before to be able to get on the controller and fly the aircraft.”
Cook said attendees will see model aircraft with a wingspan of between 1 foot and 8 feet.
Food and drink will be provided with donations from All-Star Bagel and Philly Pretzel Factory.
Cook said he hopes the Aug. 15 event will raise funds for the Wounded Warrior Project and generate interest in model aircraft.
“In order to keep any hobby going and to strengthen it, you need to get more people interested in it and this is a large part of why we are doing this event,” he said. “We want to help educate people and get more interest about [model airplanes] to get more people into it.”
This year’s fundraiser is not the OCM’s first public event. Each year, the group holds demonstrations and events that showcase everything from a technique known as 3D flight to electric model flight.
In addition to funds raised at those events, Cook said the OCM uses membership dues to provide two $500 scholarships to Jackson high school students.
“The township lets us fly at their field … so that is kind of our way of giving back to the township as well,” he said.
For more information about the Ocean County Modelers and the National Model Aviation Day fundraiser, visit the website www.ocmrc.us.