The Northwest Houston RC Club has operated at Read Memorial Field since 1993. Located off Katy Hockley Road, just south of Hwy 290, the scenic property sprawls over 52 acres of woodlands, and grasslands with a 600’ x 50’ waterway for RC boats and aircraft. Peaceful and serene with the open sky beckoning the RC planes into the air.
Always welcoming new members; “There’s no limit on how young (or old, for that matter) a person can begin learning to fly. I‘ve had student pilots as young as seven, and my oldest student is in his 80s,” club member and Training Coordinator, Dick Pursley says. An avid RC enthusiast since the 90s, Dick’s passion lies in teaching the next generation how to fly. The club offers flight training using a "buddy box" which is a specific training setup using two transmitters, one for the instructor, and the other for the student. (Think: driver’s ed, where the driving instructor can hit the brakes from the passenger seat when needed)! As long as the student pilot is properly controlling the airplane, the instructor holds the buddy button. If the student starts to lose control, the instructor can quickly release the buddy button to regain control. This gives both instructor and student the confidence in learning to fly without the fear of crashing.
Club member Sergio Sanchez recalls memories from childhood when his Dad first gave him a balsa glider to put together and then fly– and he was hooked. He started dreaming of building more and flying often. Over time he would build bigger and more complicated glider kits. Then he advanced to building motorized aircraft with remote controls– which proved to be more challenging but also more thrilling than the simplicity of tossing the glider in the air. “For me, flying gives me peace, and I feel pride in my achievement to use my knowledge and experience to build and fly the airplanes. There’s so much adrenaline when it’s finally time to take the maiden flight; taking off, performing maneuvers, flying upside-down, then sideways, going for loops, making turns and then correcting it back on track. It’s perfect, and it’s then I realize the dream came true.”
Club President, Ron Nowak, who’s had a keen interest in the hobby since college, is proud of the club’s achievements to have increasing numbers of youth memberships (of both young men and young women) by building a successful introductory instruction program, led by their training coordinator. “Our club‘s membership strives to provide a friendly place and safe environment for people to pursue their interests in the hobby,” Ron says.
Chartered by the Academy of Model Aeronautics, AMA #1081, club membership is open to anyone with an interest in learning. Read Memorial Field, named to honor past president and member Jim Read, boasts a 1000' north/south runway and an 800' east/west crosswind runway. With restrooms on-site and a covered concrete pavilion area complete with tables and chairs, as well as a solar-powered charging station.
Curious new flyers are encouraged to come by and see what it’s all about. Spectators are welcome whenever the gates are open, and new flyers are encouraged to connect with an instructor. Learning to fly is exciting, and can sound overwhelming at first but don’t be intimidated. “Like any hobby, there are some expenses getting started, however, we can let you ‘try before you buy’”. Training Coordinator Pursley says, “Our club owns the training aircraft we use with prospective new pilots, allowing them to experience RC flight at absolutely no cost. We’ll go over any costs of getting into the hobby, as well as answer any questions as the prospective pilot decides if they want to continue in the hobby.”
“In my life, I’ve found RC modeling to be rewarding,” Sergio says; “The field is peaceful, you get to enjoy the experience of being outdoors, looking at the sky and soaking up the sounds and smells. The field gets loud when the engines start up and the airplanes are flying, but that noise and the smell of the burning gasoline is a feeling that I enjoy.”
"There’s so much adrenaline when it’s finally time to take the maiden flight."
